Italian football mourns Fiorentina president Commisso

The announcement was made on the club's website, with a statement saying: "With great grief and sadness, the Commisso family, including his wife Catherine, his children Giuseppe and Marisa, and his sisters Italia and Raffaelina, announce the passing of President Rocco B. Commisso. After a long period of care, our beloved president has left us, and today we all mourn his passing."

Commisso took over Fiorentina in June 2019. From that moment on, he tied his presidency to specific goals: to consolidate the club and invest in its facilities, starting with the training centre, Viola Park, which the club has presented as the heart of its future.

On the pitch, during Commisso's presidency, Fiorentina featured regularly in Europe, reaching two UEFA Conference League finals in 2023 and 2024, as well as the Coppa Italia final in 2023.

"Rocco embraced the Viola project with all the passion he possessed, as a clear-minded and genuine sportsman," said UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin. "Viola Park will remain the splendid and tangible legacy of an authentic love, and of his desire to leave a lasting mark on Florentine football.

"The two Conference League finals proudly projected Fiorentina onto the European stage, placing it where Rocco’s vision had determined it should be. In an era in which investment in football follows business logic, Rocco embodied the fading romantic soul of the president who generously invests in a sporting project, loving a club and its supporters."

Gabriele Gravina, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president, added: "Our thoughts are with the Commisso family and Fiorentina on this sad passing. Rocco Commisso left an indelible mark on Italian football; we will always remember him for his enthusiasm and vision. He was also an important figure in the renewal process we are pursuing; he never failed to share his vision and friendship."

A minute's silence will be observed in Commisso's memory before matches in Italy this weekend.