BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA
Rocco Commisso, the blunt-speaking owner of Italian soccer club Fiorentina and the founder and longtime chairman of New York-based Mediacom Communications, has died at the age of 76.
Fiorentina and Mediacom confirmed his death early Saturday. No cause was disclosed.
“After a prolonged period of medical treatment, our beloved president has left us, and today we all mourn his passing,” Fiorentina said in a statement. “His love for Fiorentina was the greatest gift he gave himself.”
Commisso rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most influential figures in American cable television and an outspoken presence in European soccer. Born in Calabria, Italy, he emigrated to the United States at age 12, settling in New York. He later attended Columbia University, where he played soccer and forged a lasting connection to the Ivy League institution. That bond endured throughout his life, marked by extensive philanthropic support; Columbia’s soccer stadium bears his name.
After building Mediacom into one of the largest cable television companies in the United States, Commisso turned his attention to the sport that had shaped his youth. In 2019, he purchased Fiorentina, returning to Italian soccer as an owner and quickly making his mark. He became known for his candid criticism of Italy’s bureaucratic hurdles, particularly the challenges facing clubs seeking to modernize infrastructure and build new stadiums.
Under his ownership, Fiorentina experienced renewed ambition on the European stage, reaching the Conference League final in both 2023 and 2024. Those runs were celebrated by supporters as signs of progress and stability after years of uncertainty.
At the same time, Commisso never shied away from controversy, often addressing fans and media directly and defending his vision for the club. His forthright style made him a polarizing but unmistakably influential figure in Italian football.
This season, Fiorentina has struggled on the field and currently sits in the Serie A relegation zone, casting uncertainty over the club’s immediate future following his death.
Commisso also owned the New York Cosmos, further underscoring his commitment to the growth of soccer in the United States. His legacy spans business, sport and philanthropy, defined by a journey from immigrant beginnings to leadership at the highest levels of American industry and European football.