American businessman and owner of the Italian club Fiorentina, Rocco Commisso, has died at the age of 76, the club announced today. Commisso, who previously owned the New York Cosmos club, was the founder of Mediacom Communications, one of the largest cable television companies in the United States. He was born in Italy but moved with his family to the United States as a child, where he built an economic empire with a fortune estimated by Forbes at $5.9 billion. A statement from Fiorentina read: 'With deep sadness and sorrow, the Commisso family announces the death of President Rocco B. Commisso,' noting that he had undergone 'prolonged medical treatment.' Commisso bought Fiorentina in 2019 and played an active role in the club's management, investing €120 million in a new training center and striving to restore the team to the glory of the 1950s and 1960s, when it won the Italian league twice and secured two European titles. During his ownership, the team reached three finals: the 2023 Coppa Italia, and the 2023 and 2024 UEFA Europa Conference League, but lost them all. The club, which will celebrate its centenary next season, is going through a difficult period, currently sitting in 18th place, after finishing sixth in Serie A last season. Commisso also owned the Cosmos club, the former team of Brazilian football legend Pelé, from 2017 to 2025.
