Fiorentina President Rocco Commisso Passed Away on January 16, 2026
Rocco Commisso, the billionaire chairman of Mediacom and owner of ACF Fiorentina, passed away on Friday, January 16, 2026, at the age of 76 after a lengthy period of medical treatment. Rocco, a well-known Italian-American businessman and devoted soccer supporter, died in New York, United States. He is survived by his wife, Catherine, along with their two children, Giuseppe and Marisa.
The funeral is scheduled for January 21, 2026, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York.
Commisso was born on November 25, 1949, in Calabria, Italy. He moved to the United States when he was 12 years old. He also owned the New York Cosmos and played soccer at Columbia University. During his ownership, Fiorentina made it to the UEFA Conference League finals in both 2023 and 2024.
Commisso was the founder, chairman, and chief executive officer (CEO) of Mediacom, which is the fifth-largest cable television company in the United States.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to Commisso’s family from all of us at Italian Soccer Serie A, hosted by Anna Italia.
Photo via x.com/acffiorentina
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Lega Serie A
“On behalf of Lega Serie A, I express my deepest condolences for the passing of Rocco Commisso.
A man of extraordinary energy and passion, who was able to link his entrepreneurial and personal history to the world of football with great generosity,” commented Ezio Simonelli, President of Lega Serie A. “As President of Fiorentina, he pursued an ambitious and courageous project, designing and building a state-of-the-art sports center, always driven by a genuine love for the purple colors and a strong sense of responsibility towards the city of Florence and its fans.
To his wife Catherine, his children and the entire Commisso family, I extend my heartfelt condolences, joining in the grief of those who, in Italy and the United States, had the privilege of knowing him and appreciating his vision, values, and constant commitment to the development of our football.”
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Fiorentina official note, January, 17, 2026
Fiorentina have decided, at the wish of the Commisso family and in order to honor the memory of their President, to take the field in all scheduled sporting commitments.
For all those who knew him, football was always his greatest passion, and out of respect for this great love, Fiorentina’s teams will honor his memory by playing for him on every pitch.
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La Fiorentina ha deciso per volontà della famiglia Commisso e per onorare il ricordo del suo Presidente di scendere in campo in tutti gli impegni sportivi previsti.
Nota ufficiale: https://t.co/Qtvq536Fm0 pic.twitter.com/ivoka2Rwe6
— ACF Fiorentina (@acffiorentina) January 17, 2026
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CBS Sports Golazo pays tribute to Fiorentina owner Rocco Commisso
Poppy Miller, Hannah Cash, Mike Grella, Mateo Boneti, and Marco Messina reflect on the life of Fiorentina owner Rocco Commisso.
A memorable interview. ACF Fiorentina Owner Rocco Commisso: The 60 Minutes Interview, July 10, 2023
Sharyn Alfonsi speaks with billionaire Rocco Commisso about his journey from building cable TV empire Mediacom to owning an Italian soccer club ACF Fiorentina.
By Anna Italia
