Italian American businessman Rocco
Commisso on Thursday bought Fiorentina from the Della Valle
brothers after the two sides reportedly agreed a 165 million
euro price tag.
"I've always been a fan of Italian soccer and there are no
words to describe how incredibly honoured I am to have the
opportunity to help write the next chapter in the history of a
legendary club like Fiorentina," the new Viola owner said.
Outgoing honorary chairman Andrea Della Valle said Commisso
"has great ambitions and will bring new joy to the city of
Florence".
Commisso, 69, who owns the US's fifth biggest cable TV
company and the New York Cosmos soccer team, met with Diego and
Andrea Della Valle in the Milan HQ of their Tod's shoe empire.
Commisso was preceded by his right hand man Joe Barone.
Fiorentina President Mario Cognigni was also present at the
meeting.
Fiorentina, which was founded by a merger in August 1926, and
refounded in August 2002 following bankruptcy, have played at
the top level of Italian football for the majority of their
existence; only four clubs have played in more Serie A seasons.
Last season they flirted with relegation and ended up 16th
after the Della Valles failed to lure to players to join Italy
striker Federico Chiesa.
Fiorentina has won two Italian Championships, in 1955-56 and
again in 1968-69, as well as six Coppa Italia trophies and one
Supercoppa Italiana. On the European stage, Fiorentina won the
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1960-61 and lost the final one year
later. They finished runners-up in the 1956-57 European Cup,
losing against Real Madrid, and also came close to winning the
1989-90 UEFA Cup, finishing as runners-up against Juventus.
Fiorentina is one of the fourteen European teams that have
played the finals in all three major continental competitions:
the Champions League (1956-1957, the first Italian team to reach
the final in the top continental competition), the UEFA Cup
Winners (1960-1961 and 1961-1962) and the UEFA Cup (1989-1990).
Since 1931, the club have played at the Stadio Artemio
Franchi, which currently has a capacity of 43,147. The stadium
has used several names over the years and has undergone several
renovations. Fiorentina are known widely by the nickname Viola,
a reference to their distinctive purple colours.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
