Sampdoria mourns death of president

Published Jan. 22, 2013 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Sampdoria president Riccardo Garrone has died aged 76, the Serie A club have announced.

Born on January 23, 1936, the businessman bought Sampdoria from Enrico Mantovani in 2002 and oversaw a period of contrasting fortunes which saw them compete in Europe but also suffer relegation to Serie B in 2011.

However, they responded with an immediate return to the top flight, although they have found wins hard to come by this season with the team currently 15th.

Tributes have been paid to Garrone throughout Italian football while a statement on the club's official website read: "Reserved man, husband, father, grandfather.

"Public man, entrepreneur, businessman, sports manager.

"We just want to remember that.....with the scarf around his neck and arms to the sky. We want to remember from Sampdoria."