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{{Short description|Italian businessman (born 1961)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Sandro Mencucci
| image = Sandro mencucci ceo fiorentina.jpg
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1961|7|18|mf=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Florence]], Italy
| height = {{Height|ft=6|in=1}}
| occupation = International sports executive
| title = Chief Executive Officer
| years_active = 2002–present (23 years)
| employer = {{ubl|[[U.S. Lecce]], [[Leeds United]], [[ACF Fiorentina]]}}
}}

'''Sandro Mencucci''' ({{IPA|it|meŋˈkuttʃi|lang}}) is an Italian businessman and senior international sports executive. Mencucci is currently CEO of [[U.S. Lecce]] football club who competes in the top tier Italian [[Serie A]] from May 2022.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.corrieredellosport.it/news/calcio/serie-b/lecce/2022/05/17-92942186/lecce_mencucci_sara_il_nuovo_ad?fbclid=IwAR1Mb81gYkNhKnTwwBNgeXcXf4aM9SNYqe0h9SlXewEtY-K14RfhtinQiFM |publisher=Corriere Dello Sport |language=Italian |title= Lecce, Mencucci sarà il nuovo ad |date=18 May 2022|access-date=17 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.salentosport.net/lecce-news/nuovo-ingresso-nellorganigramma-sandro-mencucci-sara-il-prossimo-amministratore-delegato/ |language=Italian|title= Lecce – Nuovo Ingresso Nell'Organigramma: Sandro Mencucci Sarà Il Prossimo Amministratore Delegato |date=May 16, 2022 |access-date=16 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.pianetalecce.it/news/444939537926/professionalit-agrave-seriet-agrave-ed-autorevolezza-ecco-chi-egrave-sandro-mencucci | publisher=Pianeta Lecce |language=Italian |title= Professionalità, serietà ed autorevolezza: ecco chi è Sandro Mencucci |access-date=8 May 2022}}</ref> He previously was CEO and a board director of the Italian Serie A football club [[ACF Fiorentina]] from August 2002 to 2019.

In his twenty-three years in Italian Serie A, Mencucci is one of the most successful and sought out CEOs in Italy. He has also served on the Board of Directors of [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United Football Club]] and helped contribute in July 2020 to the club’s historic promotion back to the [[Premier League]] following a 16 year hiatus in the [[English Football League Championship]].<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4212003/2021/05/20/leeds-united-fan-peter-lowy-and-two-others-join-board/ |title= Leeds United fan Peter Lowy and two others join board |work= The New York Times |access-date=20 May 2021 |last1= Buckingham |first1= Philip }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://aser.com/|title=Home|access-date=19 March 2018}}</ref><ref name="mcn-elevensale">{{cite web|title=Eleven Sports Buys One World Assets|url=http://www.multichannel.com/news/sports/eleven-sports-buys-one-world-assets/411573|website=Multichannel News|date=March 16, 2017|access-date=17 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.leedsunited.com/news/club-news/21478/aser-group-holding-acquires-50-of-leeds-united|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104212007/https://www.leedsunited.com/news/club-news/21478/aser-group-holding-acquires-50-of-leeds-united|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 4, 2017|title=ASER GROUP HOLDING ACQUIRES 50% OF LEEDS UNITED|website=www.leedsunited.com|access-date=19 March 2018}}</ref>

==Sports executive career==

===US Lecce===
Mencucci was sought out to return to the helm as CEO of the newly promoted, [[U.S. Lecce]] in May 2022 when they won the [[2021–22 Serie B]] Championship. He immediately contributed his economic leadership by creating a new economic model for Italian Serie A clubs whereby U.S. Lecce has been recognized for their solution to “financial sustainability” - valorization of talent, balancing financial sustainability returning to profit and self-sufficiency from shareholders based on organically working with the Sports Division.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Serie-A/Lecce/14-10-2023/lecce-cosi-si-gestisce-la-squadra-rivelazione-della-serie-a_amp.shtml |publisher= La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=Italian |title= Mencucci: "Vi spiego come si gestisce il Lecce dei miracoli" |date=14 October 2023|access-date=14 October 2023}}</ref>

===ACF Fiorentina===
A chartered accountant and fiscal lawyer by profession, Mencucci joined [[ACF Fiorentina]] as CEO and board director in the summer of 2002 when the Della Valle Family, owners of the fashion brands Tod's, Fay, Hogan and Roger Vivier, acquired the defaulted club and initiated a new entity starting from the 4th tier Serie C2. They set out to build the club from the ground up without any existing structure and with the modest capital of 6 million euros.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2003/03/28/mercato-societa-le-scelte-di-della-valle.html?ref=search|publisher=la Repubblica |language=Italian |title=Mercato e società le scelte di Della Valle |date=28 March 2003|access-date=16 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://it.violachannel.tv/archivio-giornali.html|publisher=orig. Il Giornale della Toscana rep. violachannel.tv |language=Italian |title=Dopo nove mesi resucita la Fiorentina |date=15 May 2003|access-date=22 February 2016}}</ref> During his tenure, Mencucci and the Della Valle family increased the budget from the initial 6 million to over 100 million euros annually.

In 2007, Mencucci became the president of the Promesse Viola Srl, the official youth academy for the club. In 2014, Mencucci, became the President of International Development Players LLC, a youth development academy under the guidance of the youth sector division of the club with its headquarters in the United States. In 2015, Mencucci became president of the Fiorentina Fiorentina Women's Football Club, the first-ever professionally affiliated women's football club in the history of Italy. In 2017, Fiorentina won the [[2016–17 Serie A (women)|2016-17 Serie A]]. This is the first Tricolore for [[ACF Fiorentina]] since May 6, 1969, and it is the first Serie A championship under the previous ownership of Andre Delle Valle. On June 17, 2017, Fiorentina won its first double since 1926 when the women's division won the Coppa Italia.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.lanazione.it/firenze/sport/calcio/fiorentina-women-s-un-altro-trofeo-la-loro-prima-coppa-italia-video-1.3204220
|publisher=lanazione.com |language=Italian |title=Fiorentina Women's Un altro Trofeo La Loro Prima Coppa Italia |date=16 June 2017|access-date=17 June 2017}}</ref>

In November 2017, Mencucci was inducted into the Fiorentina Hall of Fame in a ceremony organized by the Museo Fiorentina and [[ACF Fiorentina]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.lanazione.it/firenze/sport/calcio/fiorentina-hall-of-fame-rosetta-ferrante-1.3553586/|publisher=la Nazione |language=Italian |title=Fiorentina Rosetta e Ferrante nella "Hall of Fame" viola|date=22 November 2017|access-date=23 November 2017}}</ref>

===Philosophy===
During his seventeen-year tenure as CEO at [[ACF Fiorentina]], Mencucci implemented the vision of Della Valle family, the "Fiorentina Model", which emphasized economic equilibrium, technical competence, investment in the youth sector and the promotion of a positive sports culture formally implemented in 2007 as a "fair play culture" making Fiorentina a model Club for the Italian League and for the world.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2007/10/17/fiorentina-ecco-il-piano-per-essere-campioni.html?ref=search|publisher= la Repubblica |language=Italian |title= Fiorentina, ecco il piano per essere campioni di sportività|date=17 October 2007|access-date=11 February 2016}}</ref> The principal objective is to promote Fair Play, the value of playing sports with respect for the adversary and fans.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.violanews.com/news-viola/mencucci-e-la-fiorentina-premiati-per-il-fair-play/|publisher=violanews.com|language=Italian |title= Mencucci e il Viola Fair: ''Creare un modello da esportare nel mondo''|date=17 May 2013|access-date=17 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.calciomercato.com/news/football-leader-2013-premiati-mencucci-e-ferlaino-244360|publisher= calciomercato.com |language=Italian |title= Football Leader 2013: premiati Mencucci e Ferlaino|date=17 May 2013|access-date=11 February 2016}}</ref> Mencucci led the club from its initial insertion into Serie C2, Italian fourth division, to its promotion back to Serie A in 2004.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://it.violachannel.tv/archivio-giornali.html|publisher=orig. Corriere Fiorentino rep. violachannel.tv |language=Italian |title=Sono uno di voi con lo stesso sogno |date=31 October 2009 |access-date=22 February 2016}}</ref> The club qualified for three consecutive years for the UEFA Europa League and has held one of the top four positions in the Italian Serie A league for the last three consecutive seasons. The club also qualified for the [[2008–09 UEFA Champions League]] and again in [[2009–10 UEFA Champions League|2009–10]], where they were eliminated in the round of 16 by [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]], but recorded wins home and away, over [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] in the group stages.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/altre-notizie/fiorentina-frey-e-mencucci-sulla-vittoria-contro-il-liverpool-183108|publisher= tuttomercatoweb.com |language=Italian |title= Fiorentina, Frey e Mencucci sulla vittoria contro il Liverpool |date=12 October 2009|access-date=20 February 2016}}</ref> During the summer of 2014, Mencucci led the club in the [[2014 Copa EuroAmericana]] and in the summer of 2015, Fiorentina participated in the [[2015 International Champions Cup]].<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.violanews.com/news-viola/mencucci-vola-ny-per-i-sorteggi-dellinternational-champions-cup/|publisher= violanews.com |language=Italian |title= Mencucci vola a NY per i sorteggi dell'International Champions Cup|date=27 April 2015|access-date=20 February 2016}}</ref><ref name="Giani">{{cite book | last = Giani | first = Eugenio| title = Firenze per la Fiorentina. La rinascita raccontata dai protagonisti. | year = 2005| publisher = Plan 2005| url =http://www.libreriadellosport.it/libri/firenze-per-la-fiorentina.php | isbn =88-88719-15-6}}</ref>

Mencucci implemented the Della Valle initiative and became the first Serie A club to financially sustain a non-profit association, [[Save the Children]]. Since 2009, Fiorentina has made donations of €250,000.00 per year to Save the Children. From 2010, the club had displayed the non-profit's logo on the Fiorentina jersey in place of the main sponsor for 7 consecutive seasons.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://firenze.repubblica.it/cronaca/2011/03/02/news/la_fiorentina_save_the_children_missione_solidariet_in_etiopia-13109726/|publisher= La Repubblica|language=Italian |title= La Fiorentina & Save the Children Missione solidarietà in Etiopia|date=2 March 2011|access-date=11 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/fiorentina_agree_shirt_sponsorship_deal_with_mazda |publisher=Sportspromedia.com |language=English |title=Fiorentina agree shirt sponsorship deal with Mazda|date=10 January 2011|access-date=12 March 2016}}</ref>

===International Initiatives===
====Youth Division====
Since 2007, Mencucci led all of ACF Fiorentina's international initiatives, which were first launched in the United States of America and were designed to identify young talented players and spread the expertise and culture of the club. As part of the initiatives, the club provided European soccer training and expertise for pre-professional development of talented young U.S. soccer players and coaches.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.ilsitodifirenze.it/content/353-prosegue-la-partnership-tra-fiorentina-e-norcal-premier-soccer?page=5|publisher= ilsitodifirenze.it |language=Italian |title= Prosegue la partnership tra Fiorentina e NorCal Premier Soccer |date=11 December 2011|access-date=20 February 2016}}</ref> In 2012, the development academy and the Fiorentina Model expanded to Switzerland. He has also been engaged in further initiatives in the United States, Switzerland, India, Vietnam, China and Japan.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://thethaovanhoa.vn/italy/tgd-sandro-mencucci-fiorentina-muon-mang-mo-hinh-dao-tao-tre-den-viet-nam-n20160220224233167.htm|publisher=thethaovanhoa.vn|language=Vietnamese |title=CEO Sandro Mencucci: 'Fiorentina training model to bring football to children in Vietnam'|date=20 February 2016|access-date=12 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.fiorentina.it/it/news/articolo.37.759/settore-giovanile-il-modello-fiorentina-esportato-in-cina-per-nuove-collaborazioni.html|publisher=Fiorentina.it |language=Italian |title= Settore Giovanile, il 'modello Fiorentina' in Cina per nuove collaborazioni|date=13 November 2013|access-date=11 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.thehindu.com/sport/football/fc-pune-city-signs-trezeguet-as-marquee-player/article6264707.ece|work=The Hindu|language=English |title= FC Pune City signs Trezeguet as marquee player| date=5 October 2014|access-date=20 February 2016}}</ref>

From 2007 to 2019, Mencucci was president of the Promesse Viola, the development academy for the Italian youth sector. Mencucci dedicated himself to the creation of this innovative youth initiative recognized in Italy and worldwide with the principal aim to develop and train talented professional footballers by providing athletes from 10 to 19 years old technical-sporting development. The youth sector consisted of 12 teams from under-10 to under-19, 250 athletes and had an annual budget of approximately 5 million euro.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://it.violachannel.tv/tl_files/pdf/Corriere-Fiorentino11-10-2009.pdf|publisher= Corriere Fiorentino |language=Italian |title= Arrivano qui da tutta la Toscana (senza orecchini e coi capelli corti)| date=11 October 2009|access-date=11 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Andrea Claudio Galluzzo, David Bini, Alessandro Luzzi, Massimo Cecchi, Mario Tenerani, Roberto Vinciguerra, Gianfranco Lottini, Paolo Mugnai, Andrea Claudio Galluzzo, Marco Vichi, Alberto Panizza, Benedetto Ferrara, Massimo SandrelliStefano Borgi, Salvatore Cirmi, Filippo Luti, Massimo Milani, Riccardo Fattori, Francesco Brotini, Matteo Angiolini, Domenico Beccaria|title=Almanacco Fiorentina 2014|date=2013|publisher=Museo Viola|isbn=978-88-97293-07-1}}</ref>

==== Indian Soccer League ====
In 2013, Fiorentina together with other Italian teams helped to form the [[Indian Super League]] (ISL) with aims to provide stimulus to the growth and development of football in the state of Maharashtra.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2014/07/31/trezeguet-in-viola-testimonial-del-calcio-nel-club-indiano-puneFirenze17.html?ref=search|publisher=la Repubblica |language=Italian |title=Trezeguet in viola testimonial del calcio nel club indiano Pune |date=31 July 2014|access-date=16 February 2016}}</ref> Mencucci helped form [[FC Pune City]] in 2014, which participated in the ISL in its inaugural season.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.indiansuperleague.com/mumbai-city-fc/press-releases/194-top-specialists-to-fortify-mumbai-city-fc-campaign|publisher= indiansuperleague.com |language=English |title= Pune City will play Fiorentina brand of attacking football| date=4 August 2014|access-date=11 February 2016}}</ref>

====Women's Division====
From 2015 to 2019, Mencucci spearheaded a professional football initiative for women athletes of the Della Valle family as president of the Fiorentina Women's Football Club, the first ever professionally affiliated women's football club in the history of Italy.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.lanazione.it/firenze/fiorentina-femminile-women-s-football-club-1.1227519/ |publisher=La Nazione|language=Italian |title= Nasce la Fiorentina Women's Football Club, Mencucci: "Vogliamo fare la storia del calcio femminile"|date=18 August 2015|access-date=11 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/11/sports/soccer/in-italy-a-top-club-stands-alone-in-supporting-womens-soccer.html?_r=0 |work= The New York Times|language=English |title= In Italy, a Top Club Stands Alone in Supporting Women's Soccer | date=10 February 2016|access-date=11 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.womenssoccerunited.com/fiorentina-womens-football-club/ |publisher=womenssoccerunited.com |language=English |title=Breaking down barriers in Italy as ACF Fiorentina starts first ever professionally affiliated women's football club |date=29 August 2015 |access-date=11 February 2016 |archive-date=August 31, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150831162225/https://www.womenssoccerunited.com/fiorentina-womens-football-club/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.calciodonne.eu/ |title=Home |website=calciodonne.eu |access-date=March 14, 2016 |archive-date=September 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906150136/http://www.calciodonne.eu/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> In only four years the Fiorentina Women's FC won four titles. Fiorentina qualified to participate in the [[UEFA Women's Champions League]] in successive seasons ([[2017–18 UEFA Women's Champions League|2017–18]] and [[2018–19 UEFA Women's Champions League|2018–19]]).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://firenze.repubblica.it/sport/2017/05/06/news/fiorentina_women_s_via_alla_gran_festa_scudetto-164778319/|publisher=la Repubblica|language=Italian|title=Fiorentina Women's via alla gran festa|date=6 May 2017|access-date=11 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170512064320/http://firenze.repubblica.it/sport/2017/05/06/news/fiorentina_women_s_via_alla_gran_festa_scudetto-164778319/|archive-date=May 12, 2017|url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.fifa.com/womens-football/news/y=2017/m=5/news=fiorentina-create-history-with-maiden-title-2883226.html?intcmp=fifacom_hp_module_news |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170524151021/http://www.fifa.com/womens-football/news/y=2017/m=5/news=fiorentina-create-history-with-maiden-title-2883226.html?intcmp=fifacom_hp_module_news |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 24, 2017 |publisher=FIFA.com |language=English |title=Fiorentina Create History With Maiden Title|date=8 May 2017|access-date=11 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.lanazione.it/firenze/sport/calcio/fiorentina-women-s-1.3983203|publisher=la Nazione |language=Italian |title=Impresa Fiorentina Women's, la Champions ora è realtà|date=16 June 2018|access-date=18 June 2018| archive-url=https://www.lanazione.it/firenze/sport/calcio/fiorentina-women-s-1.3983203| archive-date= 16 June 2018| url-status= live}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{ACF Fiorentina Hall of Fame}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mencucci, Sandro}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1961 births]]
[[Category:ACF Fiorentina]]
[[Category:Italian football chairmen and investors]]
[[Category:Women's association football executives]]
[[Category:US Lecce]]
[[Category:Leeds United F.C.]]

Sandro Mencucci - Revision history

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