Sergio Cragnotti
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Sergio Cragnotti (born January 9, 1940 in Rome) is an Italian entrepreneur.
One of the most high-profle and wealthy business figures in Italy in recent times, Cragnotti is best known for having been President of S.S. Lazio. However, his most influential position was as head of food conglomerate Cirio. This company included all Cirio food brands as well as those of the acquired Del Monte Foods International from the late 1990s. The corporation disintergrated after it defaulted on a 150 million eurobond and was subsequently placed into administration. In 1992 Cragnotti bought football team S.S. Lazio from previous owner Calleri. The Cragnotti family owned 80% of the Cirio group which in turn owned a 51% stake in the Roman club, all of which was seized by the banks and subsequently sold off.
Cragnotti presided over perhaps the most successful period in Lazio's recent history, ploughing in record amounts of money which attracted such luminaries as Pavel Nedvěd, Christian Vieri and Marcelo Salas. His successes included winning both Serie A along with the final European Cup Winners' Cup, both under the guidance of former England manager and close friend, Sven-Göran Eriksson.
Cragnotti was arrested in February 2004 and released in August of the same year from prison in the aftermath of the Cirio collapse and scandal.
In November 2006 he published his autobiography, Un calcio al cuore, co-written with Fabrizio Pennacchia.
