Milan Mandaric, the Serbian-American businessman and former owner of Portsmouth, Leicester City, and Sheffield Wednesday, has died at the age of 87. Mandaric passed away on Saturday in a hospital in Belgrade, Serbia, following a short illness, according to a statement from his family.
“His love for football was only surpassed by that for his family. He will be sadly missed by his two daughters and three grandchildren,” the family said.
Legacy in English Football
Mandaric first entered English football in 1999 when he bought Portsmouth, rescuing the club from near-bankruptcy. Under his stewardship and with Harry Redknapp as manager, Portsmouth won the Championship in 2003 before Mandaric sold the club in 2006.
He then acquired Leicester City in 2007 for £6 million. Although the Foxes were relegated to League One in 2007–08, they bounced back as League One champions in 2008–09, and Mandaric sold the club in 2010 for £40 million.
Mandaric’s next venture was Sheffield Wednesday, which he purchased for £1 while heavily in debt. Under his ownership, the Owls won promotion from League One in 2012 and were later sold to Dejphon Chansiri for £37.5 million. Earlier this year, Mandaric considered buying back Wednesday to save the club but ultimately decided against it, citing time constraints.
“Football’s Mr. Fixit”
Mandaric earned a reputation as football’s “Mr. Fixit” due to his ability to revive struggling clubs. Born in Novi Sad, Serbia, he took over his father’s engineering business at 21 and later moved to the US, founding successful electronics and computer-component companies. He also briefly signed George Best for the San Jose Earthquakes before moving into European football with Charleroi and Nice.
Mandaric’s influence extended beyond club management; he was involved in a high-profile corruption investigation with Harry Redknapp, ultimately being acquitted of tax evasion in 2012.
Tributes from Former Clubs
- Portsmouth: “We are mourning the loss of Milan. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time.”
- Leicester City: “Saddened to learn of the passing of our former chairman, who brought passion and charisma to the club.”
- Sheffield Wednesday: “He rescued the Owls from a period of distress and beamed new light into Hillsborough. Everyone at Sheffield Wednesday is deeply saddened.”
Milan Mandaric leaves behind a lasting legacy of revitalizing clubs and making a mark on English football over decades.
