Renzo Barbera

Renzo Barbera was an Italian businessman and the chairman of Palermo Football Club from 1970 to 1980. He was nicknamed "Presidentissimo" and "The Last Leopard".
During his presidency the "rosanero" team reached two Coppa Italia finals in 1974 and in 1979. After the experience as chairman of Palermo, he was elected president of the Sicilian Organising Committee of the 1990 [FIFA World Cup]. He died on 20 May 2002 of heart disease.
On 18 September 2002, the Palermo stadium La Favorita was renamed as Renzo Barbera.

Biography

He was the son of Giuseppe and Maria Rutelli.
Il nonno materno fu il celebre scultore Mario Rutelli. Il nonno paterno omonimo, Lorenzo Barbera, era un commerciante di olio e cavaliere del lavoro. Dal 2019 un suo pronipote, Dario Mirri, è presidente del Palermo FC.
An officer in the Royal Italian Army during World War II, he was taken prisoner by the Germans in 1943. He managed to escape during a transfer and was then hidden by some farmers and shepherds in the Ciociaria region. Married to Giuliana Cicutto, he had three children: Giuseppe, Ferruccio, and Maria Ludovica.
Renzo Barbera died in the early hours of May 19, 2002, at the age of 82, due to Heart complications.