Former Portsmouth, Leicester City owner Milan Mandaric dies at 87

Former Portsmouth and Leicester City owner Milan Mandaric has died at the age of 87 following a short illness.

Mandaric had overseen Portsmouth’s promotion to the Premier League in 2003, returning them to top-flight football for the first time in 15 years, having bought them out of administration in 1999. This achievement earned him the Freedom of the City award.

His family announced his death in a statement on the south-coast club’s website on Saturday night.

“The family of Milan Mandaric are deeply saddened to announce his passing earlier today in a Belgrade hospital following a short illness,” the statement read.

“Milan will be fondly remembered as chairman and owner of Portsmouth, Leicester City and Sheffield Wednesday in the United Kingdom, along with a number of United States and European clubs.

“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 have asked for privacy at this sad time.”

Mandaric owned Leicester City and Sheffield Wednesday, overseeing the latter side’s promotion from League One to the Championship in the 2011-12 season. He also saw success in the United States as the first owner of San Jose’s first professional sports franchise, the San Jose Earthquakes, where former Manchester United star George Best later played. Mandaric was inducted into their hall of fame in 2012.

(Photo: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

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