Maurizio Mian

{{Short description|Italian entrepreneur (born 1956)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Maurizio Mian

| image = Maurizio Mian 2014.png

| caption =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1956|03|25|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Pisa, Italy {{cite web |last1=Dell'Arti |first1=Giorgio |title=Biografia di Maurizio Mian |url=https://www.cinquantamila.it/storyTellerArticolo.php?storyId=4fc6b542636dc |access-date=26 December 2021 |date=31 May 2021}}

| nationality = Italian

| occupation =

| net_worth =

}}

Maurizio Mian (born 25 March 1956) is an Italian entrepreneur and pharmaceutical heir who is the CEO of The Gunther Corporation. A noted eccentric,{{cite web |title=Maurizio Mian, azionista dell'Unità, si candida con la Rosa nel Pugno |url=http://www.radicalifriulani.it/node/3455 |publisher=Associazione Radicali Friulani |access-date=26 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725125732/http://www.radicalifriulani.it/node/3455 |archive-date=25 July 2015 |language=Italian |date=23 February 2006}} Mian has often used his dog Gunther as a figurehead for his investments in sports clubs, property and media. For publicity purposes Mian promulgated a long-running urban legend of his fabulously wealthy dynasty of German shepherd dogs, all called Gunther. The Gunther dogs frequently appear on published lists of the world's wealthiest animals.{{cite web|url=https://au.pfinance.yahoo.com/fame-and-fortune/article/-/25775182/these-animals-are-probably-richer-than-you-are/|title=These animals are probably richer than you are|publisher=|access-date=22 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160301205648/https://au.pfinance.yahoo.com/fame-and-fortune/article/-/25775182/these-animals-are-probably-richer-than-you-are/|archive-date=1 March 2016|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-jan-20-cl-65218-story.html|title=A Match Made in Doggy Heaven|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=22 February 2016|archive-date=1 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160301175234/http://articles.latimes.com/1999/jan/20/news/cl-65218|url-status=live}}

==Sports investment==

In June 1993, La Stampa reported that the CentroMatic Prato (it) professional Italian Volleyball League club had been purchased by Gunther IV. However the club sold all its players and went bankrupt after finishing the next season in last place.{{cite news |last1=Zagni |first1=Giovanni |title=Il cane Gunther e l'Unità |url=https://www.ilpost.it/2012/05/04/il-cane-gunther-miliardario/ |access-date=23 December 2021 |publisher=Il Post |date=4 May 2012 |language=Italian}}

On 8 March 1995, (International Women's Day) Gunther IV became honorary president of ACF Agliana, a leading Serie A (women's football) club. It was reported that his foundation had bought the club after carefully researching other opportunities.{{cite news |last1=Lancellotti |first1=Sílvio |title=Notas |url=https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/fsp/1995/3/12/esporte/7.html |access-date=29 December 2021 |publisher=Folha de S.Paulo |date=12 March 1995 |language=Portuguese}} Agliana won the 1994–95 league title by five points from rivals Torres.{{cite news |last1=Hennies |first1=Rainer |title=Deutscher Schäferhund ist Fußballmeister in Italien |url=https://taz.de/!1507623/ |access-date=29 December 2021 |publisher=Die Tageszeitung |date=24 May 1995 |language=German}}

Gunther IV sensationally resigned as Agliana president in June 1995, after his handlers took exception to team captain Carolina Morace kissing controversialist politician Vittorio Sgarbi during a segment of the Il processo di Biscardi television programme. The decision drew a withering response from Morace.{{cite news |title=Meglio Sgarbi Del Cane Gunther |url=https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1995/06/11/meglio-sgarbi-del-cane-gunther.html |access-date=24 December 2021 |publisher=la Repubblica |date=11 June 1995 |language=Italian}} The Agliana management swiftly broke off their connection with the Gunther Group, remarking: "these people have only one interest, that of advertising themselves".{{cite news |title=Bacio a Sgarbi Cane - Presidente Si Dimette |url=https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1995/06/10/bacio-sgarbi-cane-presidente-si-dimette.html |access-date=26 December 2021 |publisher=la Repubblica |date=10 June 1995 |language=Italian}}

Before the 1995–96 season, the Gunther Group instead sponsored Agliana's rivals Verona CF. The club became known as "Verona Gunther" and undertook an extensive recruitment drive, which included Italy women's national football team players Stefania Antonini, Manuela Tesse, Raffaella Salmaso, Adele Marsiletti and Florinda Ciardi. Surprisingly Carolina Morace also agreed to join the team.{{cite news |last1=Hennies |first1=Rainer |title=Werbegag statt Millionenerbe |url=https://taz.de/Werbegag-statt-Millionenerbe/!1488589/ |access-date=29 December 2021 |publisher=Die Tageszeitung |date=18 October 1995 |language=German}}

Verona won the league and Sue Lopez characterised the ownership situation as: "Verona Gunther, who won the Italian Women's Championship in 1996, are sponsored by a group of pharmaceutical companies. For publicity purposes they appointed a dog, a German shepherd called Gunther IV, as 'president' of the club and he attends all matches as the 'club's benefactor'."{{harvnb|Lopez|1997|p=136}} A report in Die Tageszeitung was less charitable: "A fraudulent German shepherd haunts Italy's women's football and cannot get away from national player Morace".

Despite reported interest in acquiring Genoa C.F.C. in November 2000, the move ultimately did not take place.{{cite news |title=Quelli del cane Gunther vogliono entrare nel Genoa |url=https://ricerca.gelocal.it/iltirreno/archivio/iltirreno/2000/11/16/LS206.html |access-date=26 December 2021 |publisher=Il Tirreno |date=16 November 2000 |language=Italian}}

In May 2002 the "Gunther Reform Trust" became the owner of Pisa Calcio,{{cite news |last1=Calabrese |first1=Giuseppe |title=Il Pisa nell' era Gunther 'Tanti soldi per salire in A' |url=https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2002/05/15/il-pisa-nell-era-gunther-tanti-soldi.html |access-date=24 December 2021 |publisher=La Repubblica |date=15 May 2002 |language=Italian}} duly installing Gunther IV as honorary president. In the 2002–03 Serie C1 season, Pisa reached the play-off final but were defeated in extra-time by U.C. AlbinoLeffe. Rival U.S. Livorno 1915 ultras unfurled a banner bearing the legend: "Poisoned meatballs for Gunther". After two further seasons ended in mid-table finishes, Mian sold Pisa in 2005.{{cite news |last1=Camedda |first1=Paolo |title=Gunther e il Pisa: quando un cane diventò presidente onorario di un club di calcio |url=https://www.goal.com/it/notizie/gunther-e-il-pisa-quando-un-cane-divento-presidente-onorario/ |access-date=23 December 2021 |publisher=Goal |date=25 August 2021 |language=Italian}}

In March 2006 The Gunther Corporation briefly held a controlling interest in Serie D club U.S. Città di Pontedera. Pornographic film actor Ilona Staller ("Cicciolina") was installed as the club "godmother", while another pornographic actress Valentine Demy served as one of three club Presidents, alongside a Polish lap dancer named Karolcia and a British rapper named Prodigal1.{{cite news |title=Tutti pazzi per Mian e Gunther IV |url=https://iltirreno.gelocal.it/pisa/sport/2010/06/06/news/tutti-pazzi-per-mian-e-gunther-iv-1.1901787 |access-date=26 December 2021 |publisher=Il Tirreno |date=6 June 2010}} The performance was related to Mian's left-libertarian views on reproductive rights and his upcoming appearance in the 2006 Italian general election.{{cite news |title=Laicità, pillola abortiva e pallone Mian si compra anche il Pontedera |url=https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2006/03/24/laicita-pillola-abortiva-pallone-mian-si-compra.html |access-date=29 December 2021 |publisher=la Repubblica |date=24 March 2006 |language=Italian}}

Mian took a 12.5% stake in Carrarese Calcio in August 2010, alongside fellow investors Gianluigi Buffon and Cristiano Lucarelli.{{cite news |last1=Santoni |first1=Luca |title=Carrarese, Maurizio Mian: "Al 90% il nostro progetto è saldo" |url=https://www.tuttoc.com/altre-news/carrarese-maurizio-mian-al-90-il-nostro-progetto-e-saldo-17843 |access-date=31 December 2021 |publisher=Tutto Mercato Web |date=11 November 2010 |language=Italian}} Despite Mian's stated loss of interest in football, his Gunther Group continued to be courted for investment in other clubs, including a return to Pisa in 2016{{cite news |title=Pisa Calcio, l'offerta di Mian e Covarelli: "Pronti a tornare" |url=https://www.lanazione.it/pisa/sport/calcio/calcio-mian-covarelli-1.2395856 |access-date=29 December 2021 |publisher=La Nazione |date=2 August 2016 |language=Italian}} and the latest reincarnation of Parma in 2015.{{cite news |title=Nuovo Parma, ora tocca a Gunther Group |url=https://parma.repubblica.it/sport/2015/06/25/news/nuovo_parma_ora_tocca_a_gunther_group-117669875/ |access-date=29 December 2021 |publisher=la Repubblica |date=25 June 2015 |language=Italian}} He partnered with Vitaly Kutuzov to take over FC Krumkachy Minsk in March 2021.{{cite news |last1=Scoglia |first1=Antonio |title=Il duo Mian-Kutuzov vicinissimo all'acquisto di un club bielorusso |url=https://iltirreno.gelocal.it/pisa/sport/2021/03/25/news/il-duo-mian-kutuzov-vicinissimo-all-acquisto-di-un-club-bielorusso-1.40073927 |access-date=31 December 2021 |publisher=Il Tirreno |date=26 March 2021 |language=Italian}}{{cite news |last1=Beardsworth |first1=James |title=How one Belarusian football club is using digital means to forge a more democratic future |url=https://www.calvertjournal.com/features/show/13041/fc-krumkachy-football-belarus-opposition-protest-fans-app-democracy |access-date=31 December 2021 |publisher=Calvert 22 Foundation |date=19 August 2021}} In June 2021 he made an abortive attempt to buy U.S. Salernitana 1919.{{cite news |last1=Noli |first1=Gabriele |title=Salernitana, Maurizio Mian vuole acquistare il club "finanziato" dal cane Gunther |url=https://corrierefiorentino.corriere.it/firenze/notizie/cronaca/21_giugno_22/salernitana-maurizio-mian-vuole-acquistare-club-finanziato-cane-gunther-8c08dd34-d375-11eb-b191-7a435620e7fe.shtml |access-date=23 December 2021 |publisher=Corriere della Sera |date=22 June 2021 |language=Italian}}