Joey Saputo
September 25, 1964 — Montreal, Canada
Joey Saputo is a Canadian businessman best known for founding CF Montréal, Major League Soccer's Montreal-based franchise, in 1992. As chairman of Bologna FC 1909 in Italy's Serie A and the namesake of Saputo Stadium, he has built an influential presence spanning North American and European soccer. His family fortune stems from Saputo Inc., one of the world's largest dairy processing companies.
Early Life and Family Background
Giuseppe "Joey" Saputo was born on September 25, 1964, into a family that had built one of Canada's most successful dairy businesses. His grandfather, Giuseppe Saputo, emigrated from Sicily and founded Saputo Inc. in Montreal in 1954, initially producing cheese in a small workshop. Under the leadership of Joey's father, Lino Saputo, the company grew into a multinational dairy powerhouse, eventually becoming one of the largest cheese and dairy producers in the world. Growing up amid this entrepreneurial success, Joey Saputo was immersed in both business and a deep passion for soccer, a sport widely followed within Montreal's Italian-Canadian community. This combination of financial resources, family business acumen, and genuine love for the game would shape the course of his adult life. Rather than focusing solely on the family dairy operations, Saputo channeled his energy and resources into professional soccer, seeing an opportunity to elevate the sport's profile in a Canadian sports landscape historically dominated by hockey. His upbringing gave him both the capital and the vision to pursue soccer ownership on a serious, long-term scale.
Building a Soccer Empire
In 1992, Joey Saputo founded the Montreal Impact, a professional soccer club that would become the centerpiece of his sporting legacy. He guided the team through various league affiliations before securing its entry into Major League Soccer in 2012, a significant milestone that brought top-tier professional soccer to Montreal on a permanent basis. The club was later rebranded as CF Montréal in 2021. Saputo also built and named Saputo Stadium, a dedicated soccer venue in Montreal that gave the franchise a modern home and helped legitimize soccer-specific infrastructure in Canada. Beyond his domestic efforts, Saputo expanded his soccer interests internationally by becoming chairman of Bologna FC 1909, a storied Italian club competing in Serie A. Under his ownership, Bologna has pursued renewed ambitions, investing in infrastructure and squad development while honoring the club's century-long history. Saputo's dual role as a North American MLS owner and a European Serie A chairman is relatively rare, giving him a unique cross-continental perspective on the global soccer business and allowing him to apply lessons from each market to the other.
Did You Know?
Joey Saputo's family dairy company, Saputo Inc., began in 1954 as a small cheese-making operation founded by his grandfather in Montreal, and it eventually grew into one of the largest dairy processors in the world—providing the financial foundation that let Joey pursue his passion for soccer ownership.
Legacy and Impact on Canadian Soccer
Joey Saputo's decades-long investment in soccer has left a lasting mark on the sport in Canada. By founding and sustaining a professional club through decades of lower-tier competition before reaching MLS, he demonstrated patience and commitment that helped establish soccer as a viable professional sport in a market long dominated by hockey. Saputo Stadium stands as a physical testament to his contributions, providing a permanent, purpose-built home for professional soccer in Montreal. His ownership of Bologna FC has similarly aimed to restore prestige to a historic European club, reflecting his broader ambition to leave a mark on the sport internationally. As chairman and president, Saputo has remained a visible and hands-on figure in both organizations, involved in decisions ranging from stadium development to club branding and strategic direction. His efforts have also indirectly supported the growth of soccer culture in Quebec and across Canada, inspiring greater investment in youth development and professional infrastructure. Combining business success inherited from his family's dairy empire with genuine passion for the sport, Saputo's legacy is that of a builder who turned personal enthusiasm into lasting institutions on two continents.
