Look who's back at Portsmouth: Popular figure booked for emotional Fratton Park return for Sheffield United clash
A familiar face is back at Pompey on Saturday - and he’ll be guaranteed a rousing reception.
Milan Mandaric, the man who oversaw the Blues’ rise to the Premier League, is back at Fratton Park for the clash with Sheffield United.
Now aged 86 and dividing his time between Slovenia and Croatia, his returns to the south coast are rare these days, having previously visited just once over the last 14 years.
Nonetheless, Pompey remains close to his heart and provided his favourite times in almost half a century in football, a period still cherished by many of the Fratton faithful.
Having made his fortune in California's Silicon Valley, Mandaric paid £4.5m in May 1999 to become owner of the financially-stricken Blues, who had spent four-and-a-half months in administration.
After appointing Harry Redknapp as manager in March 2002, the pair orchestrated Pompey reaching the Premier League for the first time in the club’s history as they memorably captured the 2002-03 First Division title.
So began seven seasons in the top-flight, albeit with Sacha Gaydamak owner by the time Sol Campbell lifted the FA Cup at Wembley in May 2008.
After seven years and eight managers, Mandaric departed Fratton Park in September 2006 having relinquished full control to Gaydamak, later owning Leicester, Sheffield Wednesday and Olimpija Ljubljana.
More recently, he has been vice-president and on the management board of Serbia Superliga club Vojvodina FC, based in his hometown of Novi Sad.
Keen to catch up with old Fratton Park friends, Mandaric will be present on Saturday as the Blues seek a maiden Championship win of the campaign.
It represents his first Pompey game since attending a League One clash with MK Dons in December 2022 - and only the second match following his Leicester side’s 6-1 loss in September 2010.
However, Mandaric did come back in November 2019 to celebrate John Jenkins’ 100th birthday in the Legends Lounge at Fratton Park.
Now he will feature in the directors’ box once more for a packed house against the Blades.