Fiorentina owner Commisso passed away this morning at the age of 76.
Iachini said on Radio Firenzeviola today: "It's a huge pain and disappointment. We knew he was ill, but it always hurts. He had his clubs and a great passion for Fiorentina, and he felt bad for the team. When he arrived in Florence, he was worried about Fiorentina's situation. There had been a change of ownership and there was a lot of confusion.
"When we met, he spent two or three weeks watching the training sessions, and the first time we had lunch, he said to me: 'You're a lot like me, you're a hard worker.' He became a bit like my second father.
"He always demanded commitment from his collaborators and treated his players like his own sons, to show you the depth of the person. He always said to me: 'Beppe, we can survive.'
"He was there for me when I was sick with Covid. It seems like coaching a team like Fiorentina is all normal, but it's not, and he understood it."
"In the end, we finished ninth, and while he was worried about the risk of the league standings, he later gave credit to the work he had done. Now I'm shocked; it's as if a relative had died.
"The family are warm-hearted, humble people, and Florence had a great president. He wanted to do a great job with Fiorentina; he created a beautiful training center. This shows how he wanted only the best for Florence and always asked me to do my best.
"I remember the conversations we had with him during the pandemic, and he would cheer us on and joke around, telling the players to always listen to me as their coach. He was someone I respected, who with dedication, honesty, and determination built clubs like Fiorentina."
Iachini added, "He was always ready to protect his team; woe betide anyone who touched the players, the staff, and any member of the team. His presence in Florence changed everything.
"He was always on the pitch, always asking the players how they were doing, and he was always ready to help others; he always helped those who didn't play often and were struggling."