Alex Haditaghi, a Canadian businessman of Iranian origin, made headlines in Croatia after publicly rejecting Dinamo Zagreb’s interest in hiring Polish coach Óscar García. The statement came after Dinamo’s former manager, Mario Kovačević, departed the club. Dinamo’s president, Zvonimir Boban, had identified García as a preferred candidate, but Haditaghi, who owns the Polish club Pogoń Szczecin, declined the offer. Haditaghi was born on 2 November 1978 in Mashhad, Iran. Following the death of his father in the late 1980s, he and his siblings fled Iran with their mother and settled in Toronto, Canada. The family struggled with poverty in their early years, and Haditaghi reportedly sold food and water at sports venues when he was eight to help support his mother. He later earned a degree from York University and entered the financial sector in the early 2000s. He founded Pacific Mortgage Group and its subsidiary Radius Financial, both of which are now among Canada’s leading non‑bank mortgage institutions. He also established MortgageBrokers.com, which was recognized as one of the fastest‑growing companies in Ontario. In 2021, he acquired the Greek club Kavala, and in March 2025 he purchased Pogoń Szczecin, which was on the brink of bankruptcy. He reportedly invested more than ten million euros in the club, securing its financial stability and preventing the loss of its competitive licence. Haditaghi’s public statements about the acquisition have been described as theatrical. In press releases he compared the purchase to a high‑stakes poker game and a chess match, and he has expressed strong affection for the city of Szczecin, citing a personal connection that began with a romantic interest in a local woman. He has also spoken about football stadiums as “cathedrals of community and passion.” The businessman has been involved in several controversies. In 2016, a photo of Haditaghi presenting a white lion cub to pop star Justin Bieber in Ottawa sparked criticism from the animal‑rights organization PETA, which alleged that the incident promoted the trade of exotic animals. Haditaghi has denied any wrongdoing and has stated that the animal was part of his private zoo in Toronto. Despite these controversies, Haditaghi has maintained a philanthropic focus. He regularly donates food to soup kitchens and shelters for the homeless in Toronto and supports refugees who face similar hardships to those he experienced as a child. He has also expressed a particular interest in helping refugees in the current global crisis. The incident with Dinamo Zagreb has drawn attention to Haditaghi’s growing influence in European football, as well as to his broader business and philanthropic activities.
Article source: Večernji List | Image credit: Večernji List