The football world is mourning the loss of former Geelong president Frank Costa who died at the age of 83.

Costa had been battling cancer for the past year and died peacefully Sunday morning.

He leaves behind his wife Shirley and eight daughters.

Costa is synonymous with saving Geelong from the depths of despair in the late 1990s, saving them from the prospect of playing all games in Melbourne and turning them into a modern-day powerhouse.

At the time of his appointment as president in 1998, the Cats were in financial strife, but along with Brian Cook as chief executive, Costa turned the club around and began the rebuild of Kardinia Park.

Success on-field followed as the Cats broke a 44-year premiership hoodoo in 2007.

The Cats tasted success again in 2009 before Costa called time on his presidency in 2010.

Football identities including Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett paid tribute to Costa for his passion for the Cats and the Geelong community.