Barcelona’s Former Manager Tito Vilanova Dies At 45

Former coach of Barcelona Tito Vilanova, died on Friday (today) after losing years battle with throat cancer.

Vilanova, succeeded Pep Guardiola at the club and won the Spanish league title in his only season in charge, has battled a recurring tumor in a salivary gland. He was last week admitted to a local hospital in Barcelona after the ailment had earlier cut short his coaching career.

He reportedly had emergency surgery on Thursday.

“It is with sadness that Barcelona must announce that Francesc ‘Tito’ Vilanova has died today at the age of 45,” the club said on their website.

“The death of our former coach occurred this afternoon when he could not overcome this disease which he had battled since 2011.”

As an assistant, Vilanova helped Guardiola propel Barcelona into their most successful period and transform a team led by Lionel Messi into one of the world’s best ever. Barcelona won 14 of a possible 19 major trophies from 2008-12 under Guardiola before adding the league title with Vilanova in 2013.

Barcelona’s president, Josep Maria Bartomeu, said on Twitter: “Tito Vilanova was a wonderful person, and will never be forgotten at FC Barcelona. Thank you for everything you taught us. Rest in peace.”

Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho, who poked Vilanova during a match between Barcelona and the club he was managing then, Real Madrid, said on his club’s Twitter account: “Tito Vilanova’s passing is a sad day for football, for Barcelona and most importantly for his family and friends.

“On behalf of everybody at Chelsea Football Club I send my deepest condolences at this most difficult time.”

Vilanova was 45. He is survived by his wife, Montse Chaure, and two children one (Adrian) of who is in Barcelona’s youth academy.

2 COMMENTS

  1. Well, there is nothing we can do to stop death. I onbehalf of my family, my club(CFC) and the rest ofthe football fans throughout the world condole with FC BARCA and his family the great lost.
    May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace.