Former FC Barcelona Coach Tito Vilanova has lost his battle with thoat cancer and passed away at the age of 45 today. He led the club to the Spanish League (La Liga) title in his only season in charge. Vilanova succeeded Pep Guardiola as the coach of the Catalan giants.
“It is with sadness that Barcelona must announce that Francesc ‘Tito’ Vilanova has died today at the age of 45,” Barcelona said in a statement on its website. “The death of our former coach occurred this afternoon when he could not overcome this disease which he had battled since 2011.”
Vilanova has battled a recurring tumour in his saliva glands. He was admitted to a local hospital in Barcelona last week and reportedly had emergency surgery on Thursday.
News of his death prompted tributes and condolences from around the footy world.
Barcelona’s star striker Lionel Messi posted a photograph of himself with Vilanova on his Facebook page with the message: “We will always remember you. All my sympathy goes to Tito’s family.”
Former Barcelona defender Eric Abidal, who battled liver cancer while Vilanova was coaching the club, and returned in time to help hoist the 2012-13 league trophy with Vilanova, wrote on Twitter: “For everything we went through together, I will always remember you, my friend. Thanks for fighting.”
Vilanova was an assistant to Pep Guardiola and helped grow Barcelona into one of the Worlds top clubs and a Champions League title.
He will be remembered for his part in an on-field brawl between Barcelona and Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup in 2010, when Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho poked him in the eye.
Mourinho, who is now at Chelsea, also sent his condolences “at this most difficult time.”
“Tito Vilanova’s passing is a sad day for football, for Barcelona and most importantly for his family and friends,” Mourinho said.
Vilanova is survived by his wife, Montse Chaure, and two children. His son Adrian is currently in Barcelona’s youth academy.
We here at LWOS offer our thoughts and prayers to his family, friends, and all effected by his loss.
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