Francesc “Tito” Vilanova i Bayó (17 September 1968 – 25 April 2014) was a Spanish manager and footballer who played as a central midfielder.
After a professional playing career which culminated in three seasons in La Liga, where he played 26 games in three seasons for Celta de Vigo, Vilanova went on to work with Barcelona as an assistant coach under Pep Guardiola, being part of the squads that won 14 titles.
In 2012 Vilanova was appointed first-team manager, winning the La Liga title in his first season. Vilanova resigned as Barcelona coach due to ill health in July 2013, ten months before his death from cancer.
Barcelona: Former Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova has died aged 45 following a battle with cancer that forced him to stand down at the end of last season, the club announced on Friday.
Playing Career
Born in Bellcaire d’Empordà, Girona, Catalonia, Vilanova emerged in the youth ranks of local FC Barcelona, but left the La Liga giants in 1990 unable to break through into the first team. His next club was also in his native region, UE Figueres, with the player helping the team to its best-ever Segunda División classification in the 1991–92 season (third place); the club would eventually face Cádiz CF in the promotion play-offs, losing 1–3 on aggregate. Subsequently Vilanova moved to the top level with Celta de Vigo, but appeared rarely over the course of three full seasons, returning to division two in 1995 and representing CD Badajoz, RCD Mallorca – contributing with ten games as the Balearic Islands side promoted to the top flight – UE Lleida and Elche CF, retiring in December 2001 with lowly UDA Gramenet in his native region.
During his time at Lleida, in a 1998 Copa Catalunya game against Barcelona, coached by José Mourinho who swapped responsibilities with head coach Louis van Gaal during the tournament, Vilanova scored a goal, becoming the first player to net against a team directed by the Portuguese.
Managerial Career
Vilanova started his coaching career in 2003–04, being in charge of Tercera División outfit FC Palafrugell and suffering relegation to Primera Catalana. After working as technical director at Terrassa FC he was appointed assistant manager at FC Barcelona B, under manager Pep Guardiola, with the club in the fourth level.
In the summer of 2008, after leading the reserve side to promotion to Segunda División B, Vilanova and Guardiola were assigned to the Barcelona first team, replacing Dutch duo Frank Rijkaard and Johan Neeskens. His first season at the Camp Nou was the most successful in Barcelona’s history, with the club winning six major trophies, becoming the first team in Spain to win the domestic cup, league and European club titles (the treble) in the same season.
On 27 April 2012, at the press conference in which Barcelona confirmed Guardiola’s departure, it was also announced that Vilanova would be his successor. On 15 June he signed a two-year contract, and the team went on to lose only eight competitive games during the season, winning its 22nd domestic championship.
Quote to Tito Vilanova :
“Tito Vilanova has passed away today at the age of 45. It happened this afternoon as our former coach was not able to overcome a disease he has fought since 2011,” said Barcelona.
“The club wishes to express their deepest condolences to his family with whom it shares their pain in these moments as do fans, members of FC Barcelona and all the world of football and sport,” added the club statement.
Barcelona and Argentina forward Lionel Messi paid tribute to his former coach.
“Tito was the 1st person who had faith in me,” four-times World Player of the Year Messi said on his Twitter feed. “I was a substitute – then he started me for the Under 16s.”
Michel Platini, president of European soccer’s ruling body UEFA, also hailed Vilanova’s contribution to his old club.
“I was deeply saddened to hear the news of Tito Vilanova’s passing,” the former France playmaker told http://www.uefa.com.
“He was a great person and a fantastic coach who will always be remembered for his work at FC Barcelona. I send my condolences to Tito’s family and to the club.”
Vilanova, a midfielder who came through Barca’s youth system but was let go in 1990, played for several lower league teams before finally getting his chance in the Spanish top flight with Celta Vigo where he played for three season in the mid-1990s.
It was as a coach though that he made his mark and he began working with the Barcelona youth teams, training future first team players like Lionel Messi, Gerard Pique and Cesc Fabregas.
After several seasons away from the Catalan club he returned in 2007 as assistant to Guardiola with the Barca B team. The following season the pair took charge of the first team and Vilanova went on to play a key role in the club’s success.Florentino Perez, president of Barca’s arch-rivals Real Madrid, also mourned Vilanova’s passing.
“I want to express my profound sorrow over the death of Tito Vilanova and pass on, in the name of Real Madrid, our condolences, support and love to his family, FC Barcelona and especially to his wife and children,” Perez told the Marca newspaper.
“It is a day of considerable sadness for all fans of football and to recognise his personal and professional life.”
Barca sports director Andoni Zubizarreta said the club would offer their support to Vilanova’s family.
“A great man has left us, a loving husband, father and a total Barcelona member,” said Zubizarreta.
“We have to give our support to the family of Tito. Barca also is his family and we will remember him for ever.”
Source :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tito_Vilanova#cite_note-4
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