Former Barcelona Head Coach Tito Vilanova has died, aged 45.
The tragic news was announced by Barcelona football club today after the coach succumbed to throat cancer. In 2012, the club announced that Vilanova was suffering from throat cancer for the second time in his life. He was first diagnosed a year earlier with the condition.
Vilanova underwent surgery in December 2012, and underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment for around six weeks. His assistant Jordi Roura took over as head coach of Barca until Vilanova returned to coach the first time in March 2013. Unfortunately Vilanova had to resign as manager after he relapsed from his condition in July 2013.
As a coach, Vilanova won the 2012-13 La Liga title with Barcelona. He managed the club from 2012-13, and achieved an incredible 71% win percentage. He was also a successful footballer, having a long career from 1988 to 2001 with several clubs in Spain.
On behalf of everyone at World Soccer Talk, we’d like to express our condolences to the friends and family of Tito Vilanova.
