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Former Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova dies at age of 45

Football

By -AFP | Apr 26, 2014

MADRID

Tito Vilanova

(AFP) Tito Vilanova, who lost his brave battle against cancer on Friday, made a massive impression at Barcelona despite his time at the club being cruelly curtailed by his illness.

He was forced to stand aside last July after just 14 months in charge at the Nou Camp when he suffered a relapse.

Vilanova first had a tumour removed from his throat in November 2011 whilst still working as an assistant to Pep Guardiola at the Spanish giants, but returned to coaching duties in March the following year.

He then went on to succeed Guardiola as head coach of the Catalans after the latter decided to step down at the end of the 2011/12 season.

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However, after an amazing start to his first senior managerial role on the field as Barcelona made the best ever start to a Spanish league campaign, the club was rocked by the news in December 2012 that the cancer had reappeared.

Vilanova had surgery on a salivary gland and then spent two months in New York receiving chemotherapy treatment before returning to the touchline for Barca’s Champions League quarter-final tie against Paris Saint-Germain in March.

Despite that defeat Vilanova continually stressed that he wanted to continue as Barca boss for the upcoming season.

“I feel fine. I have the energy and the desire to continue at the head of the team next season,” he said.