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Tito Vilanova steps down as Barca manager after cancer relapse

By on July 19, 2013
Tito Vilanova's struggle against cancer continues as he is now forced to step down from his post as Barcelona manager due to his condition

Tito Vilanova’s struggle against cancer continues as he is now forced to step down from his post as Barcelona manager due to his condition

Tito Vilanova has been forced to step down from his position as Barcelona manager as to focus on his ongoing battle with throat cancer.  The successful manager will have to undergo more surgery following another relapse of cancer that was first diagnosed in 2010, forcing him to step down, explained Barca president Sandro Rosell in short press conference.  Rosell, joined by the Blaugrana’s sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta and numerous players including Lionel Messi, also said the club will announce their new manager in the coming days.  Assistant manager Joan Francesc Ferrer Sicilia “Rubí” will be the caretaker for the club until then, although the new manager will not be an in-house appointment.

Vilanova had previously had a tumor removed from his parotid gland in 2011 while being assistant manager to Pep Guardiola at the Nou Camp, but suffered a relapse of the cancer last December after taking over as the gaffer of the club.  The 44-year-old was forced to miss most of December because of the surgical intervention surgery he had, but momentarily returned to his post in January until he then had to stay in New York to receive further treatment for over two months.  Vilanova did return for the climax of the season, although his situation has worsened enough to make it impossible for him to stay as the Catalan club’s manager.

Barca have cancelled their pre-season friendly against Lechia Gdansk following the news being announced by Rosell, who said:  “After evaluating the results of the routine follow-up tests, taken by Tito Vilanova this week, he has been presented the option of being able to undergo a treatment to continue managing his illness which will be incompatible with him being the head coach of the first team from now on. “I want to ask everyone, especially the media, for him and his family, for the utmost respect for the privacy of all in this process which starts from today.”

 

“Over the next few days, we will be presenting a new coach, probably at the beginning of next week. We have met with all the players, with the captains and the veterans and we have decided not to play in Poland tomorrow.

“We have also decided that life goes on. This is a tough break for Barca but we have had many and we always come through. So, I will ask all of you for your understanding.”

Despite Vilanova’s term at Barca ending so abruptly, the Spaniard should be happy with his year at the club, in which he lead arguably the best side in the world to the La Liga title, tying Real Madrid’s record of gaining 100-points in a season.

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.