Tito Vilanova:Aachia ngazi Barcelona
Tito Vilanova: Barcelona manager steps down through ill health
Tito Vilanova has stepped down as Barcelona manager to continue his treatment for cancer.
The 44-year-old had a tumour removed from his throat in November 2011 before suffering a relapse last year.
Tito Vilanova factfile
- 1968: Born 17 September, Bellcaire d'Emporda, Spain
- 1988: Comes through the Barcelona youth set-up, but never makes the first team
- 1990: Joins lower-league Figueres
- 1992: Arrives at Primera Liga side Celta Vigo
- 1995: Leaves after struggling to hold down a first-team place
- 2002: Retires after short spells with a number of lower-league clubs, and starts coaching at Barca's youth academy
- 2007: After a spell as technical director at Terrassa, becomes assistant manager of Barcelona's B team, working under Pep Guardiola
- 2008: Becomes Barcelona assistant when Guardiola is made manager
- 2012: Appointed Guardiola's successor
- 2013: Steps down as Barca coach
Vilanova
had surgery in December 2012
and spent 10 weeks in New York to have chemotherapy and radiotherapy before
returning in March
to see his side
take the Spanish title.
The club said that a new manager is expected to be announced next week.
Barcelona president Sandro Rosell and director of football Andoni Zubizarreta announced the news at a brief media conference attended by the first-team squad.
Rossell said: "Tito Vilanova will continue treatment of his illness, he will not be able to continue as Barcelona's head manager.
"This is a very difficult blow to the club, but we have overcome many difficult setbacks."
Barca's friendly with Polish club Lechia Gdansk on Saturday night has been cancelled.
Vilanova replaced Pep Guardiola as manager in June 2012, having previously worked as his assistant.
Reports in Spain suggest Joan Francesc Ferrer, known as Rubi, could replace Vilanova in a caretaker capacity.
He joined Barca's coaching staff last month as an assistant to Vilanova and Jordi Roura, who took charge of the first team when Vilanova was absent last season.
Rubi was head coach of Girona last term and led the club to the Segunda Division play-offs, where they lost to Almeria.
source:bbcsports
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