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Tito Vilanova

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In thisSpanish name,the first or paternalsurnameisVilanovaand the second or maternal family name isBayó.
Tito Vilanova
Vilanova in 2012
Personal information
Full name Francesc Vilanova Bayó
Date of birth (1968-09-17)17 September 1968
Place of birth Bellcaire d'Empordà,Spain
Date of death 25 April 2014(2014-04-25)(aged 45)
Place of death Barcelona,Spain
Height 1.82 m (5 ft11+1⁄2in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1984–1987 Barcelona
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1987–1988 Barcelona C 35 (3)
1988–1990 Barcelona B 52 (6)
1990–1992 Figueres 72 (6)
1992–1995 Celta 26 (1)
1995–1996 Badajoz 33 (2)
1996–1997 Mallorca 10 (0)
1997–1998 Lleida 21 (3)
1998–2000 Elche 63 (6)
2000–2001 Gramenet 28 (2)
Total 340 (29)
Managerial career
2002–2003 Barcelona (youth)
2003–2004 Palafrugell
2005–2006 Figueres
2006–2007 Terrassa
2007–2008 Barcelona B(assistant)
2008–2012 Barcelona(assistant)
2012–2013 Barcelona
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Francesc"Tito"Vilanova Bayó(17 September 1968 – 25 April 2014) was a Spanish professionalfootballcentral midfielderandmanager.

After a career which consisted of a total of 26La Ligamatches in three seasons, all withCelta,he went on to work withBarcelonaas an assistant coach underPep Guardiola,being part of the squad that had won 14 titles.[1]

Vilanova was appointed as first-team manager in 2012,winning La Liga in his only season.He stepped down in July 2013 due to ill health, and died the next year from throat cancer.

Playing career[edit]

Born inBellcaire d'Empordà,Girona,Catalonia,Vilanova emerged in theyouth ranksof localBarcelona,but left theLa Ligagiants in 1990 unable to break through into the first team.[1]His next club was also in his native region,Figueres,with the player helping to its best-everSegunda Divisiónclassification in the1991–92 campaign(third place); the team would eventually faceCádizin the promotion play-offs, losing 3–1 on aggregate.[2]

Subsequently, Vilanova moved to the top division withCelta,but appeared rarely over three full seasons,[3]returning to division two in 1995 and representingBadajoz,Mallorca– contributing ten matches as theBalearic Islandssidepromoted to the top flight–LleidaandElche,retiring in December 2001 with lowlyGramenet.[4][5]

During his time at Lleida, in a 1998Copa Catalunyagame against Barcelona, coached byJosé Mourinhowho swapped responsibilities with head coachLouis van Gaalduring the tournament, Vilanova scored a goal, becoming the first player to net against a team directed by the Portuguese.[6]

Coaching career[edit]

Vilanova (far right) as an assistant manager of Barcelona B

Vilanova started hiscoachingcareer with Barcelona's youth squad Cadet B in 2002 after the club had promised him a coaching role should he decide to retire. Tito came into a team boasting promising talents like Lionel Messi, Cesc Fabregas and Gerard Pique and is considered the first coach to experiment with Messi in the role of false 9.[7]As coach of the Cadet B squad, the team beat Espanyol's Junior A team to the title and also won the Meastrelli Cup in Pisa, winning the final against Parma 2-0.

In2003–04,Tito Vilanova took charge ofTercera DivisiónsidePalafrugellbut suffered relegation toPrimera Catalana.[8][9]After working as technical director atTerrassahe was appointed assistant manager atBarcelona B,under managerPep Guardiola,with the team in the fourth tier.[1]

In the summer of 2008, after leading the reserves topromotiontoSegunda División B,Vilanova and Guardiola were assigned to the first team, replacing Dutch duoFrank RijkaardandJohan Neeskens.[1]His first yearat theCamp Nouwas the most successful in the club's history, with the side winning six major trophies and becoming the first in Spain to conquer theCopa del Rey,league andUEFA Champions Leaguetitles (the treble) in the same season.[10]

Tito was the first person who had faith in me because at the time, I was a substitute or didn't play, and he was the one who made me starter in the under-16 category.

—Lionel Messi[11]

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;[12]on 15 June, he signed a two-year contract.[13]The same year,Lionel Messirevealed that Vilanova was the first coach at the club to trust him, and made him a starter for their under-16 teams.[11]

Vilanova managed to field eleven academy graduates at the same time in a league game againstLevanteon 25 November 2012, afterDani Alvesleft with an injury early on and wasreplacedbyMartín Montoya.[14][11]His team went on to lose only eight competitive matches duringthe campaign,scoring at least once in every league fixture and winning their 22nd domestic championship by a record margin of 15 points, totalling 100 in the process.[15][16]

Following his death, the Trofeo Maestrelli organizers decided to rename the trophy awarded to the best coach of Europe in his honor, citing his human qualities and coaching achievements.[17]Tito had previously won the youth under-16 Maestrelli Cup back in 2002.

Health issues and death[edit]

On 19 December 2012, Barcelona announced that Vilanova was suffering fromparotid glandcancer for the second time.[18][19]He was first diagnosed on 22 November of the previous year.[20]

Vilanova underwent surgery on 20 December 2012, subsequently being in chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment for around six weeks.[21]AssistantJordi Rouratook over as head coach, with Vilanova returning to the bench in late March 2013.[22]

On 19 July 2013, Vilanova resigned as Barcelona manager as he relapsed from his condition, stating that the related treatment was not compatible with the status of a professional manager.[23][24]He died on 25 April 2014, due to complications from cancer, at the age of 45 after suffering a relapse the previous week.[25][26]

Personal life[edit]

Vilanova was married to Montse Chaure.[27]The couple had two children, daughter Carlota and sonAdrià,with the latter also being involved in Barcelona's youth system.[28]

In 2013, while Vilanova was inNew York Cityfor his cancer treatment, Pep Guardiola was also living in the city on asabbatical.He was disappointed that Guardiola only came to see him once, stating: "He's my friend and I needed him, but he wasn't there for me."[29][30]

Honours[edit]

Manager[edit]

Individual[edit]

Managerial statistics[edit]

Team From To Record[32][33][34]
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
Barcelona 1 July 2012 19 July 2013 45 34 6 5 121 51 +70 075.56

References[edit]

  1. ^abcdMarcet, Jaume (22 June 2008)."Guardiola's right-hand man".FC Barcelona.Retrieved29 December2009.
  2. ^Argudo, Javier (17 November 2019)."Cuando la UE Figueres rozó el ascenso a Primera División"[When UE Figueres nearly promoted toPrimera División] (in Spanish). Fútbol Retro.Retrieved2 April2021.
  3. ^"Tito Vilanova"(in Spanish). Yo Jugué en el Celta. 27 August 2009.Retrieved2 May2014.
  4. ^Shaw, Duncan (28 December 2008)."Guardiola's dilemma: should I stay or should I go?".Monsters and Critics.Retrieved29 December2009.
  5. ^Ayala, Manuel (21 December 2001)."Xuts"[Kicks].Mundo Deportivo(in Catalan). Barcelona.Retrieved2 December2012.
  6. ^"Tito Vilanova, el primer a marcar un gol a Mourinho com a entrenador"[Tito Vilanova, first to score goal against Mourinho as a manager].Ara(in Catalan). 4 May 2012.Retrieved4 May2012.
  7. ^Balague, Guillem (2022).Messi.London: Orion Publishing Group Ltd. pp. 155–156.ISBN9781399605809.
  8. ^Fibla, A.; Noguer, I. (1 May 2012)."Sempre ho ha tingut clar"[It has always been clear to him].El Punt(in Catalan). Girona.Retrieved2 December2012.
  9. ^Roura, Jordi (28 April 2012)."De Palafrugell al Camp Nou en 10 anys"[From Palafrugell to the Camp Nou in 10 years].Diari de Girona(in Catalan).Retrieved2 December2012.
  10. ^"Guardiola: Barca are the" best team in the world "".ESPN Soccernet.27 May 2008.Retrieved29 December2009.
  11. ^abcSchepanskyi, Den (April 2021)."Messi: 'Tito was the first person who had faith in me because at the time, I was a substitute or didn't play'".Tribuna. Archived fromthe originalon 29 May 2021.Retrieved29 May2021.
  12. ^"Vilanova follows Guardiola".ESPN Soccernet. 27 April 2012.Retrieved27 April2012.
  13. ^"Tito Vilanova to sign deal to become Barcelona manager".BBC Sport.14 June 2012.Retrieved14 June2012.
  14. ^Soria, Miki (25 November 2012)."Cumplió el sueño de jugar con once jugadores de La Masia"[Dream of playing with eleven players from La Masia fulfilled].Sport(in Spanish).Retrieved3 June2021.
  15. ^abPaniagua, Mario (19 July 2013)."Tito Vilanova, una temporada de récord"[Tito Vilanova, a record season] (in Spanish).Cadena SER.Retrieved21 January2019.
  16. ^"Tito Vilanova, el glorioso del barcelonismo"[Tito Vilanova, the glorious one ofbarcelonismo].Fox Sports(in Spanish). 25 April 2014.Retrieved21 January2019.
  17. ^"Tito Vilanova donarà nom al trofeu Maestrelli al millor entrenador europeu".2 December 2014.Retrieved24 April2024.
  18. ^Giménez, Santi (19 December 2012)."Tito recae en su enfermedad"[Tito relapses in illness].Diario AS(in Spanish).Retrieved19 December2012.
  19. ^"Tito Vilanova recae de su enfermedad"[Tito relapses in illness].Mundo Deportivo(in Spanish). 19 December 2012.Retrieved19 December2012.
  20. ^Escorcia, Dagoberto (22 November 2011)."Tito Vilanova, operado de un tumor en Barcelona"[Tito Vilanova, tumor surgery in Barcelona].La Vanguardia(in Spanish).Retrieved19 December2012.
  21. ^"Tito Vilanova será operado este jueves"[Tito Vilanova to be operated Thursday] (in Spanish). FC Barcelona. 19 December 2012.Retrieved19 December2012.
  22. ^Herrero, Gemma (22 March 2013)."Roura viaja con el billete para Vilanova"[Roura travels with ticket to Vilanova].Marca(in Spanish).Retrieved2 May2014.
  23. ^"Tito Vilanova: Barcelona manager steps down through ill health".BBC Sport. 19 July 2013.Retrieved19 July2013.
  24. ^Cabezas, Francisco (19 July 2013)."Tito Vilanova deja el Barça"[Tito Vilanova leaves Barça].El Mundo(in Spanish).Retrieved22 July2013.
  25. ^"Muere Tito Vilanova"[Tito Vilanova dies].Mundo Deportivo(in Spanish). 25 April 2014.Retrieved25 April2014.
  26. ^"Ex-Barcelona coach loses cancer battle aged 45".BBC Sport. 25 April 2014.Retrieved29 April2014.
  27. ^"Montse Chaure/ Montse Vilanova: FC Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova's wife".Fabwags. 2 April 2013.Retrieved25 April2014.
  28. ^"Adrià Vilanova, hijo de Tito, se entrena con el Barcelona"[Adrià Vilanova, son of Tito, trains with Barcelona].Diario AS(in Spanish). 26 September 2013.Retrieved2 May2014.
  29. ^"Barcelona's Tito Vilanova 'surprised' by Pep Guardiola accusations".The Guardian.16 July 2013. Archived fromthe originalon 29 May 2021.Retrieved29 May2021.
  30. ^Peck, Brooks (26 April 2014)."Pep Guardiola mourns the death of Tito Vilanova during Bayern Munich victory".Yahoo! Sports.Archived fromthe originalon 29 May 2021.Retrieved29 May2021.
  31. ^Egea, Pablo; Olmedo, Álvaro (2 December 2013)."La gran fiesta del fútbol español"[The great party of Spanish football].Marca(in Spanish).Retrieved9 November2020.
  32. ^Tito Vilanova coach profileat Soccerway
  33. ^"FC Barcelona"(in German).Kicker.Retrieved25 April2014.
  34. ^"FC Barcelona » Manager history".Worldfootball.Retrieved25 April2014.

External links[edit]

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