Tito Vilanova: Barcelona to honour late former manager by renaming their training ground after him

Vilanova died in April this year after losing his battle with throat cancer

Jack de Menezes
Tuesday 16 September 2014 14:29 BST
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Barcelona have announced that the will rename their training ground after the late Tito Vilanova, their former coach who sadly died earlier this year aged just 45.

Vilanova’s death brought great sadness not just at the Catalan club, but across the sport worldwide, and the Spanish club’s board have agreed that the first team training complex in Ciudad Deportiva de Sant Joan Despi would have its name changed to honour the club’s former manager.

Vilanova took over at Barcelona following Pep Guardiola’s exit in the summer of 2012, but he would be diagnosed with throat cancer for a second time during the season that forced him to miss part of the season between December and March as he underwent treatment and chemotherapy.

He returned to the dugout though for the season run in, and guided Barcelona to a tremendous La Liga title, the 22nd in their history.

A banner unveiled at the Nou Camp in memory of Tito Vilanova

He would announce his resignation as Barcelona manager in July 2013 after suffering a relapse in his recovery from cancer, and sadly passed away less than a year later following a third relapse in April 2014.

The move is a touching gesture from the club and pays respect to a man who is still held in the hearts of many of the current Barcelona side that played under his leadership such as Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi.

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