Tito Vilanova will step down as Barcelona manager with immediate effect, according to reports emerging from Spain.
As tweeted by CNN sports correspondent Tancredi Palmeri, the 44-year-old boss is ready to call time on his Camp Nou career after
suffering a second relapse in his battle against cancer:
Despite spending much of the 2012/13 La Liga season in rehabilitation, Vilanova lead the Catalan giants to the domestic title during his only season in charge.
The former coach replaced Pep Guardiola as manager and struggled through a campaign that saw many question his decision to leave a seemingly uninjured Lionel Messi out of the Champions League semifinal second-leg defeat to Bayern Munich.
Tensions between Vilanova and Guardiola have threatened to overshadow an extremely positive preseason for Barcelona.
Despite the recent signing of Brazilian wonderkid Neymar, Vilanova has been forced to deal with claims the Barcelona board used his personal illness to soil Guardiola’s legend in Spain, as reported by The
Guardian.
Vilanova’s long association with Barcelona began in 1984 and has seen
him rise through the ranks both as player and coach. With his exit
confirmed, the domestic champions now join many of Europe’s elite
clubs in an era of managerial change.
With Jose Mourinho leaving Real Madrid for Chelsea, the battle between La Liga’s behemoths is changing at a rapid pace. Carlo Ancelotti has already exerted his influence at the Bernabeu with the signings of Isco, Dani Carvijal and Carlos Casimiro.
Barcelona’s new manager will have little time to order his squad
before the new season. The club’s opening 2013/14 La Liga fixture
against Levante kicks off on August 18, ensuring the board must secure an incoming coach as a matter of urgency.
