Former Barcelona coach Francesc 'Tito' Vilanova has reportedly died at the age of 45 after losing a long battle with cancer that forced him to step down from his position last July.
Villanova, who was diagnosed with a cancer of the salivary gland more than two years ago, leaves behind his wife Montse Chaure-Vilanova and two children.
According to Sport24, announcing the death of their former coach, Barcelona expressed their condolences in a statement and said that space will be opened at their Camp Nou stadium for those wanting to pay their respects to the late coach over the next few days.
Tributes poured in from around the world of football, including Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu and Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, to the man that played a huge role in one of the most successful eras in Barcelona's history.
The report mentioned that Vilanova, who became close friends with current Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola when both were playing at Barcelona, began his coaching career at tiny Catalan club FC Palafrugell before joining Barcelona in 2007
The report further said that Vilanova was diagnosed with cancer in November 2011 and had to have tumour removed from his throat before returning to his coaching duties in March the following year, succeeding Guardiola and presiding over the best first half of a league season in the club's history.
Vilanova expressed his intention to stay in the job at the end of the season, but just two weeks before the start of the current campaign was forced to resign as he had to undergo further treatment, the report added.
