Tito Vilanova is stepping down as
coach of Barcelona to continue his treatment for cancer, club president
Sandro Rosell has confirmed.
Vilanova,
who replaced Pep Guardiola as coach of Barca last summer, had a tumour
removed from his throat in late 2011, but suffered a relapse a year
later.
He underwent another operation on his parotid gland in December
before beginning a course of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in New York.
Barcelona said in a statement on their website: 'Tito Vilanova will not continue on the Barca bench.
'President Sandro Rosell announced this Friday that the Catalan coach will not start the season.'
A solemn Tito Vilanova speaks to his players during a training session on Thursday
In a brief press conference that was
held with members of Barcelona's first team in attendance, Rosell said:
'The news I have is something that you never want to give.
'After evaluating Tito's routine tests, the treatment to follow will be incompatible with being the first-team coach.
Sandro Rosell and Andoni Zubizarreta have confirmed Vilanova's departure
'I want to ask for respect for the privacy of this process.'
'It's
a tough blow but Barca have suffered many blows and we've got through
them,' added Rosell, who said the club expect to make an announcement on
Vilanova's replacement in the coming days.
Vilanova has suffered a relapse in his battle against cancer
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