Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova is to step down from his position due to a cancer relapse, ESPN and other news outlets are reporting. The 44-year-old missed part of last season due tohis ongoing battle with the illness. Barcelona confirmed via a statement on its Web site that a press conference on Friday evening.
“This Friday at 20:30, there will be a pressconference featuring president Sandro Rosell and director of soccer Andoni Zubizarreta in the press room at the Ciudad Deportiva.”
ESPN columnistGraham Hunter told Sky Sports News: “Off the record, the directors are briefing that Tito Vilanova has come to them following the regular check-ups that you would expect forsomebody who has had such intense radiotherapy and chemotherapy to fight off a cancerous tumour in his saliva gland. It’s been affecting him now for 18 months, maybe a little bit more, and thecheck-ups have shown that there is a renewed problem.”
Vilanova took over the head coaching position after Pep Guardiola resigned at the end of the 2011-12campaign. He led Barca to the La Liga title last season.