Tito Vilanova is a former football player and coach. Tito Vilanova spent his professional career at Barcelona and remained there until 1990. He departed the La Liga giants and played for UE Figueres shortly after the team’s breakthrough.
Vilanova started playing at a young age in the FC Barcelona youth division in his hometown.
He really spent three years on the young team before making his professional debut.
Table of Contents
Childhood & Parents
Tito Vilanova was born under the Virgo sun sign on September 17, 1968, in Bellcaire d’Empordà, Spain to Maria Rosa Bayo and Joaquim Vilanova.
Vilanova, however, used to live a secret existence and never let the world into the most private aspects of it.
As a result, there is no information available on his academic record, family history, or early years.
Net Worth
Tito Vilanova is anticipated to have a $5 million net worth prior to passing away.
Facts of Tito Vilanova
Full Name | Francesc “Tito” Vilanova Bayó |
Date of Birth | September 17, 1968 |
Birth Place | Bellcaire d’Empordà, Spain |
Nick Name | Tito |
Religion | Christianity |
Nationality | Spanish |
Ethnicity | Unknown |
Zodiac Sign | Virgo |
Date of Death | April 25, 2014 (aged 45) |
Cause of Death | Complications from cancer |
Death Place | Barcelona, Spain |
Father’s Name | Joaquim Vilanova |
Mother’s Name | Maria Rosa Bayo |
Siblings | None |
Education | Unknown |
Marital Status | Married |
Wife | Montse Chaure |
Kids | Two children; Daughter Carlota Vilanova Son Adrià Vilanova |
Profession | Football center midfielder |
Teams played | Barcelona Figueres Celta Badajoz Mallorca Lleida Elche Gramenet |
Playing Career | 1984-2001 |
Post Retirement | Coach |
Teams Coached | Palafrugell Barcelona |
Coaching Career | 2003-2013 |
Jersey Number | Unknown |
Active Years | 1984-2013 |
Net Worth | Around $5 million |
Social Media | |
Merch | Tito Vilanova: El presente del Braca (Spanish Edition) |
Last Update | June 2022 |
Career
Vilanova started playing at a young age in the FC Barcelona youth division in his hometown. He really spent three years on the young team before making his professional debut.
Vilanova spent his professional career at Barcelona and remained there until 1990. He departed the La Liga giants and played for UE Figueres shortly after the team’s breakthrough.
He remained with the team for two years, and during that time, he guided them to third place in the Segunda División standings.
He signed up with the RC Celta de Vigo in 1992 and stayed with them for three complete seasons.
Vilanova’s meeting with the Celt was quite unusual, though. He eventually returned to division two and played for CD Badajoz and RCD Mallorca for one season apiece.
He was elevated to the top position with UE Lleida, where he had previously scored against Barcelona in a 1998 Copa Catalunya match.
With this goal, he became the first player to score against a Portuguese-coached team.
He spent two seasons with Elche CF and one with UDA Gramenet after leaving Lleida. In order to begin his career as a coach, Vilanova hung his boots here in 2001.
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Career in Coaching
Tito Vilanova started training with the Cadete B team at La Masia in 2001 after he stopped playing. After that, he started working as a coach with FC Palafrugell of the Tercera División.
Vilanova reportedly served as technical director for Terrassa FC before joining his friend Pep Guardiola as FC Barcelona B’s assistant manager following the 2004 campaign.
Vilanova and Guardiola were promoted to Segunda División B during team time. They took over the team as a result, replacing the Dutch tandem of Frank Rijkaard and Johan Neeskens.
Vilanova provided opportunities to the deserving young members of the team during those times.
He had actually helped the squad grow by giving the young sportsmen opportunities to play in the games.
Tito aided the development of outstanding club talents like Lionel Messi, Gerard Pique, and Cesc Fabregas during his time in charge.
Vilanova achieved success at Camp Nou as well, winning six important trophies.
Not to mention, they made history by winning both the UEFA Champions League and Copa del Rey League championships in the same season for the first time in Spain.
Guardiola announced his departure from the team in 2012 as the partnership continued to be successful, and Vilanova assumed full leadership.
However, when Guardiola left the team, many people were concerned that Barcelona would not be successful. To give an example, he won their 22nd domestic championship when he was in office.
He guided the squad to maintain a record margin of 15 points after at least one score in every game, amassing a total of 100 in the process.
Barcelona and His Achievements Record
Without a question, Villanova exceeded everyone’s expectations. Vilanova did approach games directly, but what really helped him was that he treated every player like a star athlete.
During his coaching tenure, he used the rotating strategy to ensure that every player on his team got their fair portion of playing time.
Vilanova also had a close relationship with the players on a professional and personal level, which helped the outcome. Vilanova had 32 wins, four ties, and just two losses in La Liga by the time of his retirement.
Vilanova also won the Miguel Muoz Trophy for managing during the 2011–13 campaign.
Putting a Classy Spin on Controversy
It would not be surprising for someone in the spotlight to be drawn into contentious issues.
Although everyone processes information differently, Tito stood out for making things very obvious.
After the Spanish Super Cup match in 2012, Jose Mourinho of Real Madrid built contentious grounds for Vilanova.
Jose reportedly received a two-match Super Cup suspension from the Spanish federation (RFEF) following the infamous eye-poking incident.
He also received another match ban for his angry reaction, which was to push Vilanova away.
Later, Vilanova said in an interview that he shouldn’t talk about the old episodes.
Personal Life & Wife
Tito Vilanova was not just a skilled athlete but also a devoted husband and father.
Indeed, he and Montse Chaure were happily married and had two children, Carlota Vilanova (born on June 1, 1994) and Adrià Vilanova (born on February 11, 1997).
His son Adria currently wears jersey number five as a defender for the FC Andorra.
Additionally, Carlota Vilanova attended Barcelona’s ESADE Business School in the past. Montse Chaure, Vilanova’s wife, was formerly a graphic artist who was born and raised in Barcelona.
According to reports, the couple got engaged in 1992 after meeting when they were both just 18 years old.
Throughout the contests, Chaure would accompany her husband and be constantly in his corner.
Cancer, and Death
Tito initially identified his parotid salivary gland cancer on November 22, 2011. He then took some time off and had the tumor surgically removed.
He would then get a standard checkup in Barcelona after that. Vilanova underwent his first surgery and recovered completely in just 18 days, returning to work.
Vilanova announced his testing showed cancer had returned on December 19, 2012, though.
Hereafter, he received a six-week radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment; while he was at work, Jordi Roura, the assistant, assumed leadership of the team.
Vilanova eventually submitted a letter of resignation thanking Barcelona for his time as manager.
According to reports, it astonished everyone. When asked about the situation, Vilanova responded that his health was incompatible with that of a professional manager.
Vilanova tragically passed away at the age of 45, having fought cancer for almost 2.5 years.
Vilanova had invited Lionel Messi to his home on April 19, 2014, before that.
Messi considered leaving Barcelona because the team was struggling at the time.
Vilanova, though, had begged Messi to remain in Barcelona and aid in its expansion. It was almost like a dying-bed vow that Messi has kept to this day.
Vilanova experienced a relapse the previous week and died on April 25, 2014, from complications related to her disease. Following his recurrence on December 19, 2012, the coach left Camp Nou Stadium.
He died and was interred in Spain. To protect the privacy of him and his family, his last resting place is kept secret.
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Hommage
Every celebrity and member of the public paid respect to Vilanova after his passing.
“Tito adored visiting this place. He expressed his affection for the players and stated it was an honor to coach the best squad in the world.
In addition, Pitch 1 of Barcelona’s training facility, Ciutat Esportiva, was given the name Camp Tito to recognize his contributions.