Barça in his heartFrancesc Vilanova i Bayó. More commonly known as "Tito". The name of a man that has become synonymous with Barcelona. Throughout his coaching and managerial career, Tito upheld the tactic of ball possession as a means of both making the maximum impact on the opposing side and of defending more effectively.

It was this style of football, this way of winning, that he alongside Pep Guardiola, his lifelong friend, tried and succeeded in instilling into the 'DNA' of Lionel Messi, Gerard Piqué and Francesc Fàbregas, initially at La Masia and in the youth team, and later on, when he coached them for the Barcelona first team, alongside Club legends Andrés Iniesta, Xavi Hernández, Víctor Valdés and Carles Puyol & co. Together, with this team and their style of coaching, Pep Guardiola and Tito Vilanova championed a magnificent project that led to the creation of the best Barça in history... and possibly more.

Tito Vilanova came through the ranks of La Masia as a talented midfielder, developing a strong bond with Pep Guardiola (also a midfielder) who looked up to Tito on and off the field as youngsters at the Catalan club.

Tito spent two years at Barcelona B but established a career for himself in the leagues below with Figueres, Lleida, Badajoz, Elche and Gramanet, while also featuring in the Primera during spells at Celta Vigo and Mallorca during the mid-1990s.

Tito Vilanova succeeded Pep Guardiola to become the manager during FC Barcelona’s record-equalling season of 2012/13, when the team got 100 points in the league. He won the admiration of the footballing world for his achievements within & to sport, and for the immense courage and strength shown later in his life.

Tito Vilanova's open letter following his stepping down as FCB manager in July 2013.





(Credit: FCB official, MARCA and Guillem Balagué)

The memorial service for Tito Vilanova took place on Monday, April 28th, 2014.

UPDATE - May 3rd 2014: FC Barcelona remembers Tito Vilanova prior to match against Getafe.