Tito Vilanova Steps Down As Barca Coach To Receive Treatment For Throat Cancer

Tito Vilanova will step down as coach of FC Barcelona to receive further treatment for the throat cancer that has been slowing him down for several years, Barca announced on their official website.

FC Barcelona president Sandro Rosell also confirmed Vilanova's exit through a statement read during a press conference at Barca's office wherein players of the club were also present.

"Today we are before you to give you news that I would never have wanted to give. After evaluating the follow-up exams of Tito, the option to continue his treatment will be incompatible with his development as coach beginning right now. I would like to ask all media, in his name and that of his family, to show respect for them beginning today," Rosell said.

Vilanova's departure came as a surprise to Barca players and their fans especially after having a highly-successful season. In his first season in charge of Barca, Vilanova led the club to the Spanish league title earlier this year by posting a record-tying 100 points, dethroning archrival Real Madrid.

The 44-year-old coach was also given several breaks in the past - once when he was still the assistant of former Barca coach Pep Guardiola during the 2011-12 season and another one after he was named as the new head coach of the club.

According to Rosell, a new head coach will be announced in the coming weeks, while also confirming that their scheduled friendly match against Lechia Gdansk in Poland will be shelved.

"Over the next few days, we will be presenting a new coach, probably at the beginning of next week. We have met with all the players, with the captains and the veterans and we have decided not to play in Poland. We have also decided that life goes on. This is a tough break for Barca but we have had many and we always come through. So, I will ask all of you for your understanding," Rosell said.

Sports, a Catalan newspaper, reported that Barca has a list of potential candidates, including Vilanova's assistant Rubi, Jordi Roura, former Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes, and Marcelo Bielsa, while El Mundo Deportivo reported that former Paraguay manager Gerardo Martino is one of the leading candidates for the Barcelona job.