Your trusted source

Tito Vilanova, the coach who succeeded Pep Guardiola at Barcelona and won the Spanish league title in his only season in charge, died on Friday after a long battle with throat cancer. He was 45.

According to the Guardian, Vilanova, who has battled a recurring tumour in a saliva gland, was admitted to a Barcelona hospital last week. He reportedly had emergency surgery on Thursday.

"It is with sadness that Barcelona must announce that Francesc 'Tito' Vilanova has died today at the age of 45," the club said on their website. "The death of our former coach occurred this afternoon when he could not overcome this disease which he had battled since 2011."

Vilanova first became ill in November 2011, while an assistant to Guardiola, and took a leave of absence after undergoing surgery. The soft-spoken Vilanova returned and took over from Guardiola the next season, when he led Barcelona to the Spanish league title with a record-equalling 100 points.

Vilanova had a second tumour removed in December 2012 and travelled to New York several times during the season to receive further treatment before returning to the sidelines. In April 2013 Vilanova said he felt fine and "had never thought about quitting." He finished the season before suddenly being forced to resign following a relapse in July.

Lionel Messi led the tributes to his former coach, saying on his Facebook page: "A person difficult to forget. I will always remember you. All my love to the family of Tito."

Mourinho, now Chelsea's manager, said on his club's Twitter account: "Tito Vilanova's passing is a sad day for football, for Barcelona and most importantly for his family and friends. On behalf of everybody at Chelsea Football Club I send my deepest condolences at this most difficult time."

Vilanova is survived by his wife, Montse Chaure, and two children. His son Adrian is in Barcelona's youth academy.