Lionel Messi posts tribute to Tito Vilanova on the tenth anniversary of the former Barcelona manager’s passing
- Lionel Messi has posted a tribute to former Barcelona manager Tito Vilanova
- Vilanova, who also coached Messi at youth level, died in 2014 at the age of 45
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Lionel Messi has posted a tribute to Tito Vilanova on the tenth anniversary of the former Barcelona manager’s death.
Vilanova coached Barcelona in the 2012-13 season, having previously worked at the club as an assistant coach under Pep Guardiola, with the pair winning fourteen trophies between them.
In July 2013, Vilanova resigned from his position as Barcelona manager due to ill health. He died of throat cancer on April 25, 2014, aged 45.
Messi also worked with Vilanova when he came through Barcelona’s youth academy.
On Thursday, Messi posted an Instagram story with a photo of him and Vilanova and the message: “10 years already, we will not forget you Tito.”
Lionel Messi has posted a tribute to Tito Vilanova ten years after the death of his former manager
Vilanova started as a youth player at Barcelona and also played for clubs such as Celta Vigo and Mallorca.
He was Guardiola’s assistant for the Barcelona B team in 2007-08 before they both went on to coach the first team the following season.
While coached by Vilanova in the 2012/2013 season, Messi made 35 appearances for Barcelona, scoring 42 goals, as the Catalan club won the LaLiga title.
Vilanova, who managed Barcelona in 2012-13, also coached Messi in the club’s youth set-up
Barcelona enjoyed great success with Vilanova as Pep Guardiola’s assistant
