Tito Vilanova
At times like this, football fades into insignificance. Tito Vilanova's tragic passing at the age of just 45 puts everything else into perspective at Barcelona and beyond. The Catalan club have had their problems in recent weeks and months, but all those troubles will eventually be forgotten. Tito, however, will not be.
Gone too soon, too sudden and far too young, Tito was and will remain a symbol of bravery and heroism at Camp Nou. A man who played a pivotal part in the success of the club's greatest ever side and who led Barca to La Liga with a record 100 points while simultaneously disputing the match of his life off the pitch as he battled cancer. Sadly, it was a game he could not win.
A talented midfielder who came through the youth ranks at La Masia, Tito spent two years at Barcelona B but carved out a career in the lower leagues with Figueres, Lleida, Badajoz, Elche and Gramanet, while also featuring in the Primera during spells at Celta Vigo and Mallorca in the mid-1990s.
By that time, a younger man was making his mark in Barcelona's midfield. Pep Guardiola looked up to Tito as a youngster at the Catalan club and the two developed a fantastic friendship which continued through their playing days and after that.
Vilanova returned to Barca after retirement and coached the youth teams at Camp Nou, which included the likes of Lionel Messi, Gerard Pique and Cesc Fabregas, winning two titles at national level with the Cadete B side. Despite that success, Tito was told he was surplus to requirements in 2003 by, of all people, Sandro Rosell, but he would be back.
Rest in Peace, Tito Vilanova.
