Tito Vilanova sends farewell message to Barca fans after stepping down to fight cancer
Coach writes a farewell message to club after stepping down to concentrate on cancer fight
Cancer-stricken former Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova published an open letter on Saturday to thank the club, fans and well-wishers, as he embarks on further treatment after having stepped down.
Vilanova, 44, had a tumour removed from a salivary gland in his throat in November 2011 and last December suffered a relapse, requiring further surgery and then 10 weeks of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in New York.
Vilanova returned to the helm of Barcelona in March and led the club to the Spanish league title but stepped down on Friday.
On Saturday, Barca's website carried his farewell letter.
"After five wonderful years (including a spell as Pep Guardiola's assistant) being part of a team who have made the dreams of any coach reality, the moment has come to confront a change in my professional life to dedicate my energies to continuing the process of (battling) the illness diagnosed a year-and-a-half ago," wrote Vilanova.
"The treatments I must follow from now on mean it is not recommended, in the doctor's opinion, to dedicate myself 100 per cent to the tasks of first team coach of FC Barcelona, but I shall continue to be close to and carry on working for this club, which I love so much in other sporting tasks.