Tito Vilanova To Step Down As Barca Coach.

[Danizen]

He had a tumour removed, last year and has reportedly suffered a relapse.

No articles published on it, yet but it has just been Tweeted by The Mirror.

Surely, the only person they will look to is Guardiola,

[MC Prussian]

José Mourinho.

[Finnegan]

Be nice to see Guardiola go back as it seemed strange him leaving in the first place.

But if he really wanted another challenge and fancies managing in England then I can't see a one year break changing his mind.

[Babylon]

Pep?

Pearson?

Dowie?

Reid?

[vandamman]

Shame I liked his management.

Guardiola moved his family to New York not so long ago, not sure why he would move them back again even to Barcelona. I reckon he is waiting for a job in England

[Danizen]

He could take it on a temporary basis. He's had a break for 5 months he may be up to the rest of the season.

I do really hope Barca implode for two reasons. One, I don't like them and two, It'd give Real half a chance of making the title race exciting.

[AjcW]

Feel like we haven't touched on the fact this is very sad news for such a young man....

He has stepped into the role fantastically this season and after pep's shaky season last year he has got Barca playing as they usually do.

If this is true I hope he recovers once again, in terms of a replacement, if we have to speculate, it'll be his assistant until the end of the season... failing that it'll be Bielsa.

"Barcelona announce that it is has suspended the press conference from president Sandro Rosell planned for midday. As well as that, the media Christmas lunch has been cancelled.

"Later today the club will issue a further release. Until that time we will not make any announcement about this matter. We regret any inconvenience this decision may cause."

[kingfox]

Hopefully he makes a good recovery, has looked very good in management with Barca.

They will probably appoint a former player of theirs.

[21st Century Fox]

If Barca go on to capitulate or hit a slump, this is a pretty shitty way for it to happen. Poor bloke.

[AjcW]

.

[Mack]

Brendan Rodgers has just emptied both sacks over the huge picture of himself on his wall.

[Jon the Hat]

Poor bloke. Hope he makes a full and speedy recovery. What a shame for him, you think you have something beaten, you land your dream job, and the ****er comes back and gets in the way.

[AKCJ]

Very sad to hear. He was getting on so well and was down to become a record breaking Barca manager. Nobody thought that would happen when Guardiola stepped down in the summer.

Get well soon, Tito.

[ealingfox]

Tito Vilanova: Barcelona head coach to have surgery

Barcelona head coach Tito Vilanova will undergo surgery on Thursday followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy over the next six weeks.

Vilanova had an operation to remove a cancerous tumour from a gland in his upper neck in November 2011.

"While monitoring his parotid gland a change has been detected in his condition that requires surgery," a Barcelona statement said.

"The time of hospitalisation is expected to be three or four days."

The statement added: "According to how things develop, he could be able to mix work with his treatment."

So hopefully he might not have to step down til the end of the season, do Barca have any more games before their winter break?

[Jon the Hat]

It would be a brave, loyal and possible foolish move by Barca not to bring someone in to cover while he is sick.

[Guest MattP]

To be fair they could probably just send the team out everyweek and win the league anyway with the team they have got.

Will need someone for the Champions League campaign though, he might be ok by Feb.

[Dan]

Horrible news that is, a real shame too considering how well they're doing.

[Dan]

It would be a brave, loyal and possible foolish move by Barca not to bring someone in to cover while he is sick.

To be honest, they didn't even do that to replace Pep, I think they'll be alright, nearly everything Barca have at their club is entirely their own making, they're extremely unique in this way.

[Guest MattP]

To be honest, they didn't even do that to replace Pep, I think they'll be alright, nearly everything Barca have at their club is entirely their own making, they're extremely unique in this way.

Pretty much right, Xavi, Iniesta, Pique, Messi, Valdes, Puyol have all been playing together since they were kids anything, they would be good enough to just go out and do their thing without anyone watching them, if anything they would be even more motivated.

Don't get the impression they are as thick as a lot of our players either, pretty sure they could adjust tactically and realise what pace a game needs to played at on their own.

[ealingfox]

Having the greatest player ever will help as well no doubt. Wouldn't be against their principles to bring back Pep as Tito was meant to be a continuation of his Barca, surely it could only strengthen them to have him back for a month or two. They've certainly conceded more goals under Vilanova.

[Richard]

Who's taken over from him? Pep is holding out for the United job and won't mind waiting a couple of years for it

[21st Century Fox]

He could be back after the winter break.

[Bayfox]

Whar seems to have been missed in all this talk of pep going elsewhere is.

Barca agreed to his request of wanting a break. He never ruled out going back. As far as i know.

Yes he wanted at least a year away. But as a short term option he could return for a number of weeks after christmas and new year is done.

He may even return full time next summer. Afterall where else will he find another valdes, pique, puyol, messi, xavi, inesta, alves, alcantra.