Puyol attend memorial for Tito Vilanova as Barcelona players say farewell to former boss
Barcelona made an emotional farewell to Tito Vilanova at the funeral of their former coach on Monday night.
The
entire first-team squad attended the service at Barcelona Cathedral to
pay their respects to Vilanova, who died on Friday of throat cancer at
the age of 45.
His
wife and two children were also in attendance, with son Adria, a player
in the Barca academy, and daughter Carlota, giving a moving and tearful
address.
Paying respects: (left to right) Barcelona's Victor Valdes, Carles Puyol, Xavi and Andres Iniesta attend Tito Vilanova's funeral
Sad day: Barcelona's Brazilian defender Dani Alves (left) and Neymar stand during the religious ceremony
For you: Star striker Lionel Messi scored for Barca on Sunday before dedicating his goal to Vilanova
Tearful: Messi was visibly upset during the service
Legend: Tito Vilanova has passed away at the age of 45 after losing his battle with throat cancer
A host of former presidents, including Joan Laporta and Sandro Rosell were at the cathedral, along with board members, led by current president Josep Maria Bartomeu.
'Today we say goodbye to a very loved person,' Bartomeu said.
'I promise you, he will always have a place in our hearts and we will never forget him.'
Goodbye: Gerardo Martino (left) and Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu were also in attendance
Emotional: Mourners gather at the stunning cathedral in the heart of Barcelona
Support: Barca keeper Victor Valdes arrives on crutches after undergoing surgery to his knee injury
Winner: Vilanova (left) and Eric Abidal (right) lift the La Liga trophy together in 2013
Jordi
Roura, Vilanova's assistant during his single season in charge at the
Nou Camp, who led the team mid-campaign when the boss was undergoing
treatment for his illness in the United States, said: 'Football was
always your passion and it accompanied you until the end.'
Representatives from other clubs in La Liga and across Europe were also president, including Manchester City's director of football Txiki Begiristain, who worked in the same role at Barcelona from 2003 to 2010.
Earlier, Barca's players dedicated Sunday night's 3-2 comeback victory at Villarreal to Vilanova. It was their first match since his death.
'This was one of the most difficult days to play,' midfielder Xavi said on www.fcbarcelona.com. 'We felt it in our bodies. We've lost a leader. He will always be an example.
Representatives from other clubs in La Liga and across Europe were also president, including Manchester City's director of football Txiki Begiristain, who worked in the same role at Barcelona from 2003 to 2010.
Earlier, Barca's players dedicated Sunday night's 3-2 comeback victory at Villarreal to Vilanova. It was their first match since his death.
'This was one of the most difficult days to play,' midfielder Xavi said on www.fcbarcelona.com. 'We felt it in our bodies. We've lost a leader. He will always be an example.
Learning from the best: Vilanova (left) was assistant to Pep Guardiola during his time in the hotseat at Barca
Paying tribute: Barcelona fans coming to the Nou camp to say goodbye and thank you
Never forgotten: A black sache placed in the centre circle of the Nou Camp pitch
'We relied on our pride and grit to win this game. We dedicate it to Tito.'
The night began with a moment of remembrance with Vilanova's image shown on the big screens in tribute to the man who guided the Catalan club to the title in the 2012/2013 season before being forced to resign last summer.
Midfielder Andres Iniesta said: 'The death of Tito has really affected us. We knew him for a very long time. With him we won the league with a haul of 100 points, but what we'll remember about him is what he gave us on a personal level.'
UEFA have confirmed there will be a minute's silence before the Champions League semi-finals on Tuesday and Wednesday night.
The night began with a moment of remembrance with Vilanova's image shown on the big screens in tribute to the man who guided the Catalan club to the title in the 2012/2013 season before being forced to resign last summer.
Midfielder Andres Iniesta said: 'The death of Tito has really affected us. We knew him for a very long time. With him we won the league with a haul of 100 points, but what we'll remember about him is what he gave us on a personal level.'
UEFA have confirmed there will be a minute's silence before the Champions League semi-finals on Tuesday and Wednesday night.
Memorabilia: Mourning fans place flowers, candles and pictures at the Camp Nou
Vilanova's farewell to Barcelona fans after stepping down as manager last season
Thank you Barca, thank you everyone
After five marvelous years forming part of a team that has made what any manager dreams of come true, the time has come to face a change in my professional career in order to put my strength and energy into continuing the process of the illness that was diagnosed a year and a half ago.
The treatments that I am going to have to undergo from now on does not make it recommendable, in the doctors’ opinion, for me to dedicate one hundred per cent of my effort to being the first team manager of a team as demanding as FC Barcelona, but I shall be staying close by and will be continuing to work for the Club that I love so much in other jobs in the sports area.
It is not easy to leave such a special group of people, the players, my fellow staff and friends with whom I have shared so many unforgettable experiences. I am eternally grateful for everything that they have given and shown to me.
The human and footballing qualities of this team can overcome any obstacle and I am convinced that they will be able to use that capacity to face the new sporting challenges of a season that everybody has such high hopes for.
I would also like to especially thank the president, the whole of the Board of Directors, and the director of sport Andoni Zubizarreta for all the trust they have put into me and especially for their unconditional support, both sporting and personal.
Just as important to me has been the human and medical support of Doctor Ramon Canal and his team, who have been by my side. I know that I am not playing this match alone, but I form part of a Club that will help me get through this long process, as it has done until now.
To you, the Barca members and supporters, I also want to say thank you for all the shows of support and affection that you have sent me, not just now but all these last months. I can tell you that that I feel calm and strong, and I am facing this new stage of the process in the full confidence that it will all go well.
Thank you very much too to all the football fans, fellow professionals, clubs, athletes and people that I do and do not know for all the messages of support that have brought so much comfort to me and my family.
These are difficult times for my loved ones and that’s why I am asking for respect and understanding from the media. Now that I am no longer Barca manager, I hope to enjoy the peace and privacy that both me and my family need at a time like this.
I couldn’t finish this letter without wishing lots of luck and every success to the new manager of the best team in the world.
Thank you everybody.
Tito Vilanova
After five marvelous years forming part of a team that has made what any manager dreams of come true, the time has come to face a change in my professional career in order to put my strength and energy into continuing the process of the illness that was diagnosed a year and a half ago.
The treatments that I am going to have to undergo from now on does not make it recommendable, in the doctors’ opinion, for me to dedicate one hundred per cent of my effort to being the first team manager of a team as demanding as FC Barcelona, but I shall be staying close by and will be continuing to work for the Club that I love so much in other jobs in the sports area.
It is not easy to leave such a special group of people, the players, my fellow staff and friends with whom I have shared so many unforgettable experiences. I am eternally grateful for everything that they have given and shown to me.
The human and footballing qualities of this team can overcome any obstacle and I am convinced that they will be able to use that capacity to face the new sporting challenges of a season that everybody has such high hopes for.
I would also like to especially thank the president, the whole of the Board of Directors, and the director of sport Andoni Zubizarreta for all the trust they have put into me and especially for their unconditional support, both sporting and personal.
Just as important to me has been the human and medical support of Doctor Ramon Canal and his team, who have been by my side. I know that I am not playing this match alone, but I form part of a Club that will help me get through this long process, as it has done until now.
To you, the Barca members and supporters, I also want to say thank you for all the shows of support and affection that you have sent me, not just now but all these last months. I can tell you that that I feel calm and strong, and I am facing this new stage of the process in the full confidence that it will all go well.
Thank you very much too to all the football fans, fellow professionals, clubs, athletes and people that I do and do not know for all the messages of support that have brought so much comfort to me and my family.
These are difficult times for my loved ones and that’s why I am asking for respect and understanding from the media. Now that I am no longer Barca manager, I hope to enjoy the peace and privacy that both me and my family need at a time like this.
I couldn’t finish this letter without wishing lots of luck and every success to the new manager of the best team in the world.
Thank you everybody.
Tito Vilanova
Catalan: Vilanova was appointed Barca manager at the end of the 2011-2012 campaign
TITO VILANOVA FACTFILE
1968: Born September 17 in Bellcaire d'Emporda, a Catalonian village.
1988: Comes through the Barcelona youth set-up along with fellow midfielder Pep Guardiola, but cannot break into the first team, playing for two years at Barcelona B.
1990: Joins lower-league Figueres.
1992: Moves to Primera Division Celta Vigo, but fails to hold down a first-team place.
1995: Leaves Celta.
2002: Retires from playing after short spells in the lower leagues with Badajoz, Real Mallorca, Lleida, Elche and finally Gramenet.
2007: After working as technical director at Tarrassa, Vilanova becomes Guardiola's assistant at Barcelona B. The pair help the team to promotion to Segunda Division B.
2008: June - Guardiola takes over as coach of Barcelona and Vilanova comes with him as his assistant. The pair win the league, cup and Champions League in the first season in charge. Two more league titles, another Champions League crown and two Club World Cups follow.
2011: November 22 - Undergoes surgery on his parotid salivary gland in Barcelona and spends three weeks recovering after being discharged.
2012: April 27 - Appointed new Barcelona head coach, after Guardiola announces he will not renew his contract.
June 15 - Vilanova signs a two-year contract.
December 19 - Barcelona announce Vilanova will have surgery on the parotid gland for a second time and faces approximately six weeks of chemotherapy after the return of his cancer.
2013: March 26 - After undergoing 10 weeks of chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment in New York, Vilanova returns to Barcelona.
April 6 - Returns to the Nou Camp touchline for the first time in a 5-0 home victory over Real Mallorca.
April 26 - Speaks to the media for the first time since his treatment, saying: "I feel with desire and with strength I want to continue next season."
May 11 - Barcelona clinch their 22nd Primera Division title as rivals Real Madrid are held to a draw by Espanyol.
July 19 - Barcelona announce Vilanova is stepping down to continue his treatment for cancer.
2014: April 25 - Barcelona announce Vilanova's death, at the age of 45.
1988: Comes through the Barcelona youth set-up along with fellow midfielder Pep Guardiola, but cannot break into the first team, playing for two years at Barcelona B.
1990: Joins lower-league Figueres.
1992: Moves to Primera Division Celta Vigo, but fails to hold down a first-team place.
1995: Leaves Celta.
2002: Retires from playing after short spells in the lower leagues with Badajoz, Real Mallorca, Lleida, Elche and finally Gramenet.
2007: After working as technical director at Tarrassa, Vilanova becomes Guardiola's assistant at Barcelona B. The pair help the team to promotion to Segunda Division B.
2008: June - Guardiola takes over as coach of Barcelona and Vilanova comes with him as his assistant. The pair win the league, cup and Champions League in the first season in charge. Two more league titles, another Champions League crown and two Club World Cups follow.
2011: November 22 - Undergoes surgery on his parotid salivary gland in Barcelona and spends three weeks recovering after being discharged.
2012: April 27 - Appointed new Barcelona head coach, after Guardiola announces he will not renew his contract.
June 15 - Vilanova signs a two-year contract.
December 19 - Barcelona announce Vilanova will have surgery on the parotid gland for a second time and faces approximately six weeks of chemotherapy after the return of his cancer.
2013: March 26 - After undergoing 10 weeks of chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment in New York, Vilanova returns to Barcelona.
April 6 - Returns to the Nou Camp touchline for the first time in a 5-0 home victory over Real Mallorca.
April 26 - Speaks to the media for the first time since his treatment, saying: "I feel with desire and with strength I want to continue next season."
May 11 - Barcelona clinch their 22nd Primera Division title as rivals Real Madrid are held to a draw by Espanyol.
July 19 - Barcelona announce Vilanova is stepping down to continue his treatment for cancer.
2014: April 25 - Barcelona announce Vilanova's death, at the age of 45.
