Tito Vilanova wasn't a very popular football player (he hardly played three seasons in top flight football), very much unlike Pep who was part of Johan Cruyff's dream team that won Barcelona's first ever European Cup. Tito Vilanova will have to get used to comparisons with the man that preceded him. Of course these are two different individuals who do things differently. And Vilanova has come a long way from playing second fiddle for the last four years to managing the great club itself.
Details inside!
Why he succeeded Pep
Choosing the man to succeed the most decorated manager in club history was definitely a difficult task. Names were thrown all world over from Arsene Wenger to Marcelo Bielsa but everybody was in for a surprise when the club announced the name "Tito Vilanova". Looking back, the decision shouldn't have surprised everyone as much as it has. Tito represents the club philosophy spearheaded by Guardiola. He was arguably Pep's partner in crime. Choosing Vilanova represents the club's commitment to the tiki-taka brand of attacking football.
Where he comes from
Does this even matter? YES! Vilanova is Catalan. Like Guardiola, he represents Catalonia and that goes a long way in helping him blend with many players, youth players as well as local fans. Most importantly Tito has been with these players at Barcelona for half of the last decade. This makes the transition very smooth.
Expectations
FC Barcelona is competing in four different competitions. For a club of this stature, he is expected to win every trophy but definitely all eyes will be on the La Liga trophy and the European Cup. Towards the end of last season, Real Madrid, after long periods of Barca dominance, finally defeated Barcelona. It is highly unlikely, given the present circumstances, that any club other than the big-two wins the league. So the clasico encounters will very vital in gaining the upperhand in the league.
Interesting Trivia
Tito Vilanova scored against Barcelona in a Copa Catalunya game in 1998. Then he was playing for lowly Lleida. Who was Barcelona's coach? Not Louis van Gaal. It was none other than Jose Mourinho who had been handed over the responsibility for the tournament. The next moment these two made news together would be thirteen years later in the infamous "eye poke incident" in the second leg of last year's Spanish Super Cup match.
Tito, a La Masia product, played 52 games and scored 6 times for Barcelona B.
Tito Vilanova was the world's highest paid Assistant coach at Barcelona.
What he has to say
"This season I want to win everything" in his own words says it all.
Details inside!
Why he succeeded Pep
Choosing the man to succeed the most decorated manager in club history was definitely a difficult task. Names were thrown all world over from Arsene Wenger to Marcelo Bielsa but everybody was in for a surprise when the club announced the name "Tito Vilanova". Looking back, the decision shouldn't have surprised everyone as much as it has. Tito represents the club philosophy spearheaded by Guardiola. He was arguably Pep's partner in crime. Choosing Vilanova represents the club's commitment to the tiki-taka brand of attacking football.
Where he comes from
Does this even matter? YES! Vilanova is Catalan. Like Guardiola, he represents Catalonia and that goes a long way in helping him blend with many players, youth players as well as local fans. Most importantly Tito has been with these players at Barcelona for half of the last decade. This makes the transition very smooth.
Expectations
FC Barcelona is competing in four different competitions. For a club of this stature, he is expected to win every trophy but definitely all eyes will be on the La Liga trophy and the European Cup. Towards the end of last season, Real Madrid, after long periods of Barca dominance, finally defeated Barcelona. It is highly unlikely, given the present circumstances, that any club other than the big-two wins the league. So the clasico encounters will very vital in gaining the upperhand in the league.
Interesting Trivia
Tito Vilanova scored against Barcelona in a Copa Catalunya game in 1998. Then he was playing for lowly Lleida. Who was Barcelona's coach? Not Louis van Gaal. It was none other than Jose Mourinho who had been handed over the responsibility for the tournament. The next moment these two made news together would be thirteen years later in the infamous "eye poke incident" in the second leg of last year's Spanish Super Cup match.
Tito, a La Masia product, played 52 games and scored 6 times for Barcelona B.
Tito Vilanova was the world's highest paid Assistant coach at Barcelona.
What he has to say
"This season I want to win everything" in his own words says it all.
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