Lionel Messi paid tribute to Tito Vilanova on Thursday, the 10th anniversary of the former Barcelona manager’s death.
Vilanova passed away on April 25, 2014 after a three-year battle with cancer. He was 45.
Messi played under Vilanova for several seasons at Barcelona. Vilanova served as an assistant coach for four years, before taking charge as head coach after Pep Guardiola left in 2012.
Vilanova led Barcelona to the La Liga title in 2012-13, as the Blaugrana amassed 100 points to set a new league record. He was forced to announce his departure as coach in July 2013 following a relapse of his cancer.
Messi posted a tribute to the late coach on his Instagram story on Thursday, saying: “10 years already, we won’t forget you Tito.”
"10 years already, we won't forget you Tito."
Lionel Messi with a lovely message for former #FCBarcelona manager Tito Vilanova, who passed away 10 years ago today. pic.twitter.com/Auc0NXMEc6
— Football España (@footballespana_) April 25, 2024
Vilanova’s former assistant at Barcelona, Jordi Roura, revealed in 2019 that the coach helped convince Messi to stay at the club just six days before his death.
“Tito was at a delicate stage and Leo wasn’t convinced about his continuity,” Roura told Radio Kanal Barcelona.
“They met and although I wasn’t there, I know they spent a number of hours talking. Messi decided to stay and we hope that he will for many more years.”
Messi would stay for two years after that, before joining PSG and ultimately his current side Inter Miami.
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