Barcelona Tito Vilanova: Will Manager Return To Lead Spanish Club Next Season?

Recently returning from an extended period of absence due to medical reasons, Barcelona manager Tito Vilanova will return to lead the team next season.

As Sports Illustrated reports, the coach spoke to the public for the first time since the season started back on Jan. 19 and seemed to be in a relatively positive state of mind.

"I have the strength to continue as long as my health allows me to," Vilanova said. "I never thought about quitting."

Absent for most of the 2012-2013 Barcelona season following cancer treatment, the 44-year-old coach said he wouldn't know how to live his life normally without the game of soccer.

"Coaching is my life," Vilanova said to reporters. I do it naturally and it doesn't represent a burden for me. My doctors even told me that I should keep working. I will continue for sure."

Barcelona vice-president Joseph Maria Bartomeu backed up the decision of the club's manager in an interview with Catalunia Radio earlier in the week.

"We believe in him," Bartomeu said. "Here there is a structure and continuity."

The most recent surgery for Vilanova consisted of him having a tumor removed from his throat. This was the second procedure Vilanova had on his throat in two years. His return to the sideline this season came back on April 2 where he coached the club to a 2-2 draw with PSG.

Vilanova began his coaching tenure with the Barcelona first-team in 2008 as an assistant. He'd remain alongside manager Pep Guardiola until 2012 when Vilanova would take over the position of Barcelona manager following the departure of Guardiola.

Through all Barcelona League, Cup and European matches since becoming manager in 2012, Vilanova has accumulated 38 victories, 8 draws and only 7 losses.

The club recently suffered a 4-0 defeat in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals at the hands of Bayern Munich. The second leg will be played on Wednesday, May 1. While losing 4-0 to a talented Munich squad won't sit well with Vilanova and Barcelona, Barca can still clinch the Spanish League title in a few days.

Regardless of those outcomes, everyone involved with the club has to be happy their manager is feeling better and is all set to continue his guidance of the club for the foreseeable future.