Tito Vilanova Steps Down; Who Will Become Next Barcelona Coach At Camp Nou?

As he continues to receive treatments for throat cancer, Barcelona manager Tito Vilanova has decided to step down after 5 seasons at Camp Nou, including 4 seasons as an assistant.

While his resignation was expected given the fact that the 44-year-old has been battling cancer since the winter of 2012, the announcing of the upcoming change wasn't any easier for Barca president Sandro Rosell.

"Today we are before you to give you news that I would never have wanted to give," Rosell said in a statement. "After evaluating the follow-up exams of Tito, the option to continue his treatment will be incompatible with his development as coach beginning right now. I would like to ask all media, in his name and that of his family, to show respect for them beginning today."

Vilanova will surely be missed at Camp Nou, especially since the now-retired manager led the club to the 2012-2013 La Liga championship. In addition to leading the team to the league title, Tito Vilanova was awarded the Miguel Munoz Trophy, honoring the best coach in La Liga and the Segunda Division.

Understandably emotional when saying his goodbyes to the Barcelona family, Vilanova issued a statement thanking all who gave him the opportunity to coach the club while also showering his players with praise.

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.

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.

The task of finding a successor to Vilanova is now the top priority for Sandro Rosell and the Barcelona higher-ups.

According to ESPN FC, the leading candidates to land the job heading into the 2013-2014 campaign are former Barcelona B manager Luis Enrique and Gerardo Martino of Argentina.

Enrique spent 8 seasons at Camp Nou as a player and another 3 years as the coach of Barca's B squad. While the 43-year-old has been the leading candidate to take over the job in recent weeks, Martino may now be the top choice in a two-man race thanks to strong vocal support from the club's top player.

"I like Tata Martino," Lionel Messi told the Telegraph. "He is a great coach and he showed that in the Clausura with what he did for the team, the way it ended and how he did it. He gets his teams playing well and we all respect him."

Most recently coaching Newell's Old Boys, an Argentine Primera Division team, Martino will surely stay in the discussion for the Barcelona job and at the moment, it does appear that he holds the slight edge over the aforementioned Luis Enrique.

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