Barça boss Tito Vilanova celebrates his 44th birthday today. Born in Bellcaire d’Empordà (Girona) on September 17, 1968, Vilanova joined FC Barcelona’s youth system in 1984, curiously enough in the same year as Guardiola. At La Masia, he was part of a Juvenil (U18) class that experienced a lot of success on the pitch. Vilanova, who was an avid technical midfielder, made the jump to Barça B and featured in three friendly matches with the first team (1988/89). After he retired, Vilanova started his managerial career with FC Barcelona in the 2001/02 season with the Cadete B (U15) team, which featured players like Gerard Piqué, Cesc Fàbregas and Leo Messi. He managed Palafrugell, Figueres and Terrassa before he joined up with Guardiola’s Barça B side in 2007. Tito Vilanova took control of FC Barcelona’s first team on June 15, 2012, on the day he was officially presented as the manager at the Camp Nou’s Sala París.

totalBarça wishes Tito a very happy birthday and an amazing season full of victories!