FC Barcelona’s official website recently released a short summary of Jordi Roura’s journey from La Masia forward to the bench as the assistant manager of Tito Vilanova.

Jordi Roura has been an Azulgrana for a long time, first as a player and later as a member of Guardiola’s technical staff. Roura has followed in the footsteps of  Guardiola and Vilanova to be the next man to culminate his career on the first-team bench after meeting Vilanova at La Masia almost three decades ago.

Born in Llagostera in 1967, Roura arrived at La Masia in the early 80s as a powerful, fast and impetuous forward. He made his debut with the first team under Johan Cruyff in 1988, but a serious injury to his right knee in the European Super Cup against Milan in 1989 impeded his growth as a footballer. He then continued his football career at Murcia and Figueres in 1991. However, his physical problems forced him into early retirement. His first steps as a manager were with Yokohama Flugel, along with Carles Rexach, and Terrassa, as Jordi Vinyals’ assistant.

In 2009, he was part of Pep Guardiola’s technical staff as an observer. For the past three years Roura has had the charge of analysing Barça’s rivals. Tito Vilanova, his life-long friend, has now called on Roura as his assistant manager on the first-team bench.

totalBarça wishes Jordi Roura all the success in his new appointment!

Image Credit: JOAN IGNASI PAREDES/Sport