Barcelona training field renamed 'Tito Vilanova'

Posted Saturday, February 21, 2015 by Marca.com

Barcelona FC's number one training pitch at the Ciudad Deportiva de Sant Joan Despí training complex has had a change of name. From now on it will be known as the Tito Vilanova Training Field in tribute to the club's former coach, who died in April 2014.

The naming ceremony, which took place on the field where Barça's first team train, was attended, among others, by members of the Vilanova family as well as Josep Maria Bartomeu and the 'Azulgrana' first team squad members.

"Tito would probably have said that he did not deserve it. The best thing we can do when a loved one leaves us is remember them. He loved coming here, he always said he was privileged to be able to do something he liked, which was coach, he loved all these players", Vilanova's wife said in a moving speech.

Bartomeu thanked Vilanova's family for agreeing to the club's idea to change the name of the pitch and stressed that thanks to his dedication, the club had made a significant "leap" in terms of their football. "When future generations of players coming to train here ask who Tito was, we will be able to tell them", he said.