Cancer surgery for ex-Barca soccer boss

Former Barcelona soccer coach Tito Vilanova is reportedly in a serious condition after emergency surgery in his ongoing battle with throat cancer.

Former Barcelona manager Tito Vilanova, who is battling throat cancer, has undergone emergency surgery, Spanish media reported on Thursday.

Vilanova has been fighting cancer for more than two years, forcing him to step down as Barca boss last July.

Spanish National Radio reported that Vilanova was admitted to hospital last Friday and is in serious condition following the surgery to alleviate gastric problems.

Vilanova was Pep Guardiola's assistant during a glorious four-year spell for Barcelona from 2008-12 during which the club won 14 trophies.

The 45-year-old replaced Guardiola at the start of the 2012/13 season, but had to take four months away from the job from December 2012 to undergo treatment in the United States. He had suffered a recurrence of the throat cancer, first diagnosed in November 2011.

Barca went onto win the Spanish La Liga title, equalling the record points tally, in his only season in charge before he resigned due to his ongoing health problems.