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Barcelona to name training pitch after former coach Tito Vilanova

Barcelona have announced that a pitch at the club's training ground is to be named after former coach Tito Vilanova, who died earlier this year.

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Vilanova passed away in April aged just 45, after a long battle with cancer. The former Blaugrana midfielder was assistant to Pep Guardiola for four trophy-laden seasons, before taking the top job himself and guiding the team to the 2012-13 La Liga title with a record tally of 100 points.

The Girona-born coach then had to step down from the position in the summer of 2013, when it became evident that it was impossible for him to continue given the gravity of his illness.

His passing just months later was marked by an outpouring of grief from Blaugrana players and fans.

The decision to remember Vilanova in this way was announced in a club statement released after Tuesday's board meeting at the Camp Nou.

"The board gave its unanimous approval of the proposal to rename pitch number one at the Ciutat Esportiva after Tito Vilanova in posthumous honour of the former FC Barcelona player and manager," it said.

Barca's budget for the current season was also agreed at the meeting, and is to be ratified by the upcoming General Assembly of Delegate Members being held on Oct. 18 at the Palau de Congressos de Catalunya.

"The board also agreed to the budget for 2014-15, which must be approved by the delegate members and has been set at 539 million euros turnover and 509 million euros in operating costs, with a net after-tax and financial costs result of 18 million euros," the statement said.

The projected annual turnover sees a slight increase on the 2013-14 campaign, when the club's budget was 509 million euros.