Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas has expressed his gratitude towards his "hero" Pep Guardiola, who has decided to step down from the managerial spot at the Nou Camp.
The 41-year-old will leave his post after four years in charge of the Spanish giants and will be replaced by assistant coach Tito Vilanova.
Fabregas, who was in attendance at Guardiola's press conference, wrote on Twitter: "Although I only was with [Guardiola] for 1 year it felt like a lot more. For me Pep was my hero as a kid and an inspiration as a manager. Thank you for the little time we spent, I will cherish it always.
"For Tito, I wish the best in this new opportunity that football has given to him. We were together when I was a kid and he is not just a great person but also an excellent manager."
A number of names were linked with the Barcelona job, including Athletic Bilbao boss Marcelo Bielsa. However, the Catalan club moved swiftly to appoint Vilanova.
