Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova will have surgery for a throat ailment and undergo several weeks of chemotherapy, the club said Wednesday.

He had already surgery to remove a tumor from the saliva gland in November 2011 and this time detected with a recurrence of the problem and will undergo surgery on Thursday. Vilanova will likely spend four days in a hospital before undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy for about six weeks, the club said.

FC Barcelona says that during this time, depending on his evolution, Vilanova may be able to combine treatment with his work regime.

Assistant coach Jordi Roura is expected to take over the team in the meantime. Barcelona plays Valladolid in the Spanish league on Saturday.

Vilanova took over as Barcelona’s team coach from Pep Guardiola last summer after passing medical checks.

Under Vilanova’s guidance, Barcelona has made its best ever start to a season, winning a Spanish record of 15 of its first 16 league games. The club leads the standings with 46 points, nine ahead of Atletico Madrid and 13 in front of archrival Real Madrid.

Vilanova’s son Adria, who plays in Barcelona youth club, used his Twitter account to give thanks for the support being offered his father.

“Thank you all for your support, you are truly great, everything is going to work out,” he tweeted.

“Very sorry to hear the news,” Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez said on Twitter.

“All my strength and support to Tito Vilanova,” Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal said on Twitter. “We are all with you so you may overcome this news step.”

This is the second case of a serious illness affecting Barcelona’s squad in recent years. Eric Abidal, who trained with the club today, was diagnosed with cancer.

From The Associated Press