Barcelona Mourns the Loss of Former Vice-President Carles Vilarrubí at 71
FC Barcelona have announced the death of former vice-president Carles Vilarrubí, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 71, plunging the club into mourning. The Catalan giants confirmed the news in an official statement, paying tribute to a man who played a significant role in the club’s modern institutional development.
Vilarrubí served as Barcelona’s vice-president for international and institutional relations between 2010 and 2017. His tenure began under former president Sandro Rosell and continued through the presidency of Josep Maria Bartomeu. Beyond his executive role, Vilarrubí also had a unique sporting connection to the club, having previously represented Barcelona as a player in their ice hockey team.
In 2015, his influence beyond football was recognised when he was awarded the prestigious Creu de Sant Jordi by the Catalan Regional Government for his contributions to Catalan economic and social life. He was also widely respected for his role in developing Catalan-language media, including his involvement in the creation of Catalunya Ràdio and RAC1.
Vilarrubí left Barcelona in 2017 following disagreements surrounding the Catalan referendum. Rivals Real Madrid also issued a statement expressing their condolences, underlining the respect he commanded across Spanish football.
