Barcelona coach Vilanova to have surgery after cancer relapse

BARCELONA, Spain — For the second time in two years, Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova is stepping aside from soccer to take care of his health.

Barcelona said Vilanova was to have surgery on Thursday and undergo several weeks of chemotherapy after doctors discovered a recurrence of a throat ailment, the club said Wednesday.

The 44-year-old coach underwent an operation to remove a tumor from the saliva gland in November 2011 when he was Pep Guardiola's assistant.

Vilanova will likely spend four days in a hospital before undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy for about six weeks, the club said.

The statement said Vilanova could be able to remain in charge of the team while undergoing treatment.

"During this time, depending on his evolution, Vilanova may be able to combine treatment with his work regime," the club said.

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 Guardiola last summer after passing medical checks.

Wednesday's announcement came one day after the club solidified its future with all-time top scorer Lionel Messi, playmaker Xavi Hernandez and team captain Carles Puyol all signing multiyear contract extensions.

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, 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.

Earlier Wednesday, Barcelona canceled meetings with the club president and journalists after reports of Vilanova's illness emerged. Several hours later, the club issued the statement confirming the medical situation.

"Very sorry to hear the news," Xavi said on Twitter.

LEEDS, England — Chelsea scored five goals in a masterful second-half display to beat old rival Leeds 5-1 on Wednesday, setting up a meeting with Swansea in the semifinals of the League Cup.

A shock was on when Leeds went in at halftime 1-0 up thanks to Luciano Becchio's 37th-minute goal at a rain-soaked Elland Road.

However, Chelsea was clinical after the break, equalizing through Spain playmaker Juan Mata in the 47th before adding four more goals in a ruthless 19-minute spell. Branislav Ivanovic, Victor Moses, Eden Hazard and Fernando Torres were the scorers for the European champions, who have won the League Cup four times — most recently in 2007.

"We had a word with ourselves at halftime and the early goal gave us an impetus to go on and win it," Chelsea captain Frank Lampard said.

By moving into the last four, where it is also joined by Aston Villa and fourth-tier Bradford, Chelsea went some way to making up for the frustration of losing the Club World Cup final to Corinthians 1-0 on Sunday.

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Rogge awaits hip replacement surgery

LAUSANNE, Switzerland — IOC president Jacques Rogge will have hip replacement surgery this week.

The International Olympic Committee calls the operation "routine" and said the 70-year-old Belgian will be discharged from the hospital after a few days. No other details were given.

Rogge was elected IOC president in 2001, succeeding Juan Antonio Samaranch. He will step down when his term ends in September 2013.

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Johjima scheduled for back surgery next week

OSAKA — Hanshin Tigers catcher Kenji Johjima, who has been sidelined with pain in his sciatic nerve, said Wednesday he will have back surgery sometime next week.

The 35-year-old, who aims to return to action this season, will require a month of recovery before he can resume practice after having his hernia removed.

He has numbness in his left buttocks and down his left leg.

"I can't even tell when my left foot is planted on the ground," said Johjima. "If I have the surgery, I have a better chance of returning this season. I'll also be able to start rehab to make a comeback as catcher."

The former Seattle Mariner has not appeared in the catcher's role this season, partly due to an injured right elbow. Instead he has entered 16 games as a pinch hitter and played eight games at first base.

Johjima is batting just .179 with no home runs in 24 games.

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Orioles say Wada surgery a success

NEW YORK — Tsuyoshi Wada has undergone ligament replacement surgery on his left elbow and reports no complications, the Baltimore Orioles said on Friday.

The former Fukuoka Softbank Hawks pitcher will be out for the rest of the season. A date to begin his rehabilitation in Sarasota, Florida, has not been set.

In a statement released by the club, Wada was quoted as saying: "The procedure went as planned and Dr. (Lewis) Yocum felt good about how it went. He predicts a full recovery. I'm glad to have this over with and look forward to beginning my rehabilitation so I can get back to pitching for the Orioles as soon as possible."

Wada, 31, signed a two-year, $8.15 million contract with the Orioles in December but has been unable to make his major league debut due to elbow pain and a ligament tear.

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Orioles' Wada to have elbow surgery

NEW YORK — Baltimore Orioles left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada will have elbow-ligament reconstruction surgery, likely delaying the Japanese left-hander's major league debut for a year.

Wada has been sidelined since the last week of spring training. He was previously diagnosed with ligament damage after a magnetic resonance angiogram and saw Dr. Lewis Yocum in Los Angeles for a second opinion this week. The Angels' team doctor will perform the surgery May 11.

"We've identified for sure the problem and now with the way medicine is and surgical procedures we can proceed with getting him ready for next year," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "The sooner the better."

The 31-year-old Wada signed an $8.15 million, two-year contract in December. He made only two appearances during spring training because of soreness in his elbow. The tear was discovered after a rehabilitation outing for Triple-A Norfolk.

Wada was 107-61 with a 3.13 ERA and 1,329 strikeouts in 210 career games (207 starts) over nine seasons with the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks. In his 52 starts over the last two seasons, he went 33-13 with a 2.29 ERA.

Wada is the latest pitcher to have the operation known as Tommy John surgery. Reds closer Ryan Madson and Mets starter Mike Pelfrey are among those that had the surgery this year. Recovery usually takes a year. Phil Humber, who threw a perfect game for the Chicago White Sox in April, had the operation in 2005.

Also, left-hander Zach Britton, who hasn't played all season because of discomfort in his left shoulder, will begin pitching in extended spring games. He is scheduled for outings on May 10, 15 and 21. If all goes well, he could make a rehab start May 26.

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Houllier won't need heart surgery

Birmingham, England — Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier has been told he will not require surgery after being admitted to hospital with chest pains.

Houllier, who had open heart surgery in 2001 while manager of Liverpool, was taken to hospital on Wednesday night where he underwent tests.

Villa assistant coach Gary McAllister visited the 63-year-old Frenchman on Thursday and said specialists "are definitely saying there is no surgery needed."

"If you took away all the stuff attached to his arms, he didn't look ill," McAllister said on Friday. "He is on the coronary ward. He was great and bubbly. He had a tough night but he was looking surprisingly well and in fine fettle."

McAllister, who will be in charge of Villa for Saturday's home match against Stoke in the Premier League, said that instead of surgery, Houllier needed "purely medicine and rest."

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