* Messi and Platini lead tributes * He was a great man - Zubizarreta (Adds more quotes) By Tim Hanlon BARCELONA, April 25 (Reuters) - Former Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova has died aged 45 following a battle with cancer that forced him to stand down at the end of last season, the club announced on Friday. He took over at the Nou Camp ahead of the 2012-13 season having been Pep Guardiola's assistant during the most successful period in Barca's history in which they won three out of four La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues in 2009 and 2011. Barcelona went on to make the best-ever start to a La Liga season with 18 wins from 19 games but, in December 2012, Vilanova was diagnosed with cancer for the second time. At the end of the season Vilanova announced he was resigning to concentrate on his recovery from the illness. More...