CNN
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Paris Saint German (PSG) manager Louis Enrique and his family suffered the ultimate heartbreak in 2019, when their 9-year-old daughter Xana passed away after a battle with cancer.
It was a tragedy that shook the entire football community and maintained its front and center of today’s 55-year-old idea.
For Enrique, who took a short break from the sport five years ago, it also serves as an inspiration he hopes to help his PSG side claim their first Champions League trophy against Inter Milan on Saturday.
Enrique has already won the Champions League as manager when he led Barcelona to the trophy in 2015.
At the post-match celebration, Enrique celebrated with her daughter on the pitch. And there are certain memories he wants to replicate this weekend.
“My daughter loved the party. I’m sure she’s where she is and she still has the party,” Enrique told reporters earlier this year.
“And I remember an incredible photo of her in the Champions League final in Berlin after winning the Champions League.
“My daughter isn’t there, but she… she’s not physically there, but she’s become spiritual and very important to me.”
Five years ago, the family tragedy occurred when Enrique was the Spanish manager. In June 2019, he left his role in spending more time with his family. That August he announced that Xana had died.
“You’ll be the star of guiding our family,” he said in a statement at the time.
In November 2019, Enrique returned to his role as manager. red He led his team to the Euro 2020 semi-finals.
He then resigned from his position after a disappointing show at the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
Before his stint as a national team manager, Enrique was a huge success as head coach. BrauranaIn 2015, he won the LA La Liga title, the domestic cup and the Champions League.
His coaching career followed an impressive spell as a player. The Spaniard played for Real Madrid and Barca, earning 62 caps for the national team.
He won three LA La Liga titles during his day of play and won the Spanish Olympic gold medal in the 1992 match.
Given his pedigree as both a player and manager, it was probably not surprising that PSG, one of Europe’s biggest clubs, announced him as the new head coach in 2023.
He ran to the ground, earning domestic highs in his first season, leading the French side to the Champions League semi-finals, and fell to German club Borussia Dortmund in shock results.
This season he had to remake the entire team following French superstar Killian Mbappe’s departure for Real Madrid, but it’s a testament to his tactical Noos. His young team now appears to be undoubtedly the best team in Europe.
After winning the league and two domestic cups so far this season, Enrique has become the second manager in history to acquire two European highs with two different teams, in need of a Champions League title.
Pep Guardiola is currently the sole manager, Barça in 2009 and Manchester City in 2023.
But through all his recent success, it makes the memories of the time spent with his daughter shine the brightest.
In a recent Movistar+ documentary, Enrique said he felt like a “very lucky” man despite the broken heart that his family is suffering.
That means Enrique is not alone when he faces the touchline in Saturday’s Champions League final.
“My daughter has been spending nine years with us. We have her memories, videos, incredible things,” he said.
“Zana is alive. On a physical plane, she’s not here, but on a spiritual plane, she’s here because she talks about her every day. We laugh and remember.
“I believe Zana is still watching us.”