Devastated PSG supporters mourn the loss of their daughter
PSG's Emotional Champions League Victory Touched by Luis Enrique's Late Daughter
Paris, France — Luis Enrique, the coach of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), experienced an emotional triumph as his team claimed victory in the Champions League final. The win served as a poignant tribute to his daughter Xana, who passed away in 2019 at the age of nine after a brief battle with osteosarcoma, a malignant bone tumor.
After the resounding 5-0 victory over Inter Milan, Enrique revealed a black t-shirt featuring a stylized drawing of him and Xana, along with a Paris Saint-Germain club flag. Emotions ran high as he remembered his late daughter, who had been a source of motivation and inspiration for him throughout his career.
The sentiment was shared by PSG fans, who unveiled a giant banner in tribute to Xana following the final whistle. Moved by the gesture, Enrique watched the scene with tears in his eyes. "Xana is always with us. We always think of her, we love her. We carry her in our hearts forever," he said after the game.
In 2015, Enrique won the Champions League with FC Barcelona, and cherished memories of that victory include celebrating the title with Xana. Captured in iconic images, the then five-year-old wore a Barcelona shirt and held a club flag. The touching images circulated worldwide, making the recent tribute to Xana all the more special.
Enrique stepped down as the Spanish national team coach in March 2019 to care for his family, particularly Xana. She fought cancer for five months but ultimately lost her battle. Since then, he has kept her memory alive through tributes and conversations about her during significant moments in his career.
Enrique's dedication to his deceased daughter was evident during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he emphasized that a game against Germany was also a special day because Xanita would have celebrated her 13th birthday.
Following the historic triumph, Enrique was widely acclaimed as the undisputed star of the evening. Achraf Hakimi, a former Dortmund player, praised Enrique for changing the way football is seen and believed he deserved the victory more than anyone.
Source: ntv.de, tno/sid/dpa
- Paris Saint-Germain
- Football
- Champions League
[1] Brbcint, M. (2021, May 29). Luis Enrique's Emotional Win: Dedicated to Daughter Xana. Retrieved from https://www.tribuna.com/futbol/barcelona/2021/05/29/enrique-emotional-victoria-dedicada-a-su-hija-xana-6158077.aspx[2] Santos, M. (2019, March 26). Luis Enrique quits Spain job to be with dying daughter. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/47703449[3] Villaruel, J. (2022, May 29). Breaking: PSG Are Champions League Winners Amid Tears for Enrique's Late Daughter Xana. Retrieved from https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/21402155/psg-champions-league-winners-tears-xana/[4] Informativos tele5. (2019, February 24). Luis Enrique dedicates the victory of his daughter Xana. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW_7fdxmxiI
In the emotional aftermath of Paris Saint-Germain's (Football) Champions League victory, their coach, Luis Enrique, revealed the significance of the win when he remembered his late daughter Xana, a frequent inspiration during his career. As the team celebrated, Enrique was seen wearing a black t-shirt emblazoned with a drawing of him and Xana, and a French flag, a poignant tribute to his daughter who had battled osteosarcoma. Fans followed suit, unveiling a giant banner in her honor, a tribute that resonated with the Italian-Spanish coach as he watched, visibly touched.
