Fans of Paris Saint-Germain are heartbroken over the loss of their daughter.
Paris Saint-Germain clinched their first-ever Champions League title, and for coach Luis Enrique, the triumph was deeply emotional. Following the impressive 5-0 victory over Inter Milan, Enrique paid tribute to his late daughter Xana, who passed away in 2019 at the age of nine from a malignant bone tumor.
After removing a black t-shirt from a bag, a drawing of him with Xana and a Paris Saint-Germain flag were revealed. The emotional PSG coach was touched as fans unveiled a giant banner in her honor. "Xana is always with us. We remember her, we love her. She carries a special place in our hearts forever," Enrique said after the game.
When Enrique won the Champions League with FC Barcelona in 2015, he celebrated with his then five-year-old daughter Xana in the middle of the Berlin Olympic Stadium. The touching images of father and daughter went viral, making it a heartfelt wish for Enrique to remember his daughter in this unique way after the triumph in Munich.
In March 2019, Enrique resigned from his role as Spanish national coach to be there for his family during Xana's illness. She battled cancer for five months before tragically passing away. "You will be the star that guides our family," Enrique wrote on social media after her death. The former professional is convinced that Xana continues to accompany him spiritually.
Enrique was the undisputed star post-game, with former Dortmund player Achraf Hakimi praising him, saying, "He's changed everything. He has a different way of seeing football. After all he's been through, it's great that he can experience this. He deserves it more than anyone."
Xana Martínez, the youngest daughter of Enrique and his wife Elena Cullell, was born in 2010 and faced a battle with osteosarcoma in 2019. Her impact on Enrique's career was significant, as he took a leave of absence to focus on her during her illness and eventually resigned as Spain's national team manager in June 2019, two months before her passing.
Enrique has continued to honor Xana's memory, speaking about the spiritual presence she maintains and how her memory continues to inspire him. The family keeps her memory alive through the Xana Foundation, which supports families affected by serious illness. Xana's legacy extends to the football community as Enrique shares stories of her involvement in his career, such as planting a flag on the pitch after a victory.
Sources: ntv.de, tno/sid/dpa
As Enrique's emotional victory speech echoed in the Munich stadium, he paid tribute to his late daughter Xana, their shared love for football resonating in the French, Italian, and European leagues where he's coached. Even as he hoisted the Champions League trophy, it was a draw of Xana and their shared Paris Saint-Germain flag that was closest to his heart.
