As Paris Saint-Germain celebrated their historic first UEFA Champions League final victory at Munich`s Allianz Arena, one individual was clearly at the forefront of manager Luis Enrique`s thoughts: his late daughter, Xana.
Xana passed away in 2019 at the age of nine after battling osteosarcoma, a rare bone cancer. However, Enrique and his family have actively kept her memory alive. Xana has often been remembered during significant moments in his career, and the Champions League final was no different, with multiple tributes visible during PSG`s post-match celebrations.
After the match, Enrique, who had worn a plain black t-shirt during the game, changed into one featuring a drawing created for the Xana Foundation. He received his winner`s medal wearing this shirt. Luis Enrique and his wife, Elena Cullell, established the foundation after Xana`s death. The t-shirt design referenced a cherished photo of Xana taken at the Champions League final 10 years prior, when Enrique`s Barcelona side won the competition at Berlin`s Olympiastadion.
“I have incredible memories because my daughter loved parties, and I`m sure she`s still throwing them wherever she is,” Enrique reflected earlier in the season. “I remember an incredible photo I have with her at the Champions League final in Berlin, after winning the Champions League, planting an FC Barcelona flag on the pitch. I hope to be able to do the same with PSG. My daughter won`t be there physically, but she will be there spiritually, and that`s very important to me. I`m motivated to continue moving forward with what life gives me, sharing it with my family.”
The tribute to Xana wasn`t limited to Enrique`s attire. Some time after the final whistle in PSG`s 5-0 victory over Inter, the club`s supporters unfurled a large banner nodding to that same iconic photo of Xana.
“It means a lot,” Enrique commented on the banner. “It`s so nice but I don`t need to win Champions League to remember my daughter. My daughter is always with us, especially when we lost, and with my family, enjoying everything, trying to get the positives even in the bad moments.”
These recent gestures are part of ongoing tributes to Xana, whom Enrique has described as “the star that guides our family.” She has served as a profound source of motivation throughout his career, inspiring him to weave her life and memory into his professional milestones, regardless of the occasion.
This includes a poignant moment in 2022 when Spain`s crucial World Cup group stage match against Germany fell on Xana`s 13th birthday. That day, he shared an Instagram post dedicated to his daughter, writing, “Today is a special day. Not only because we play Germany, but also because my daughter Xana would be turning 13 years old. My love, wherever you are, we love you. We miss you.”
He also spoke about Xana following the 1-1 draw with Germany.
“It was a special day for me and my family,” he stated. “Obviously, we don`t have our daughter with us physically anymore, but she is still present every day. We remember her a lot, we laugh and think about how she would act in each situation that we experience. This is how life works. It`s not only about beautiful things and finding happiness, it`s about knowing how to manage these moments.”
This enduring presence stems from his family`s deliberate effort to keep her memory vibrantly alive in their daily lives. He discussed this in the 2024 documentary `Luis Enrique: You Have No F—ing Idea,` recounting a conversation with his mother shortly after Xana`s death.
“My mother couldn`t keep photos of Xana until I arrived home and asked her, `Why aren`t there any photos of Xana, mom?`” he recalled. “`I can`t, I can`t.` `Mom, you have to put [up photos of] Xana. Xana is alive.` She isn`t in the physical [sense] but she is in the spiritual [sense] because every day, we talk about her, we laugh and remember because I think Xana still sees us.”
The family also honours Xana through the Xana Foundation, which offers support to families navigating the challenges of serious childhood illnesses. Enrique has noted that he and his wife were fortunate to be able to step away from their work to focus entirely on Xana during her illness (he took a leave of absence from his role with Spain in March 2019 before resigning that June). Recognizing that not all families have this privilege, the foundation strives to provide necessary assistance.
Enrique deeply cherishes the family`s memories of Xana, considering himself fortunate to have them.
“Can I consider myself fortunate or unfortunate? I consider myself fortunate, very fortunate,” he said in the documentary. “My daughter came to live with us for nine wonderful years. We have thousands of memories of her, videos, incredible things.”
Dominic Ashworth