As Paris Saint-Germain prepares for the UEFA Champions League final, manager Luis Enrique reflected on his previous appearance in the competition`s decisive match a decade ago, when he led Barcelona to victory. However, his most prominent memory of that day wasn`t the 3-1 win over Juventus in Berlin, but a cherished photo of his daughter, Xana, who was five years old at the time.
“I have incredible memories because my daughter loved parties, and I`m sure she`s still throwing them wherever she is,” he shared, according to Marca. “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.”
This planned tribute would be the latest way Enrique and his family honor Xana`s memory. She passed away at age nine in August 2019 after battling bone cancer. He has often referred to her as “the star that guides our family” and a key motivator in his career. Since her death, he has consistently incorporated her life and memory into significant professional moments.
A notable instance occurred in 2022 when Spain`s crucial World Cup group match against Germany coincided with Xana`s 13th birthday. He marked the day with 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.”
Following Spain`s 1-1 draw with Germany, he also took a moment to speak about Xana publicly.
“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.”
The family is committed to keeping her memory vibrant in their daily lives. In the 2024 documentary `Luis Enrique: You Have No F—ing Idea`, he recounted 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.”
Enrique and his wife, Elena Cullell, also established the Xana Foundation, which supports families whose children are affected by serious illness. Enrique noted that he and his wife were privileged to be able to step away from work (he took leave from his Spain role in March 2019 before resigning in June, two months before Xana died) to focus on Xana. Recognizing that not all families have this ability, the foundation aims to provide necessary assistance.
He holds cherished memories of Xana, considering himself fortunate for the time they had.
In the documentary, he posed the question, “Can I consider myself fortunate or unfortunate?” before answering, “I consider myself fortunate, very fortunate.” He added that his daughter “came to live with us for nine wonderful years,” leaving them with “thousands of memories of her, videos, incredible things.”
