Luis Enrique: Emotional commemoration in Munich for deceased daughter

Luis Enrique: Emotional commemoration in Munich for deceased daughter

München, Deutschland - On May 31, 2025, PSG coach Luis Enrique in the Allianz Arena was honored by the fans after the Champions League final. The honor focused on a father's emotional pain instead of just focusing on sporting success. Enrique commemorated his daughter Xana, who died of a rare form of bone cancer at the age of only 9 in 2019. The memorial campaign had a deep meaning and emotional value for both him and many spectators.

The fans unrolled a large banner that Xana showed in a PSG jersey, and Enrique remembered a meaningful moment with his daughter during the 2015 Champions League final. At that time they had put a flag of FC Barcelona together in the lawn. After the game, Enrique wore a T-shirt with an illustration of Xana, as an expression of his grief and solidarity.

a moving homage

In the emotional speech, Enrique emphasized the great support he received from the fans and his team in this difficult time. The memorial event was not only a tribute to his daughter, but also a source of consolation for him. Rafel Pol, the assistant coach of PSG, also touched this honor because he had lost his wife Raquel six months ago after a long illness. Enrique devoted the victory to Raquel on this day, which further reinforced the connection between the two mourners.

Enrique had stood up in her last days and interrupted his career as a national coach in Spain in 2019 to be there for Xana. At that time, he was based on “urgent private reasons” without explaining the exact circumstances. Xana's death was announced in an emotional Twitter post on August 29, 2019. Enrique expressed his grief in it and said that the Xana family would miss very much.

The challenge of mental health

The challenge of dealing with grief and loss affects many athletes in competitive sports. Dealing with mental health has become increasingly important in recent years. Athletes are often under immense pressure, which can have a negative impact on their mental health. Studies show that 13-20% of competitive athletes suffer from depression in the course of their lives and have up to 34% of anxiety disorders and depression. This shows how important it is to look at such experiences in the context of sport.

The stigmatization of mental illnesses in competitive sports remains a major problem. The stay in public, combined with personal tragedies as Luis Enrique has experienced, can cause athletes to have difficulty looking for support. Improved information about mental health and professionalization in sports psychological support is urgently required. The tragedy of Enrique and other athletes illustrates the need to take this aspect of the sporting career seriously.