3 Key Highlights
- PSG coach Luis Enrique’s nine-year-old daughter, Xana Martínez, was in a five-month battle with osteosarcoma which she lost in August 2019.
- Luis Enrique dedicated the 2025 Champions League success of PSG over Inter Milan to his daughter Xana, just as he had promised to plant a PSG flag on the pitch just as she did with Barcelona in 2015.
- His Spanish coach remains influenced by Xana, describes her as their family’s guide and thanks her for helping lead PSG to achieve the Champions League trophy for the first time.
The story of Xana Luis Enrique has reached many people after her father led Paris Saint-Germain to win the Champions League. Because of his loss, Luis Enrique’s coaching philosophy and life journey reflect how love is stronger than a person’s physical absence. The PSG victory has the football world celebrated and Xana’s story leads to talks about family, losing someone and finding strength amid tragedy.
Table of Contents
How Does the Story of Xana Luis Enrique Develop?
Her father Luis Enrique was a football manager in Spain and her mother was Elena Cullell. Xana was born in 2010 and spend nine happy years with her family before illness forced doctors to diagnose her with osteosarcoma. Because it is very uncommon and aggressive, affecting less than 1,000 children every year, osteosarcoma is considered one of the toughest cancers to manage in kids.
Luis Enrique left his job as Spain’s national coach in June so he could give all his attention to helping Xana. Together, the family and Xana struggled with the disease for five months, but their love and the doctors’ hard work still could not save her and she passed away on August 29, 2019 when she was nine years old.
PSG Won the Champion’s League and Dedicated the Win to Xana
On May 31, 2025, Luis Enrique was able to celebrate a big milestone as PSG won the Champions League title by defeating Inter Milan 5-0 in the Allianz Arena in Munich. After the game ended, Enrique ran to greet his players and people in the commentary said the win was in memory of his daughter.
At the start of 2025, Enrique told his team he would win the game and he succeeded. He remembered the moment in 2015, five-year-old Xana planted a Barcelona flag in Berlin after the team won the Champions League. Asked him how he felt and he said he’d like to do the same with a PSG flag. Her absence in body does not change the fact that she will feel like she’s part of the celebration.
The Champions League win by PSG is their first European trophy and this makes Luis Enrique just the second coach in history, after Pep Guardiola, to win the tournament with different teams.
How Xana’s life Changed Before and After She Passed
| Aspect | During Xana’s Life (2010-2019) | After Xana’s Passing (2019-2025) |
| Luis Enrique’s Career | Active coaching with Barcelona, Spain | Returned to coaching, joined PSG |
| Family Focus | Balancing career and family time | Carrying Xana’s memory in all endeavors |
| Coaching Philosophy | Tactical excellence | Tactical excellence with emotional depth |
| Public Perception | Respected | Widely admired for strength and humanity |
People Related to Xana Luis Enrique
- Luis Enrique Martínez García: Spanish football manager, Xana’s dad and the coach who has led PSG to its recent great achievements.
- Xana’s mother and Luis Enrique’s wife since 1997, Elena Cullell gives the family support when things get tough.
- Pacho and Sira: Xana’s siblings, now older, who remember their sister and are there for their parents too.
- Fundación Xana was started to assist families that have children with cancer.
- PSG team members and staff: the team who made Luis Enrique’s Champions League victory possible in Xana’s memory.
Here are the key facts about Xana Luis Enrique’s fight Against Cancer
Xana found out she suffered from osteosarcoma which is a cancer of the bone that mostly affects children and teens. This is not a common form of cancer in children, about 3% of all cases, though it is the main bone cancer found in youngsters. Most cases of the disease need powerful treatments using chemotherapy, surgical procedures and sometimes radiotherapy.
Because of his daughter Xana’s condition, Luis Enrique decided to put her needs before his job for five months. The family got medical assistance from doctors across the country, however, the difficult nature of osteosarcoma prevented a victory. Because of Xana’s bravery while being treated, her family was uplifted and her father uses it to guide his coaching and day-to-day actions.
Luis Enrique’s emotional and Philosophy
Luis Enrique gives a powerful and wise response when he learns what has happened to Xana. In the 2024 documentary “You Have No F***ing Idea,” he reflects on their time together with gratitude rather than bitterness. My daughter was with us for the next nine years which was wonderful for everyone. He points out that we have thousands of memories. I think I am very lucky in my circumstances.
This perspective shapes his coaching philosophy at PSG, where players describe him as someone who “doesn’t give a f***” about typical football politics or pressures. Because of the loss in his life, he now knows what really matters, so he is able to work with players without the fear of not succeeding.
“You’ll be the star that guides our family, Luis Enrique wrote after Xana’s passing. “We will miss you lots, but we will remember you every day of our lives with the hope that in the future we will meet again.”
Top Trending Questions
How did Xana Luis Enrique die?
Xana passed away from osteosarcoma, a rare and aggressive bone cancer, after a five-month battle in 2019.
What did Luis Enrique do to honor Xana after PSG’s Champions League win?
He dedicated the victory to her memory and fulfilled his promise to plant a PSG flag on the pitch, just as she did with Barcelona in 2015.
How has Xana’s memory influenced Luis Enrique’s coaching?
Her spirit guides his approach, giving him perspective on what matters most and helping him coach without fear of failure.
FAQs
What type of cancer did Xana Luis Enrique have?
Xana was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare malignant bone tumor that primarily affects children and teenagers. This aggressive cancer required intensive treatment but proved too challenging to overcome.
How old was Xana when she passed away?
Xana was nine years old when she died on August 29, 2019, after battling cancer for five months since her diagnosis in early 2019.
Did Luis Enrique quit coaching because of Xana’s illness?
Yes, Luis Enrique stepped down as Spain’s national team coach in June 2019 to focus entirely on supporting Xana during her cancer treatment and spend precious time with his family.
What is Fundación Xana?
Fundación Xana is a foundation established in Xana’s memory to support families dealing with pediatric cancer, providing resources and assistance during their difficult journeys.
How does Luis Enrique keep Xana’s memory alive?
He carries her spirit with him daily, dedicates major achievements to her memory, speaks openly about their time together, and views her as a guiding presence in his life and career decisions.
Conclusion
We gain from Xana Luis Enrique’s life that love continues even after we cannot be with the one we love. As Luis Enrique keeps winning as a coach, his daughter’s presence is more clearly seen in all his efforts. Visit Buzz Explained for more on Xana Luis Enrique, Champions League news, and inspiring sports stories—don’t miss the boat on what matters most in football and life!
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