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Head coach Luis Enrique follows in the footsteps of Bob Paisley, Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane in becoming just the fifth manager to win three Champions League\/European Cup titles.<\/p>\n
The Spaniard, who was unveiled as PSG boss in July 2023, also won the Champions League as a player with Barcelona in 2014-15.<\/p>\n
Remarkably, “he didn’t want to take the job when he was first asked”, journalist Guillem Balague told BBC Radio 5 Live. <\/p>\n
“[He said] ‘you are full of stars – I’m not interested’. He was promised [he could] change the culture and the question was different. It wasn’t how can we win the Champions League, it was what kind of football do we want? <\/p>\n
“The answer was offensive, attractive and Luis Enrique represented that and he was convinced he could do that.”<\/p>\n
Under Luis Enrique, PSG lost their record goalscorer and five-time Ligue 1 player of the year Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid on a free transfer in 2024.<\/p>\n
But, arguably, the France forward’s departure has helped balance the team.<\/p>\n
PSG scored 44 more goals across all competitions in their first season without Mbappe (2024-25) compared with his final season at the club.<\/p>\n
“Everyone plays like a team,” says Balague of the current squad. <\/p>\n
“PSG is the team with the fewest yellow cards in Europe’s top leagues. That is a reflection of emotional control and everyone playing for everybody instead of being angry. <\/p>\n
“He [Luis Enrique] said before when Mbappe left he prefers five players scoring 10 goals than one scoring 50. This season PSG have 20 different goalscorers. It is a collective approach.”<\/p>\n
They also equalled the record for most goals scored in a single edition of the European Cup\/Champions League, with their 45 drawing level with Barcelona’s total in 1999-2000.<\/p>\n
Luis Enrique has also created a brilliant relationship with PSG’s fans.<\/p>\n
After their Champions League win last year, they unveiled a flag in tribute to their coach and daughter Xana – who died aged nine in 2019 – showing the pair planting a Barcelona flag in the centre circle after the 2015 European triumph over Juventus in Berlin.<\/p>\n
And in Budapest, before their win over Arsenal, a giant banner showing Luis Enrique lifting the famous trophy was displayed among the French faithful.<\/p>\n
He was cheered on by the PSG fans passionately as he was lifted into the air by his players while hold the Champions League trophy.<\/p>\n
After collecting his medal he danced in front of them with president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, celebrating the trophy that for so long had eluded the club. Not once, but twice.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n