Image Source: France24
On Wednesday, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) announced the appointment of Luis Enrique as their new coach. The former Spain and Barcelona manager has been given the responsibility of leading the team’s quest to secure the elusive Champions League title. However, there is uncertainty surrounding the future of star player Kylian Mbappe, as his stay at the club beyond the summer is not guaranteed.
Luis Enrique, who recently signed a two-year contract, was officially presented at a press conference shortly after the dismissal of the previous coach, Christophe Galtier, due to a disappointing season.
Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the president of PSG, expressed that Enrique’s arrival signifies the beginning of a “new cycle” characterized by a fresh style of play. PSG released a statement earlier expressing gratitude to Galtier for his professionalism and dedication, despite having one year remaining on his contract. Additionally, Galtier’s assistants, Thierry Oleksiak and Joao Sacramento, were also let go by the club.
Luis Enrique, who has been without a contract since Spain’s World Cup elimination in the previous year, has expressed his commitment to maintaining an attacking style of play, which has contributed to his reputation as a coach. He also expressed his enthusiasm for the pressure associated with the objective of winning the Champions League with PSG.
PSG’s Quest for European Glory: Struggles and Managerial Changes Under Qatari Ownership
Image Source: ESPN
Since the takeover by wealthy Qatari investors in 2011, PSG has been a dominant force in French football but has consistently struggled to replicate that success in European competitions, despite their significant investments in star players. Lionel Messi, who played his last game for the club last month, was among the high-profile signings.
The club’s only appearance in the Champions League final came in the pandemic-shortened format in 2020, where they lost to Bayern Munich. PSG has had a track record of early exits in the Champions League despite their formidable squad.
Luis Enrique, the 53-year-old manager, took charge of the Spanish national team in 2018 with the aim of rebuilding the squad after their early elimination in the 2018 World Cup.
He briefly left his position due to personal reasons but returned in 2019. During his tenure, Spain reached the semifinals of the UEFA Nations League on two occasions and the semifinals of the European Championship. His most successful spell as a manager was with Barcelona, where he won the Champions League, La Liga, and Copa del Rey in his first season.
Under Christophe Galtier’s guidance, PSG secured another expected French league title but suffered early eliminations from the Champions League and the French Cup, both at the hands of their rival Marseille in the past season. PSG’s form declined significantly in 2024, with 10 losses in 28 games.
Since the Qatari-backed era began, Carlo Ancelotti is the only coach who was not dismissed, as he left PSG in 2013 to join Real Madrid. However, his appointment came after the surprising sacking of Antoine Kombouaré in December 2011, when PSG was leading the league by three points. PSG ultimately lost the title that season, and the manner in which Kombouaré was replaced set the tone for a decade of frequent managerial changes at the club.
