Luis Enrique, the current PSG coach and former Spanish footballer, opened up about the heartbreaking loss of his daughter Xana in his documentary series *No tenéis ni **** idea* on Movistar Plus+. Xana passed away at the age of nine after battling osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer that mostly affects children and teenagers. Despite this tragedy, Luis Enrique says he feels “very lucky” because he had the chance to spend nine wonderful years with her. He recalls, “We have a thousand memories of her—videos, incredible things.”
Xana’s death on August 29, 2019, was devastating for the family. Luis Enrique shared that at first, his own mother couldn’t bear to have photos of Xana at home. But he insisted that Xana should be remembered and honored. “You have to put Xana in. She is still with us. Physically, she’s not here, but spiritually, she is. We talk about her every day, laugh, and remember.”
Luis Enrique believes his daughter continues to watch over them, and that belief motivates him and his family to live life to the fullest. His wife, Elena Cullell, and their two older children, Pancho and Sira, also share this view. The documentary shows beautiful moments of Xana—playing in the garden, playing the piano, and enjoying the beach—always with a big, bright smile.
Xana’s battle with osteosarcoma lasted just five months. She was treated at Sant Joan de Déu and Sant Pau hospitals in Barcelona. When she passed, it was at home, surrounded by her family. Luis Enrique recalls how emotional those final moments were, especially when Xana didn’t fully understand why her parents were crying. “When she was upset, she accepted that her mom cried, but she didn’t get why I was crying and asked me to stop,” he says.
Despite the pain of saying goodbye, Luis Enrique describes the experience as both hard and deeply intimate. “She died at home, with her family, her cousins, her grandparents all around her.” He remembers Xana as “funny, spontaneous, brave, and full of energy—like a volcano!” He adds, smiling, “She was a bit like me… well, actually more like her mother.”
This isn’t the first time Luis Enrique has spoken about losing Xana. On what would have been her 13th birthday, he shared his thoughts on how life is about more than just happiness. It’s also about learning how to deal with hard moments. After Xana’s death, he made a touching statement: “We will miss you every day of our lives, but you will always be the star guiding our family. Rest, Xanita.”
