Nikos Plakias and Luis Enrique hail from different backgrounds but share a profound sorrow: the loss of their children. Plakias tragically lost his twin daughters in the Tempi disaster of 2023, while Enrique, coach of Paris Saint-Germain, faced the heartbreaking loss of his 9-year-old daughter, Hana, in 2019 after her courageous battle with cancer.
Enrique’s poignant story resonated throughout the football community and beyond when he stepped down from his role with the national team in June 2019 to spend precious time with Hana, who passed away just two months later, in August of that year.
Currently at the helm of Paris Saint-Germain, one of the finalists in this year’s Champions League, Luis Enrique often speaks lovingly about his daughter, reminding us all that life persists even in the face of profound grief.
“My daughter cherished celebrations, and I know she continues to revel wherever she is. I fondly recall a wonderful photograph of her at the Berlin final after we clinched the Champions League, proudly displaying a Barcelona flag on the field. I aim to recreate that moment with PSG. Though my daughter won’t be physically present, she remains deeply important to me. I find motivation to move forward with life and cherish these moments with my family. We all seek beautiful and joyful experiences, but equally vital is learning to navigate our tragedies. One day, we will reunite,” expressed the PSG coach.
Moved by Enrique’s heartfelt remarks, Nikos Plakias took to social media to share the coach’s words ahead of the prestigious European club final, responding to how a parent can regain their footing after such a devastating loss.
“Luis Enrique lost his daughter Hana in 2019 after a five-month fight against cancer. His reflections on how he continues to forge ahead in life provide the answer to the question, ‘how does a grieving parent stand tall after losing a child?’” shared Nikos Plakias.
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