Luis Enrique’s desire to achieve ‘the back-to-back-to-back’ fuels PSG’s belief he will stay

Back to Back.

The slogan was painted on the back of the team bus and down the back of the Champions League winners’ custom-made shirts. Even Rue du Bac, Line 12 of the Paris metro, was renamed Rue du Back-to-Back.

After all “it was never going to be just one”, as the collector’s T-shirt read, worn by fans and Paris Saint-Germain’s players during Sunday’s celebrations. By the morning after the night before — which saw “unacceptable scenes of violence”, according to president Emmanuel Macron, spread throughout the French capital — Parc des Princes was already wrapped in new artwork featuring the dates 2025 and 2026 either side of two stars above the words “Champions d’Europe”.

With the majestic Eiffel Tower providing a magnificent backdrop, a blue, white and red carpet dressed an avenue, reserved only for the best: the Champs Elysees. The champions sauntered down the iconic route, flanked by around 85,000 to 90,000 fans, making their way fittingly enough towards l’Arc de Triomphe.

Following PSG’s victory over Arsenal (1-1, 4-3 on penalties) on Saturday, they became only the second team to win consecutive Champions Leagues since the competition was rebranded in 1992, joining Real Madrid. The man at the centre of it all was Luis Enrique.

The victory even prompted a message from former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson to PSG’s president, Nasser Al-Khelaifi. “Nasser, Alex Ferguson here,” he wrote, as reported by L’Equipe. “Well done, it was a tough night for you, but you were up against a boring team that did nothing but defend. Enjoy your holidays, you deserve them.”

After a month which saw big manager moves — Liverpool sacked Arne Slot, Manchester United handed Michael Carrick a two-year contract, Jose Mourinho signed a contract in Madrid, and Pep Guardiola left Manchester City — PSG will be gleefully smiling they have such a coach on their hands.

The 56-year-old only has one year left on his deal. After Saturday’s final, however, Al-Khelaifi backed him to the hilt, and you would expect so, given the former Barcelona coach has been recognised for transforming the Parisian club.

He brought some much-needed discipline to a team full of individuals, exemplified by the straight-talking feedback he offered Kylian Mbappe in that infamous one-on-one analysis session. Indeed, Al-Khelaifi told CBS his “best decision” was hiring Luis Enrique and not one of the star-studded players on which the club have spent €2.5billion (£2.2bn, $2.9bn) since Qatar Sports Investments bought PSG in 2011.

After the squad were welcomed at the Elysee Palace by Macron, who described Luis Enrique as an “extraordinary conductor”, the ebullient head coach, accompanied by his staff, led the team out inside an effervescent Parc des Princes.

The fans bellowed his name. He lifted the enormous trophy above his head, the silverware dwarfing his scrawny body which bobbed up and down on stage engulfed in the mosh pit of players and staff.

Paris Saint-Germain captain Marquinhos and president Nasser Al-Khelaifi together bring out the Champions League trophy at the Parc des Princes.

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— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) May 31, 2026

Luis Enrique’s contract expiry may be a concern, but Al-Khelaifi told TNT Sports after the final he is “confident” the “special coach and human” will remain at the club.

“He’s the best coach in the world,” Al-Khelaifi said. “I cannot answer the question (on Luis Enrique staying) but I’m really confident.

“It’s all about the project and he is the best one for it.”

Such optimism perhaps explains why, during Manchester United’s quest for their head coach, it became clear early on that Luis Enrique intended to renew with PSG and why Andoni Iraola is the clear favourite to succeed Slot.

In April, French media outlet RMC reported that the Spanish coach and PSG were close to reaching a final agreement to extend his contract until 2030. No sooner had he delivered a second consecutive Champions League title than Luis Enrique was already talking about the next challenge.

After Saturday’s triumph, he referenced in his post-match press conference the prospect of completing “the back-to-back-to-back”, a phrase echoed by PSG’s football advisor Luis Campo. Indeed, the working relationship between Luis Enrique, Campos and Al-Khelaifi, who were handed personal portraits by the ultra fans on Sunday evening, has been crucial to the club’s success.

“From day one here with the president and the sporting director, we’ve had their full support, and that’s rare to see,” Luis Enrique said in a press conference before the Champions League final.

“Whenever we’ve lost, they’ve backed the team and the manager; that’s the key….we’re happy; it’s a good time for the club and we want to keep going in this direction.”

Luis Enrique, a marathon runner, cycling enthusiast and Iron Man adventurer, is aware his peak years will not last forever. “I tell my wife: ‘I don’t want to end up as an old fogey on the bench’,” he told Spanish outlet La Nueve Espana before Saturday’s final. “But I’m seeing more and more old fogeys coaching.”

Luis Enrique, 56, said he jokingly tells his brother Felipe, 55, that he must retire before his younger sibling. “He’ll retire at 61… so do the maths,” he added.

Here is how Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, the Champions League player of the season, was received by the fans gathered at the Parc des Princes…

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— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) May 31, 2026

PSG will be desperate to keep the complete coach who has moulded a team of individual stars into a unified collective. In April, when asked in a press conference about L’Equipe’s report of his €1m monthly salary, Luis Enrique replied with a smile: “Of course I’m one of the managers — or perhaps the manager — in the world who can earn the most money, that’s great for me.”

Luis Enrique’s next contract may be his last but for PSG to consolidate upon their dominance and create a dynasty, it is perhaps their most important.