LUIS ENRIQUE JOINS CHAMPIONS LEAGUE IMMORTALS WITH THIRD EUROPEAN CROWN
PSG Boss Enters Elite Company as Ancelotti Remains the Competition's Most Successful Coach
Budapest, Hungary – Paris Saint-Germain's dramatic UEFA Champions League triumph over Arsenal in the 2026 final not only secured another historic trophy for the French giants but also elevated head coach Luis Enrique into the pantheon of European football's greatest managers.
With PSG prevailing in a tense penalty shootout, Luis Enrique captured his third UEFA Champions League title as a coach, becoming just the fifth manager in history to win Europe's most prestigious club competition three times.
The Spanish tactician first lifted the trophy with Barcelona in 2015 before guiding PSG to their maiden European crown in 2025. One year later, he successfully defended the title, delivering a second consecutive Champions League trophy to the Parisian club and cementing his legacy among football's coaching elite.
Ancelotti Still Sets the Standard
While Luis Enrique's achievement is remarkable, the benchmark remains legendary Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti, who holds the record for the most European Cup and Champions League titles won by a manager.
Ancelotti captured five Champions League crowns during his illustrious coaching career, winning twice with AC Milan in 2003 and 2007 before adding three more with Real Madrid in 2014, 2022, and 2024. His success across two European powerhouses has established him as the most decorated coach in the competition's history.
The Elite Five
Luis Enrique now joins an exclusive group of managers who have won the European Cup or Champions League at least three times:
Carlo Ancelotti (5 titles)
AC Milan: 2003, 2007 Real Madrid: 2014, 2022, 2024
Bob Paisley (3 titles)
Liverpool: 1977, 1978, 1981
Zinédine Zidane (3 titles)
Real Madrid: 2016, 2017, 2018
Pep Guardiola (3 titles)
Barcelona: 2009, 2011 Manchester City: 2023
Luis Enrique (3 titles)
Barcelona: 2015 Paris Saint-Germain: 2025, 2026 A Coach for the History Books
Luis Enrique's latest triumph places him among the most influential managers of the modern era. He also joins a distinguished group of coaches who have won the Champions League with more than one club, demonstrating his ability to build title-winning teams in different footballing environments.
His back-to-back successes with PSG are particularly significant, as they transformed the French club from perennial contenders into genuine European champions. Under his leadership, PSG finally achieved the continental dominance their ambitious project had long pursued.
Legends of the Dugout
The Champions League has produced many legendary managers over the decades, but only a select few have managed to conquer Europe on multiple occasions. From Paisley's Liverpool dynasty to Zidane's unprecedented three consecutive titles with Real Madrid and Guardiola's revolutionary football philosophy, each left an indelible mark on the competition.
Now, following PSG's triumph in Budapest, Luis Enrique's name stands proudly alongside those icons.
As European football celebrates another memorable season, Carlo Ancelotti remains the king of the Champions League coaching ranks. Yet with a third European crown now secured, Luis Enrique has strengthened his place among the greatest managers the competition has ever seen.