LUIS ENRIQUE is on the cusp of becoming a part of an elite club of coaches in the Champions League record books.
The 55-year-old masterminded Paris Saint-Germain’s route into another final following a 6-5 aggregate win over Bayern Munich.
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Luis Enrique is on the cusp of joining an elite club of managers in the Champions League record books Credit: Getty
Enrique has the chance to join the likes of Zinedine Zidane in winning back-to-back Champions League titles Credit: Getty – Contributor
Enrique‘s side will face off against Arsenal following the English side’s own semi-final victory over Atletico Madrid.
The Gunners are in their first Champions League final since 2006, having lost to PSG in the semis last season.
But while Mikel Arteta eyes a Premier League and European glory double to end the club’s two-decade wait for a major league title – and six years for any trophy – Enrique is eyeing some personal history.
Should the Spaniard emerge victorious at the end of the May 30 final in Budapest, Hungary, he will become only the 11th manager in the competition’s history to win it back to back.
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It is an accolade not even the most successful manager of all time in the tournament, five-time winner Carlo Ancelotti, nor three-time winner Pep Guardiola can boast on their CV.
The list contains two English managerial greats in the form of Bob Paisley and Brian Clough, who went back to back with Liverpool in 1977 and 1978 and Nottingham Forest in 1979 and 1980 respectively.
Zinedine Zidane is also on the list but stands alone even among his peers following his unprecedented hat-trick of titles as Real Madrid boss from 2016 to 2018.
Legendary bosses from across European football are all on the list, including José Villalonga, Helenio Herrera, Ștefan Kovács, Dettmar Cramer and Arrigo Sacchi to name a few.
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Managers to win Champions League back to back
The 10 managers who have won the Champions League back to back, and with what club they achieved it with
Bob Paisley – Liverpool, 1977 & 1978
Zinedine Zidane – Real Madrid, 2016 to 2018
José Villalonga – Real Madrid, 1956 & 1957
Luis Carniglia – Real Madrid, 1958 & 1959
Béla Guttmann – Benfica, 1961 & 1962
Helenio Herrera – Inter Milan, 1964 & 1965
Ștefan Kovács – Ajax, 1972 & 1973
Dettmar Cramer – Bayern Munich, 1975 & 1976
Brian Clough – Nottingham Forest, 1979 & 1980
Arrigo Sacchi – AC Milan, 1989 & 1990
And if Enrique oversees another PSG win, he too will be on that exclusive list as an all-time great of the competition.
Not only that, but he would become only the fifth boss to win it three or more times alongside Ancelotti, Paisley, Zidane and Guardiola.
Enrique first tasted Champions League glory while manager of Barcelona in 2015, with the attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar spearheading the campaign.
Then last year he won it with PSG, proving his more team-oriented tactical approach was better than relying on individual brilliance from the likes of Kylian Mbappe who had left the club the previous summer.
Iconic Liverpool boss Bob Paisley won European titles back to back in 1977 and 1978 Credit: Colorsport
Brian Clough did the same with Nottingham Forest in 1979 and 1980 Credit: Getty – Contributor
Enrique believes PSG will be in for a “difficult” game against Arsenal, but insisted his team could win again.
He said: “I appreciate Mikelito Arteta!
“We used to be team-mates when we were kids, he did a great job at Arsenal. It will be a difficult, hard game but we believe in our football style…
“For us, it’s important to play our game.
“We don’t really think about who is going to be our opponent, we just prepare our game and give everything on the pitch.
“It will be difficult – it’s the Champions League final – and we just have to go and enjoy it.”
