Paris Saint-Germain

Paris Saint-Germain 'closing in on Luis Enrique appointment'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 18 June 2023

PSG 'closing in on Luis Enrique appointment'

Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly closing in on the appointment of former Spain and Barcelona manager Luis Enrique as their new head coach.

Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly closing in on the appointment of Luis Enrique as their new head coach.

The Ligue 1 champions have decided to part ways with Christophe Galtier after just one season, in spite of the Frenchman delivering top-flight and Trophee des Champions success to the club.

Galtier left Nice to take charge of Les Parisiens, but he was unable to break their Champions League hoodoo, overseeing a last-16 exit at the hands of Bayern Munich.

PSG are yet to make an official announcement on Galtier's sacking, but the 56-year-old's departure is expected to be confirmed imminently as the French champions scope out potential replacements.

Following an extensive search, L'Equipe claims that former Spain and Barcelona head coach Enrique has been identified as the number one candidate, and PSG are now close to reaching an agreement with the 53-year-old.

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) coach Christophe Galtier on March 19, 2023 © Reuters

While there are still a few details to be finalised, PSG are confident of getting a deal over the line and are hopeful of announcing Enrique as their new head coach at some point this week.

The Ligue 1 holders had considered several top coaches for the role, including former Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann, who was at one stage thought to have been leading the race for the job.

Nagelsmann is believed to have held positive talks with PSG chiefs based in Doha, but the German subsequently pulled out of the race after failing to agree key details with the capital club.

The powers-that-be have had a long-standing interest in ex-Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane, although the 50-year-old is believed to have been waiting for the France job to become available.

PSG's chances of landing Zidane seemingly improved when Didier Deschamps extended his France deal until 2026, but he is understood to have rejected a fresh approach from Les Parisiens.

Spain head coach Luis Enrique pictured in training on November 13, 2021 © Reuters

Ex-PSG midfielder Thiago Motta - currently in charge of Bologna - was also linked with the role, but PSG have instead opted for experience in the shape of Enrique.

The 53-year-old stepped down from his Spain post for a second time following La Roja's last-16 exit from the 2022 World Cup and was also linked with the Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur jobs before the Premier League giants hired Mauricio Pochettino and Ange Postecoglou respectively.

Enrique won 24, drew 11 and lost nine of his 44 games in charge of Spain across two separate spells, taking La Roja to the Euro 2020 semi-finals and 2020-21 UEFA Nations League final, which they lost to France.

However, the Spaniard is best known for his glittering three-year stint at Barcelona, during which he won nine pieces of silverware, including a Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Rey treble in the 2014-15 campaign.

Enrique was named the World's Best Club Coach in his treble-winning year, and he has also taken charge of Celta Vigo and Roma since retiring as a player in 2004.