In the high-stakes environment of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final, a remarkable chapter in football management history was closed. Paris Saint-Germain, led by coach Luis Enrique, succumbed to a 3-0 defeat against Chelsea, marking the first time the Spanish tactician has lost a final at club level throughout his distinguished career.
Prior to this encounter, Luis Enrique boasted an unblemished record in club finals, having emerged victorious in all eleven he had contested. This impressive sequence included six triumphs during his tenure at Barcelona: three Copa del Rey titles (2015, 2016, 2017), a Spanish Super Cup (2016), a UEFA Champions League crown (2015), and the previous iteration of the Club World Cup (2015).
His success continued upon taking the helm at Paris Saint-Germain, where he added five more pieces of silverware to his perfect final record. These consisted of two Coupe de France titles (2024, 2025), two French Super Cups (2024, 2025), and significantly, the UEFA Champions League title secured merely a month and a half prior to the Club World Cup final.
While his club record remained pristine until yesterday, it is worth noting that Luis Enrique had previously tasted defeat in a final at the international level. This occurred in the 2021 Nations League, where his Spain side was bested by Didier Deschamps` France.
The 2025 Club World Cup final now places Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca in an exclusive group – one of the very few coaches to have defeated Luis Enrique in a final match. For the former Barcelona coach, the 3-0 loss represented a bitter conclusion to what the club had undoubtedly hoped would be a season culminating in legendary status. The post-match period reportedly saw tensions surface, including a contested gesture involving Joao Pedro, perhaps reflecting the unexpected and disappointing nature of the defeat after an otherwise historic season for PSG.