PSG’s Coaching Carousel: Will Luis Enrique Break the Cycle?

Since the arrival of Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) in 2011, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has experienced a tumultuous relationship with its coaches, often marked by short tenures. Laurent Blanc holds the record for the longest-serving coach, remaining in charge for three full seasons before being dismissed in the spring of 2013. Thomas Tuchel also faced a similar fate, having been extended before being let go just a year later. As discussions regarding a potential contract extension for Luis Enrique arise, the question remains: will PSG’s historical challenges with coaching stability resurface?

Qatar Sports Investments took control of PSG in the summer of 2011, initiating a new era for the club. The new owners quickly implemented their vision by parting ways with Antoine Kombouaré during the winter break, appointing Carlo Ancelotti as his replacement. After a year and a half, “Don Carlo” departed the club, pressured by management during a Champions League campaign, ultimately joining Real Madrid. At the Spanish club, Ancelotti played a pivotal role in securing “La Décima,” the tenth Champions League title in their history, and later won two more in 2022 and 2024.

Luis Enrique, the new strongman of PSG!

Ten years after Ancelotti’s departure in the summer of 2013, PSG’s management finally seems to have identified the right coach to establish a clear and robust sporting project. On July 5, 2023, PSG officially announced the appointment of Luis Enrique as their new head coach. In his first season at the helm, the Spaniard led PSG back to the Champions League semifinals for the first time since 2021 and secured both Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France titles. With such achievements, will he consider extending his contract, which is set to end next June? During a press conference on August 22, Enrique provided a revealing response: “I don’t have much to say about that; it doesn’t interest me. I’m very happy here, and I’m not interested in discussing it further or doing calculations.”

Contract extension on the horizon for Luis Enrique?

However, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano’s updates on his X account, PSG’s high-ranking officials are seriously contemplating extending Luis Enrique’s contract, viewing him as a key asset in their sporting project. This move would be a rarity within the QSI era.

Laurent Blanc, the first PSG coach to be extended… before a sudden dismissal

In February 2016, PSG rewarded Laurent Blanc for two and a half years of impressive football and results by extending his contract. Blanc, who had initially been chosen as a backup option in 2013, signed a new two-year deal that would keep him at PSG until June 2018. However, a bold tactical decision against Manchester City in the Champions League quarterfinals ultimately led to his downfall. The 3-5-2 formation he employed cost him his position.

Thomas Tuchel signed an extension in 2019… only to exit a year later!

Unai Emery did not receive the same treatment as Blanc and was not offered a contract extension due to the infamous “Remontada” on March 8, 2017, at Camp Nou (1-6). This led to Tuchel taking over the coaching duties at PSG. The German coach came to Paris with a strong reputation from his time at Borussia Dortmund. Despite a setback against Manchester United in the Champions League Round of 16 in March 2019, PSG’s board showed their confidence in him by extending his contract until June 2021. Yet again, the club’s decision-makers opted to part ways with a coach they had just extended in December 2020, just before Christmas.

By considering a new contract for Luis Enrique, PSG risks repeating its historical patterns regarding coaching stability.