Luis Enrique Martinez Garcia, known as Luis Enrique, is a Spanish football manager and former player.
23 Facts About Luis Enrique
2.
Luis Enrique appeared with the Spain national team in three World Cups and one European Championship.
3.
Luis Enrique started working as a manager in 2008 with Barcelona B, before moving to Roma three years later.
4.
Luis Enrique was born in Gijon, Asturias, and began his career with local Sporting de Gijon, where he gained the nickname Lucho after Luis Flores, a Mexican forward in the team.
5.
Luis Enrique played for Spain in three FIFA World Cups: 1994,1998 and 2002, and scored 12 goals while gaining 62 caps.
6.
On 23 June 2002, Luis Enrique retired from international football, in order to give the younger players more playing time and focus only on his club.
7.
Luis Enrique was capable of playing anywhere in midfield or along the front line, and was fielded in all positions on the pitch throughout his career, except those of central defender and goalkeeper.
8.
On 26 May 2008, Luis Enrique returned to Barcelona, taking over the reins of the B team, renamed Barcelona Atletic for that season.
9.
In mid-March 2011, Luis Enrique announced he would leave at the end of the campaign, despite still having two years left on his contract.
10.
Luis Enrique led the side to the playoffs, but they were ineligible for promotion.
11.
On 8 June 2013, Luis Enrique became RC Celta de Vigo's new manager, replacing former national teammate Abel Resino.
12.
On 16 May 2014, Luis Enrique announced that he would be leaving Celta.
13.
On 19 May 2014, Luis Enrique returned to Barcelona as a manager on a two-year deal.
14.
Luis Enrique was recommended by sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta, his former national teammate.
15.
Luis Enrique suffered his first defeat in the competition on 25 October 2014, away against Real Madrid, and although Barcelona had a successful run in the year, his management came under scrutiny because of his tactics involving several lineup changes in consecutive games.
16.
Luis Enrique soon equaled Guardiola's record of 11 consecutive victories, while the side went on to beat Atletico Madrid and Villarreal CF convincingly in the Copa del Rey to advance to the final.
17.
On 1 March 2017, Luis Enrique announced that he would not continue as team manager after 30 June on expiration of his contract.
18.
Luis Enrique was named coach of the Spain national team on 9 July 2018, replacing former club and country teammate Fernando Hierro.
19.
In November 2019, Luis Enrique rejoined the national team after having quit his post for personal reasons four months prior.
20.
In comparing the managers he has played for, Spain international Alcantara said, "[Luis Enrique] has the analytical positioning of Pep [and] the aggressiveness of Klopp" while praising Luis Enrique's communication skills in conveying his footballing ideas.
21.
Luis Enrique was sponsored by sportswear company Nike, and appeared in commercials for the brand.
22.
Luis Enrique took part in the 2005 edition of the New York City Marathon, finished the Amsterdam Marathon in 2006, the Firenze Marathon in 2007 and the Marathon des Sables in 2008, while entering and finishing Frankfurt Ironman in 2007.
23.
Luis Enrique married his longtime partner Elena Cullell on 27 December 1997.