Ex-Spain coach Luis Enrique's nine-year-old daughter dies of cancer

Former Spain coach Luis Enrique announced the death of his nine-year-old daughter from bone cancer on Thursday.

"Our daughter Xana passed away this afternoon at nine years old, after fighting for five intense months against osteosarcoma," Luis Enrique tweeted.

"We will miss you enormously but we will remember you every day of our lives," he added.

Luis Enrique resigned as national coach in June "due to the reasons which had prevented me from fulfilling my duties as normal since last March" he said at the time.

His personal issue was never made public, until now.

Assistant Robert Moreno has been in charge for Spain's last three matches and will now lead the team through Euro 2020 qualifying and the final tournament, in what is his first job as a professional coach.

In his poignant Twitter post, Luis Enrique thanked all the messages of support "received during these months".

Prominent figures in football were quick to send Enrique their condolences, with his former Spain captain Sergio Ramos posting on Twitter: "All our support and love for you and your family. There are no words, but you always have us by your side."
The president of the Spanish football federation Luis Rubiales sent a message to his former coach: "Always by your side, next to (Enrique's wife) Elena and your whole family."