PSG Zlín

Paris Saint-Germain Football Club, commonly referred to as Paris Saint-Germain () or simply PSG, is a French professional football club based in Paris. They compete in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. With 52 major trophies won, PSG are the most decorated club in France and are generally considered the country's biggest club.

Founded in 1970, following the merger of Paris FC and Stade Saint-Germain, PSG have the most consecutive seasons playing in France's top flight. They are the most popular football club in France and one of the most widely supported teams in the world. They are nicknamed the ''Les Rouge-et-Bleu'' (The Red-and-Blues), for the shirt colour that also includes white, and their crest features the Eiffel Tower and a fleur-de-lis. The team has a longstanding rivalry with Marseille, against whom they contest Le Classique. PSG have played their home matches in the 48,000-capacity Parc des Princes in Paris since 1973, located in the 16th arrondissement of Paris near the Boulogne-Billancourt commune.

They won their first major honour, the French Cup, in 1982 and their first Division 1 title in 1986. The 1990s was among the most successful periods in the club's history. After suffering a decline in fortunes during the 2000s, the Red and Blues have enjoyed a revival since 2011 when they were taken over by Qatar Sports Investments. With considerable financial investment, allowing the club to buy superstar players such as Zlatan Ibrahimović, Neymar, Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi, the team achieved dominance in domestic competitions, winning multiple league titles and national cups, but underperformed in the UEFA Champions League. Following a shift away from a star-centric model to a team-first approach and younger prospects, the club won its first Champions League in 2025 as part of a continental treble.

PSG have won 49 domestic trophies: a record 13 Ligue 1 titles, a record 16 Coupes de France, a record 9 Coupes de la Ligue, and a record 13 Trophées des Champions. Internationally, they won the UEFA Champions League in 2025, becoming the second French club to win the title; they were runners-up in 2020. Additional international trophies include the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1996 and the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 2001. PSG is one of two French clubs to have won a major European title.

Since 2011, PSG have been majority-owned by Qatari government-backed investment fund Qatar Sports Investments, which held 87.5% of the shares by 2012 while American investment firm Arctos Partners owned the remaining 12.5%. PSG are the richest club in France and one of the wealthiest in the world. In January 2025, PSG had the third-highest revenue in the footballing world with annual earnings of €806m according to Deloitte, and were the world's seventh-most valuable football club, worth $4.4bn according to Forbes.

History

Creation and split (1970–1973)

In the summer of 1970, an ambitious group of businessmen decided to create a major team in the French capital. Guy Crescent and Pierre-Étienne Guyot chose to merge their virtual side, Paris FC, created in 1969, with Stade Saint-Germain of Henri Patrelle after the team from Saint-Germain-en-Laye, 15 km west of Paris and founded in 1904, won promotion to Division 2. However, the three men were stuck with the financial feasibility of the project until they met Real Madrid president Santiago Bernabéu. He told them that starting a crowdfunding campaign was the best solution to establish a new team. 20,000 people backed the project and Paris Saint-Germain were formed on 17 June 1970. Guyot was elected the club's first president a few days later. For the first time in French football history, the fans had financially contributed in the making of a club. The merger was made official following the creation of the club's association on 12 August 1970. PSG retains this day as their foundation date.

Paris FC contributed with the financial backing, while Stade Saint-Germain provided the sporting infrastructure, from the Division 2 status to the Camp des Loges training center, as well as the manager Pierre Phelipon and most of the players, including Bernard Guignedoux, Michel Prost and Camille Choquier. PSG further strengthened their squad with the signing of Jean Djorkaeff, captain of the French national team. PSG's first official game was a 1–1 league draw away to Poitiers on 23 August 1970. Guignedoux scored the club's first ever goal from a free-kick. The club went on to clinch promotion to Division 1 and claim the Division 2 title in its inaugural season.

PSG's first top-flight season ended with a safe 16th place, meaning they would stay in Division 1 next year, but behind the scenes the club was in a delicate financial situation. Back in September 1971, the Paris City Council offered 850k francs to pay the club's debt and save its place in the elite, demanding PSG in return to adopt the more Parisian name "Paris Football Club." Crescent, who had replaced Guyot as club president before the start of the season, was in favor of the name change, but Patrelle was against it. The disagreement led to Crescent's resignation in December 1971, handing the presidency to Patrelle. The latter tried to persuade the council to reconsider their position, but they remained inflexible and the club split on 1 June 1972, a few days after the last match of the campaign. Backed by the council, Crescent re-formed Paris FC and remained in Division 1, while the PSG of Patrelle were administratively relegated to Division 3, thus losing professional status.

Top-flight return and Parc des Princes move (1973–1978)

Paris Saint-Germain really took flight with the arrival of fashion designer Daniel Hechter as chairman of the management committee in June 1973. Besides offering his financial support to the club, he also designed the team's classic home outfit. Hechter then shocked the national game ahead of 1973–74 by appointing French legend Just Fontaine as sporting director.

Robert Vicot's men finished second in Group B, four points behind Red Star, qualifying for the promotion play–offs against Valenciennes. PSG lost 1–2 away to Valenciennes, but PSG recorded an incredible 4–2 comeback at the Parc des Princes, thus achieving promotion to Division 1 and regaining its professional status abandoned two years earlier. Overwhelmed by emotion, Fontaine collapsed on the lawn and was then carried by the players in celebration. Since then, PSG have always played in the first tier of French football.

PSG played their first game at the Parc des Princes during this campaign. It was against fellow Parisian side Red Star on 10 November 1973. PSG won 3–1 and Othniel Dossevi scored the club's first goal at the stadium. The Parisians also began their tradition of brilliant Coupe de France runs, reaching the quarterfinals after beating Metz at the Parc in front of 25,000 spectators (2–1; 4–1 on aggregate).

In an ironic turn of events, Paris FC were relegated to Division 2 at the same time as Paris Saint-Germain moved up to the top flight in 1974, leaving their home stadium, the Parc des Princes, in the hands of their estranged Parisian brothers. Since then, the Parc has been the home of PSG. With promotion to Division 1 also came a change of command. Daniel Hechter, then chairman of the management committee, took over as club president in June 1974 following the resignation of Patrelle. He named Francis Borelli as vice-president.

Under Hechter's tenure, the Parisians failed to win any silverware in the 1970s but began their tradition of brilliant Coupe de France runs, established themselves in Division 1, and attracted several prestigious players, including Jean-Pierre Dogliani, Mustapha Dahleb and Carlos Bianchi. After Hechter was banned for life from football by the French Football Federation in January 1978, for running a ticketing scheme at the Parc des Princes, Francis Borelli, who had been vice-president until then, became the new boss of the Île-de-France club.

First major honours and decline (1978–1991)

Following the arrival of manager Georges Peyroche in November 1979, the club established itself as a top-half team and then welcomed its first major honour when the Parisians reached their first French Cup final in 1982. Up against the great Saint-Étienne of Michel Platini at the Parc des Princes, Nambatingue Toko opened the scoring for PSG following a good cross from Ivica Šurjak. Saint-Étienne reacted and Platini equalized to send the game to extra-time. Platini then doubled his personal account, giving the Greens the lead. The Parc des Princes faithful no longer believed in their team when Dominique Rocheteau, after yet another assist from Šurjak, scored an unexpected equalizer in the last seconds of the match. PSG fans invaded the field in joy, while club president Francis Borelli kneeled and kissed the lawn of the Parc. Following an interruption of 30 minutes, the penalty shootout sealed PSG's coronation. Dominique Baratelli stopped Saint-Étienne's last attempt and Jean-Marc Pilorget scored the winning penalty for the capital side. This success opened the doors to Europe, where PSG made an impressive continental debut in reaching the quarterfinals of the 1982–83 European Cup Winners' Cup.

On the domestic scene, results were just as satisfying. PSG captured their first podium finish, coming in third place, and repeated the feat in the 1983 Coupe de France Final, this time against Nantes. Recently crowned French champions, the Canaries were headed for the league-cup double, leading at the break after overturning Pascal Zaremba's early strike. But PSG managed their own comeback in the second half as Sušić equalized and then assisted Toko for the winning goal (3–2). The campaign ended on a sad note, though, as Georges Peyroche left the club.

Three years later, under the guidance of manager Gérard Houllier, PSG claimed their maiden league crown in 1985–86. They dominated the championship from start to finish thanks in big part to the likes of Joël Bats, Dominique Bathenay, Luis Fernandez, Dominique Rocheteau and Safet Sušić, all of whom made up the backbone of the team. The victory away to Toulouse on Matchday 3 meant PSG sat at the top of the table for the first time ever, a spot they never relinquished, going a memorable 26 matches without defeat towards the title.

The follow-up to the league title was not as glorious though. Defending champions PSG finished the league in seventh place, suffered an early exit from the French Cup and were knocked out by Czech minnows Vítkovice in the first round of a disappointing European Cup debut. The following year, PSG avoided relegation on the final match of the 1987–88 season thanks to a dramatic 0–1 win away to Le Havre. Highly indebted, the club briefly bounced back, fighting for the 1988–89 league crown with Marseille, before going into decline.

Canal+ takeover and golden era (1991–1998)

The takeover by television giants Canal+ in 1991 revitalised Paris Saint-Germain as they became one of the richest clubs in France. Canal+ wiped out PSG's huge debt and appointed Michel Denisot, journalist on the channel, as club president in place of Francis Borelli. Now enjoying serious investment, the Red and Blues were able to set their sights steadily higher: they had to qualify for European competitions in their first season and become French champions within three years. In consequence, Canal+ increased the club's budget from 90 to 120 million francs in order to build a strong squad for the 1991–92 season. The revolution began with the appointment of renowned coach Artur Jorge, famous for leading Porto to the 1986–87 European Cup trophy. The club then embarked on a spending spree, signing Brazilian stars Ricardo Gomes and Valdo Filho as well as proven French players Paul Le Guen, Laurent Fournier, Patrick Colleter and prolific Liberian striker George Weah.

The 1992–93 season also marked the beginning of ''Le Classique'', the rivalry between Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille, as both teams battled each other on the field for the 1992–93 French Division 1 crown. PSG finished runners-up after losing both games against Marseille. In the second match between the two clubs, only three days after winning the 1992–93 UEFA Champions League, league leaders Marseille welcomed closest challengers PSG in a match that would determine the title. After Marseille won their fifth consecutive championship, Bernard Tapie and Marseille were found guilty of match-fixing, in what became known as the French football bribery scandal. The French Football Federation stripped Marseille of their title and offered it to second-placed PSG, who refused it because club owners Canal+ thought that claiming the trophy would anger their subscribers back in Marseille. As a result, the 1992–93 title remained unattributed, with Canal+ even refusing to let the capital club participate in the following year's UEFA Champions League after UEFA excluded Marseille from the competition. Instead, Monaco, who finished third in Ligue 1, took the Champions League spot.

Considered the club's golden era, the Parisians won nine trophies and reached five consecutive European semi-finals during the 1990s, including their first UEFA Champions League last-four appearance and two at the same stage of the UEFA Cup. PSG's crowning glory came in the 1996 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final with legend Luis Fernandez now as coach. Bruno Ngotty scored the only goal of the match to defeat Rapid Wien and make Paris the second French club to ever clinch a major European tournament and the youngest club in history to win a European title at 26 years of existence. The following season, PSG finished runners-up in the 1996 UEFA Super Cup and 1997 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final. On the domestic scene, results were just as satisfying, with Paris celebrating a second league title, three French Cups, two French League Cups and just as many French Super Cup wins.

Crisis mode and relegation battles (1998–2011)

PSG then went into decline following years of mismanagement. In the summer 2000, PSG spent heavily on new players signing Nicolas Anelka, Peter Luccin and Stéphane Dalmat as part of the "PSG Banlieue" project of its shareholder Canal+, with the goal of winning Ligue 1 and performing a solid UEFA Champions League campaign but it was a failure. In 2003, the club faced a massive financial loss with a deficit of €65 million, leading Canal+ to fire Luis Fernandez as coach and Laurent Perpère as president and replacing them with Vahid Halilhodžić, who became the new coach and Francis Graille the new president. The club's form dwindled as they slipped further down the table and eventually, a split from owners Canal+ became inevitable.

At the start of the 21st century, PSG struggled to rescale the heights despite the magic of Ronaldinho and the goals of Pauleta. Five more trophies arrived in the form of three French Cups (including one against ''Le Classique'' arch-rivals Marseille in 2006), one French League Cup and one UEFA Intertoto Cup, but the club became better known for lurching from one high-profile crisis to another.

The French premium television channel sold the club to Colony Capital in 2006. The situation, however, only got worse and PSG spent the 2006–07 and 2007–08 campaigns staving off relegations. The latter was the most dramatic. Marred by poor results and fan violence, Paris avoided the drop on the final match after a 2–1 win at Sochaux. The hero was Ivorian striker Amara Diané who scored both goals that night. Despite not enjoying the star status of other current or past PSG greats, Diané is still considered a legend by most Parisian fans.

QSI ownership, record spending and domestic dominance (2011–2024)

After two years of solid progress and stability under the stewardship of manager Antoine Kombouaré and president Robin Leproux, the fortunes of Paris Saint-Germain changed dramatically when Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) purchased the club in 2011. The takeover made PSG not only the richest club in France but one of the wealthiest in the world. Club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi pledged to form a team capable of winning the UEFA Champions League and making the club France's biggest name.

Club legend Leonardo was brought back in as sporting director and oversaw a spending spree in summer 2011 that has so far been unprecedented in Ligue 1 history, including the signings of Blaise Matuidi, Salvatore Sirigu, Maxwell, Kevin Gameiro and Javier Pastore. As a result, the Parisians have dominated French football, despite finishing behind Montpellier in 2011–12, the elusive league crown was finally brought back to Paris in 2012–13 driven by star player Zlatan Ibrahimović, team captain Thiago Silva and manager Carlo Ancelotti. During the season, ahead of the winter transfer deadline it was announced that David Beckham signed a five-month deal with the club. Ibrahimović's 30-goal haul helped the capital side to its first Ligue 1 title in 19 years, and third overall. They also became a regular in the knockout stages of the Champions League, being eliminated from the tournament on away goals by Barcelona in the quarter-finals after drawing both games. Big money signings continued with the arrivals of Edinson Cavani in 2013 for a league record of €64 million, making it the sixth largest transfer in history and David Luiz in 2014 for a £50 million transfer fee, a world-record transfer for a defender. Despite the departure of Ancelotti, PSG kept its winning ways under Laurent Blanc. The club secured a maiden domestic treble (Ligue 1, Coupe de la Ligue and Trophée des Champions) in the 2013–14 season, before claiming an unprecedented national quadruple (Ligue 1, Coupe de France, Coupe de la Ligue and Trophée des Champions) twice in a row in 2014–15 and 2015–16, winning the latter with a record-breaking 96 points, becoming the only first French men's team to achieve that feat.

Fresh from three consecutive UEFA Europa League titles with Sevilla, Unai Emery was hired by PSG for his European pedigree. But with star player Ibrahimović gone, the club endured a disappointing 2016–17 season. Paris were pipped to the Ligue 1 title by Monaco, missing out on top spot for the first time in five years. Meanwhile, in the Champions League, the club suffered several disappointing nights, including "La Remontada" ("The Comeback") against Barcelona, losing 6–1 in the second leg of the round of sixteen, after winning the first leg in France 4–0.

In response, PSG signed Neymar for a world-record fee of €222 million and French prodigy Kylian Mbappé on an initial loan, which was made permanent in 2018 in a transfer worth €180 million plus add-ons, making him both the second- most expensive player and most expensive teenager. The capital club reclaimed the Ligue 1 title and also won the Trophée des Champions, the Coupe de la Ligue and the Coupe de France, clinching the domestic quadruple for the third time in four seasons. Despite their massive expenditure, in the Champions League, PSG lost to Real Madrid in the round of 16, leading Unai Emery to leave the club at the end of the season.

In May 2018, Thomas Tuchel signed a two-year contract with PSG and in the 2019–20 season, PSG won the Ligue 1 for the 9th time in their history, despite the season ending prematurely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and also reclaimed the Coupe de France defeating Saint-Étienne in the final and won the last-ever Coupe de la Ligue defeating Lyon in a penalty shootout. In the 2019–20 UEFA Champions League, PSG reached the semi-finals for the second time since 1995, before losing to Bayern Munich 1–0 in the final, with former PSG player Kingsley Coman scoring the only goal.

During the 2021 summer transfer season, PSG exercised the option to buy Danilo Pereira and signed Achraf Hakimi from Inter Milan for a reported fee of €60 million. In addition, the club registered the free transfers of Georginio Wijnaldum, Sergio Ramos, and Gianluigi Donnarumma. PSG concluded their transfer window with the signing of one of the greatest players of all time and record Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi, who unexpectedly left Barcelona following the expiration of his contract, and promising defender Nuno Mendes on an initial loan, which was made permanent in 2022. Later in the season, PSG went on to reclaim the Ligue 1 title for the record 10th time but underperformed in the Champions League.

Mbappé's departure and first Champions League win (2024–present)

Unsatisfied with the club direction and lack of European success, club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi promised changes heading into next season. The most significant change at PSG was the move away from a star-centric model to a team-first approach. With the departures of Messi, Neymar, and, most notably, all-time PSG leading goalscorer Mbappé, the club pivoted towards building a more cohesive, system-based team. Rather than investing in individuals with global commercial appeal, the club focused on recruiting players who fit a defined tactical philosophy and embraced a collective mindset. Off the pitch, the club's leadership also adopted a more sustainable and strategic vision. Rather than pursuing short-term global marketing wins, the board prioritized long-term footballing identity. This included investing in player development, hiring a coach with a clear tactical identity, and cultivating a club culture based on work ethic, unity, and discipline. This philosophical reorientation allowed PSG to evolve into a team, rather than a collection of stars. This shift in recruitment and development began with new manager Luis Enrique and transfer market expert Luís Campos as football advisor.

Under Enrique, PSG renewed their domestic supremacy in 2024–25, losing no matches in their first 28 and winning the Ligue 1 title with six matches to spare. He also led them to winning their first Champions League against Inter Milan, beating them 5–0, helping PSG complete their first ever continental treble.

Identity

Colors and mascot

Since their foundation, Paris Saint-Germain have represented both the city of Paris and the nearby royal town of Saint-Germain-en-Laye. As a result, red, blue and white are the club's traditional colours. The red and blue are Parisian colours, a nod to revolutionary figures Lafayette and Jean Sylvain Bailly, and the white is a symbol of French royalty and Saint-Germain-en-Laye.

On the club's crest, the Eiffel Tower in red and the blue background represent Paris, while the fleur de lys in white is a hint to the coat of arms of Saint-Germain-en-Laye. The fleur de lys is a royal symbol as well and recalls that French King Louis XIV was born in the town. Throughout its history, PSG have brandished several crests, but all of them have featured the club's three historical colours.

Likewise, PSG's most distinctive shirts have been predominantly red, blue or white, with the remaining two colours included as well. The club's official mascot, Germain the Lynx, also sports PSG's traditional colours. It was unveiled during the 2010 Tournoi de Paris in commemoration of the club's 40th anniversary, and can be seen entertaining kids in the stands of the Parc des Princes or near the pitch with the players during the warm-up.

Anthems and mottos

"Allez Paris!", recorded by Belgian actress and singer Annie Cordy in 1971, was the club's first official anthem. A PSG fan from the very beginning, she was part of an association of hundreds of celebrities who contributed to the club's founding in 1970. At the time, an appeal was made to anonymous people to buy season tickets at newsstands. A year later, Cordy was named PSG's official godmother and recorded the aforementioned anthem.

The club's second anthem, "Allez Paris-Saint-Germain!" by Les Parisiens, was recorded in 1977, replacing Cordy's version. It was produced and released by long-time PSG leader and music producer Charles Talar. The chorus became a popular chant among PSG fans during matches. A new version, with the same name, was recorded in 2010 as part of the club's 40th anniversary celebrations. Performed to the tune of " Go West" by the Village People, the lyrics were rewritten with suggestions from the fans. This is the current official anthem of the club. It was premiered at the 2010 edition of the Tournoi de Paris.

"Ô Ville Lumière," set to the tune of " Flower of Scotland," is another authentic club anthem for PSG fans. This chant was created by former KoB ultra group Boulogne Boys. Other notable chants include "Le Parc est à nous" ("The Parc is ours"), "Ici, c'est Paris" ("This is Paris"), and "Paris est magique" ("Paris is magical"). " Who Said I Would" by Phill Collins is also a traditional supporters' anthem. The song has accompanied the players' entry onto the field since 1992.

"Ici, c'est Paris" and "Paris est magique" are also the club's most iconic mottos. The former was created by former VA ultra group Supras Auteuil, who trademarked it in 2008. PSG started using the "Ici, c'est Paris" slogan in their marketing and a legal battle ensued with the Supras. In February 2016, the group rejected the club's offer of €2,000 for the ownership rights. They eventually reached an agreement in August 2019. The club would continue advertising the slogan, and fans would still be able to use it freely.

Iconic shirts

For its first three seasons, Paris Saint-Germain's home shirt was red with blue and white detailing on the sleeves and collar to unify the club's three colors: the red and blue of Paris and the white of Saint-Germain-en-Laye. During the 2010–11 season, PSG wore a red shirt for home matches to mark its 40th anniversary. French fashion designer Daniel Hechter took over as president of PSG in 1973, and designed the club's traditional home kit that same year: a blue shirt with a red vertical stripe flanked by two thinner white stripes (blue-white-red-white-blue).

First worn in the 1973–74 season, the so-called "Hechter shirt" has remained PSG's classic identity ever since. The famous shirt was debuted against Red Star in November 1973. This was also the club's first match at the Parc des Princes. PSG won 3–1 with Othniel Dossevi scoring the club's first goal in a Hechter shirt. PSG stars from the 1990s and 2000s such as Raí, Ronaldinho and Pauleta are associated with this kit. In it, the club reached five consecutive European semi-finals between 1993 and 1997, lifted the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1996 and achieved eight consecutive victories against arch-rivals Marseille between 2002 and 2004.

It is generally believed that Hechter based his design on the red and white jersey of Ajax, the dominant team in Europe at the time, but with the French flag in mind. Hechter himself has denied this, stating that he was inspired by the Ford Mustang. He transposed the car's hood stripes onto the jersey and used the three club colors. Hechter's jersey has two alternate versions: the "Reverse Hechter" (red-white-blue-white-red), introduced in the 1974–75 season season, and the "White Hechter" (white-blue-red-blue-white), which debuted in the 1994–95 season.

However, it was in the club's most distinctive away kit that fans saw PSG's first great team, who won their first Coupe de France titles in 1982 and 1983, enjoyed their first European campaign in 1983, and clinched their first Ligue 1 crown in 1986. The shirt was white with blue and red vertical stripes down the left side. Like Hechter's shirt, it debuted in the 1973–74 season as the away kit. Promoted by PSG president Francis Borelli, the white shirt was the club's home identity from 1981 to 1990. Now known as the "Borelli shirt", it is synonymous with 1980s PSG legends such as Safet Sušić, Luis Fernández and Dominique Bathenay.

Crest evolution

The club's first crest was basically the same as the original Paris FC (PFC) logo. Having to merge and give birth to PSG using Stade Saint-Germain's stadium, the PFC crest kept its original design but the name below it changed from "Paris FC" to "Paris Saint-Germain Football Club." This badge consisted of a blue football with a red vessel inside it. The latter is a historic symbol of Paris and is present in the city's coat of arms. The name of the club was written below in red.

After parting ways with PFC in 1972, PSG needed a new crest. Representing both Paris and Saint-Germain-en-Laye, the club's second crest became the basis for the one the fans know today, featuring the Eiffel Tower in red on a blue background and, below it, two Saint-Germain symbols in white: a fleur de lys and Louis XIV's cradle. Created by Christian Lentretien, former PSG board member and publicist by profession, this crest was first used in 1972 and lasted until 1992.

Canal+, the club's owner, radically modified it in 1992. The new design featured the acronym "PSG" in white on a blue-white-red-white-blue background (similar to the pattern on Hechter's shirt), with "Paris Saint-Germain" underneath, also in white on a black background. Under pressure from fans, the traditional crest returned in 1995 with "Paris Saint-Germain" above the tower and "1970" below the cradle. In 2002, it underwent a minor overhaul, most notably the addition of a darker blue.

At the request of the club's Qatari owners, the traditional crest underwent a major renovation in 2013. "Paris" is now written in large, bold white letters above a large Eiffel Tower, clearly representing the "Paris" branding rather than "Paris Saint-Germain". Below it, "Saint-Germain" is written in smaller letters under the fleur de lys. The cradle and the club's year of foundation, "1970", have been omitted. PSG deputy general manager Jean-Claude Blanc stated: "We are called Paris Saint-Germain but, above all, we are called Paris".

Friendly tournaments

Paris Saint-Germain used to host two very famous invitational competitions: the Tournoi de Paris and the Tournoi Indoor de Paris-Bercy. Regarded as French football's most prestigious friendly tournament, the Tournoi de Paris is considered a precursor of both the Intercontinental Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup. PSG began hosting it in 1975 and were crowned champions a record seven times. Held at the Parc des Princes, the Tournoi de Paris was last organized in 2012. The Tournoi Indoor de Paris-Bercy was an indoor football tournament founded by PSG in 1984 and held annually until 1991 at the AccorHotels Arena in the 12th arrondissement of Paris. Played indoors on a synthetic field and featuring seven-a-side teams, the competition featured hosts PSG and five more clubs. The Parisians lifted the trophy on two occasions, more than any other club.

Grounds

Stadiums

Since its inception, Paris Saint-Germain have played in five main stadiums: the Stade Jean-Bouin, the Stade Georges Lefèvre, the Stade Bauer, the Stade Yves-du-Manoir, and the Parc des Princes, their current home ground. PSG took on Ligue 2 promotion rivals Red Star on 10 November 1973, for the club's first match at the Parc des Princes. It was the curtain-raiser for that season's opening Ligue 1 match between Paris FC and Sochaux. PSG moved into the ground upon its return to Ligue 1 in July 1974, ironically the same year that Paris FC were relegated. Up until that point it had hosted Paris FC, who showed reluctance towards PSG playing there.

From that moment on, the Parc des Princes has been the home stadium of PSG. Its most prolific season in terms of average attendance is 2019–20, during which an average of 47,517 spectators went to the stadium for each match. The attendance record for a PSG match dates back to 13 March 1983, with 49,575 spectators present in the stands of the Parc des Princes. This match pitted PSG against Belgian side Waterschei for the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup quarterfinals. The final score was a 2–0 victory for the Parisians.

During the 1970–71 season, the club played at the Stade Jean-Bouin, concurrently with the Stade Georges Lefèvre. The Jean-Bouin was privileged given that it drew significantly greater levels of fan support. The Georges Lefèvre regularly hosted PSG matches from 1972 to 1974 as well. Between 1904 and 1970, it was the home of Stade Saint-Germain, club which merged with Paris FC to form PSG in 1970. PSG played again at the Jean-Bouin in 1973–74, alternating their home games with the Georges Lefèvre and the Parc des Princes.

PSG played at the Stade de Paris, today known as Stade Bauer, for the first time during the 1971–72 season. It was used again by the club once in 1976–77 and 1977–78, and twice in 1978–79 due to construction work on the lawn of the Parc des Princes. Similarly, the Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir, as its officially called, welcomed PSG for three matches in 1971–72, once more in 1974–75, and one last time in 1975–76 because the Parc des Princes was under renovation.

Training facilities

Campus PSG has been the club's training ground since July 2023. Located in Poissy, it replaced the Camp des Loges, PSG's historical training facility. Owned and financed by the club, the venue brings together PSG's male and female football, handball and judo teams, as well as the football and handball academies. Each division have its own dedicated facilities. Campus PSG will have a stadium, which will complement the club's home ground of the Parc des Princes. It is due to be built during the second phase of the project, after 2024. PSG's male team moved into Campus PSG on 10 July 2023. They completed their first group training session there on 18 July 2023, and played their first game on 21 July 2023. It was a friendly match against Le Havre which ended in a 2–0 victory for PSG.

The Camp des Loges is a training ground located in Saint-Germain-en-Laye. It hosted PSG's male team from July 1970 to June 2023. The venue also turned into the training facilities of the club's academy when it opened on 4 November 1975. The current version of the Camp des Loges opened in November 2008, and is the second to have been built on the site, with the first opening its doors in June 1904. It was renamed Ooredoo Training Centre, as part of a sponsorship deal with Ooredoo, in September 2013. The complex hosted the training sessions of the club's female team between June 2023 and January 2024. The men's team left the Camp des Loges for Campus PSG in July 2023. The club's academy and female team moved to the new site in January 2024. Rugby union club Stade Français are expected to become the new tenants of the Camp des Loges in the summer of 2024.

Records and statistics

Paris Saint-Germain holds many records, most notably being the most successful French club in history in terms of official titles won, with 50. They are the record holders of all national competitions, having clinched thirteen Ligue 1 championships, fourteen Coupe de France, nine Coupe de la Ligue, and twelve Trophée des Champions. Their trophy cabinet also includes one Ligue 2 title. Internationally, PSG have claimed one UEFA Champions League, one UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and one UEFA Intertoto Cup.

The Parisians have played 55 seasons, of which 52 have been played in the top division of French football, the Ligue 1. The remaining 3 seasons have been played in the second division, the Ligue 2 (2), and in the third division, the Division 3 (1). In 2024–25, PSG celebrated their 51st consecutive Ligue 1 campaign, making them the longest-serving club in the competition. They have played continuously in Ligue 1 from the 1974–75 season onwards. PSG enjoyed their best season to date in the 2024–25 campaign, winning their maiden UEFA Champions League title in addition to the league championship and Coupe de France, and averaging a record crowd of 47,639 per home league game. The club's lowest ever finish is 16th, achieved in both 1971–72 and 2007–08, when they escaped relegation on the final day of the season, with a 2–1 win at Sochaux.

PSG's triumph in the 1995–96 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup made them the only French club to win that trophy and one of just two French teams to claim a major European competition. By winning the 2024–25 UEFA Champions League title, they became the first French club to win the continental treble. PSG have won the domestic quadruple in a single season on four occasions. They have completed the domestic double, the league and league cup double, the domestic cup double, the domestic treble and the league three-peat several times as well. They are the only side to have won the Ligue 1 title while leading the table from the first to the final round ( 2022–23), the Coupe de France without conceding a single goal ( 1992–93 and 2016–17), five Coupe de la Ligue in a row (2014–2018), four back-to-back Coupe de France (2015–2018), and eight consecutive Trophée des Champions (2013–2020).

Supporters

Paris Saint-Germain are the most popular football club in France, accounting for 22% of the country's fan base. With an estimated 35 million fans, PSG are also one of the most followed teams in the world. The Parc des Princes has been its home ground since July 1974. It has four stands: Tribune Auteuil, Tribune Paris, Tribune Borelli, and Tribune Boulogne. Historically, the Auteuil and Boulogne stands, better known as the Virage Auteuil (VA) and the Kop of Boulogne (KoB), have been home to PSG's most loyal fans, the supporters' groups known as ultras, making the Parc one of the most feared venues in Europe and one of the best in terms of atmosphere. Other friendlier, more family-oriented groups have regularly met in the stands of Paris and Borelli, including the club's first supporters' group, Les Amis du PSG, founded in 1975.

Lacking a large and passionate following, the club began offering cheaper season tickets to young fans in 1976. They were housed in Kop K, located in the blue K section of the Paris stand at the Parc des Princes. Following increased ticket prices, fans in Kop K moved to the Boulogne stand in 1978, and the Kop of Boulogne was born. The club's first Italian-style ultra group, the Boulogne Boys, was founded there in 1985, followed by the English-inspired kopistes Gavroches and Rangers. However, several KoB groups, such as Commando Pirate and Casual Firm, took English hooligans as dubious role models, and violence quickly escalated.

In response, the club's owners, Canal+, encouraged non-violent KoB fans to gather at the other end of the stadium, giving rise to the Virage Auteuil in 1991, spearheaded by the ultra groups Supras Auteuil, Lutece Falco and Tigris Mystic. The measure worked at first, but a violent, racially motivated rivalry slowly emerged between the two stands. The situation came to a head in 2010 before a match against Marseille. Boulogne fan Yann Lorence was killed following a brawl between groups from both stands outside the Parc, forcing PSG president Robin Leproux to take action. In what became known as the Plan Leproux, the club exiled all groups from the Parc and also banned them from away matches. It took six years for the ultras to regain their place in the stadium. Former VA supporters formed the Collectif Ultras Paris (CUP) in May 2016, and the club agreed to their return in October 2016.

PSG have granted official status to 16 groups at the Parc des Princes since 1975. Based in Auteuil, the CUP are currently the only officially recognized ultra group by the club. They share the stadium with fellow authorized groups Hoolicool, Vikings 27 and Handicap PSG in the Paris stand; and Les Amis du PSG, Titi Fosi and PSG Grand Sud in the Borelli stand. Previously, PSG also recognized Supras Auteuil, Lutece Falco and Tigris Mystic from Auteuil; Boulogne Boys, Gavroches and Rangers from Boulogne; and Authentiks, Puissance Paris and Brigade Paris from Paris. More recently, unofficial groups Block Parisii and Resistance Parisienne are trying to convince PSG of relaunching the KoB. Karsud, the club's last remaining organized hooligan firm, are also still active, but have been banned from all club matches since 2017.

Rivalries

Le Classique

Paris Saint-Germain shares an intense rivalry with Olympique de Marseille; matches between the two teams are referred to as Le Classique. The clubs are the two most successful clubs in French football, and the only French teams to have won major European trophies. Therefore, the fixture is the biggest rivalry in France.

PSG and OM were the dominant teams prior to the emergence of Olympique Lyonnais in the 2000s, and are the most followed French teams internationally. Both clubs are at or near the top of the French attendance lists each season. Their meetings during the 1970s gave little indication the two would become major adversaries. The newly formed Parisians were trying to assemble a competitive team, while the Olympians were Ligue 1 contenders.

The rivalry began in earnest in 1986 when PSG won their first championship and OM was bought by Bernard Tapie. By the end of the decade, PSG was fighting for the 1988–89 title against Tapie's Marseille. The accusations made by PSG president Francis Borelli against Tapie and OM for fixing matches during that season were a contributor to their growing rivalry.

In the 1990s, tensions between the two sides escalated. French TV channel Canal+ bought PSG in 1991 with the aim of breaking Marseille's hegemony but then agreed with Tapie to emphasize the animosity between them as a way to promote the league. With equivalent financial backing, PSG and OM became the main contenders in the title race. Both sides were less successful in the late 1990s and the 2000s but the rivalry remained strong. Since the 2010s, the matchup has been dominated by PSG, and the significant investment of their Qatari owners has created a wide gap between the clubs.

Ownership and finances

Paris Saint-Germain were initially fan-owned and had 20,000 members. The club was run by board members Guy Crescent, Pierre-Étienne Guyot and Henri Patrelle. A group of wealthy French businessmen, led by Daniel Hechter and Francis Borelli, would then buy the club in 1973. PSG changed hands in 1991, when Canal+ took over, and then again in 2006 with the arrival of Colony Capital. Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) have been the majority owners of PSG since 2011, holding 87.5% of the shares in 2012. Arctos Partners owns the remaining 12.5%.

Backed by the Qatari government, QSI acquired a majority stake in 2011 and then became the Parisian outfit's sole owner in 2012. PSG are therefore a state-owned club, which makes them one of the wealthiest teams in the world. In 2023, Arctos Partners acquired a minority stake in the Qatar-funded French team. QSI chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi has been PSG president since the takeover. However, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, has the final word on every major decision of the club. He is both the chairman of the QIA and the founder of QSI.

Upon its arrival, QSI pledged to form a team capable of winning the UEFA Champions League. PSG have spent over €1.9bn on player transfers since the summer of 2011. These massive expenditures have translated in PSG's domination of French football but have also caused problems with UEFA's Financial Fair Play regulations.

PSG had the third-highest revenue in the footballing world with annual earnings of €806m according to Deloitte, and were the world's seventh-most valuable football club, worth $4.4bn according to ''Forbes'' magazine in January 2025. This financial growth has been supported by PSG's Qatari owners; the team's on-pitch success; high-profile signings, including Zlatan Ibrahimović, Neymar, Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi; and lucrative sponsorship deals with the Qatar Tourism Authority, Nike, Air Jordan, Accor and Qatar Airways.

Honours

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Players

Current squad

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Out on loan

Other players under contract

Personnel

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Management

Technical staff

References

External links

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Paris Saint-Germain
– Ligue 1

Paris Saint-Germain
– UEFA.com

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Football clubs in Paris
Association football clubs established in 1970
G-14 clubs
16th arrondissement of Paris
Ligue 1 clubs
1970 establishments in France
UEFA Champions League winning clubs
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup winning clubs, P
UEFA Intertoto Cup winning clubs
Football clubs in Île-de-France