History of Paris Saint-Germain F.C.

Paris Saint-Germain Football Club, commonly referred to as PSG, is a French professional association football club based in Paris, whose first team play in the highest tier of French football, the Ligue 1. Established on 12 August 1970 after a merger between Stade Saint-Germain and a group of investors united under the banner of virtual club Paris FC, Paris Saint-Germain have always represented both Paris and nearby Saint-Germain-en-Laye.[1]

Having won 30 titles in its history, PSG is the most successful club in French football.[2] The Parisian side is also one of only two French clubs to win a European title.[3] Domestically, PSG have won six Ligue 1 titles, a record ten Coupes de France, a record six Coupes de la Ligue, five Trophées des Champions and one Ligue 2 title. In international club football, Paris have won one UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and one UEFA Intertoto Cup.[4]

Early years (1970–1978)

Towards the end of the 1960s, an ambitious group of businessmen decided to create a major club in the French capital.[5] After a petition was signed by 20,000 people, Paris Saint-Germain were founded on 12 August 1970 with the merger of Paris FC and Stade Saint-Germain (the latter team having existed since 1904). PSG are today the city's largest club by far.[3]

The Saint-Germain-en-Laye-based first team allowed the brand new PSG to start their career in Ligue 2 for the 1970–71 campaign.[6] PSG made an immediate impact both on and off the pitch. The club built a substantial fanbase,[5] won the Ligue 2 title and celebrated their first birthday in Ligue 1. The 1971–72 term ended with an honourable 16th-placed finish.[6] Their momentum was soon checked, however, and the club split in 1972.[5] The professional arm of the club joined CA Montreuil and continued life in the top-flight under the name of Paris FC, while PSG were demoted to Division 3.[6]

PSG finished second in their group and when first-placed Quevilly balked at promotion, the capital club moved up to the second division in 1973. During 1973–74, Les Parisiens were already shining in the Coupe de France by reaching the quarter-finals. Even better was the second-placed league finish which saw PSG take on Valenciennes in a play-off tie for promotion to the premier division. Beaten 2–1 away, PSG won 4–2 at the Parc des Princes on 4 June 1974 and were promoted to Ligue 1, ironically, the same year that Paris FC were relegated. Since then, PSG have never been demoted or relegated from the French first division.[6]

PSG moved into the Parc des Princes in 1974,[5] after spending their formative years using the Stade Municipal Georges Lefèvre,[7] located in front of the Camp des Loges,[8] the club's training complex since 1970.[9] Presided by Daniel Hechter in the 1970s, Paris did not win any silverware in their initial years.[3]

First titles (1978–1991)

By the end of the 1970s, Les Rouge-et-Bleu were ready to embark upon a historic decade. Under charismatic president Francis Borelli, the likes of Carlos Bianchi, Mustapha Dahleb, Safet Sušić and Luis Fernández became the club's first stars, followed closely behind by its first titles.[1] It was not until the 1990s, however, that PSG really started to develop as a giant of French football.[7]

PSG were starting to make a name for itself by consistently finishing in the top third of the French first division.[10] The club's trophy cabinet welcomed its first major silverware in the shape of the Coupe de France in 1981–82.[5] PSG defeated Saint-Étienne and a certain Michel Platini in the final. The following year, the Parisian side made it back-to-back cups in beating Nantes, while also ending the league season in third place. After ending the 1983–84 campaign in fourth, PSG again qualified for Coupe de France Final in 2005, losing to Monaco.[10] A year later, manager Gérard Houllier led the club to their maiden league success, Safet Sušić pulling the strings in midfield.[5] PSG set a new record of 26 matches without defeat along the way.[10]

Success on the domestic front meant PSG flew France's colours on the European stage. The best result was a quarter-final appearance in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1983, against Belgian outfit Waterschei. The most memorable encounter, however, was the round-of-16 clash against Juventus, who formed the backbone of Italy's World Cup winning side of 1982 reinforced by the likes of Zbigniew Boniek and Platini (PSG were eliminated 2–2 on the away goals rule). Fans had to wait until the 1988–89 term to see Paris battling for the title again, finishing an admirable second with the resulting European adventure ending in the round-of-32 against Juve.[10] But competition for recognition as the capital's number 1 sporting entity came from Matra Racing between 1984 and 1989, and PSG went into decline.[3]

Canal+ era (1991–2006)

Golden age (1991–1998)

Raí was a member of the PSG squad which won domestic and European honours during the 1990s.

The takeover by broadcaster Canal+ in 1991 revitalised the club.[3] An avalanche of trophies followed as PSG entered their golden age, not to mention the first wave of world-class players to grace the Parc des Princes thanks to the investment of their owners.[7] George Weah, Raí, Ricardo, Valdo, Leonardo and a strong spine of homegrown talent, including Bernard Lama, Alain Roche, Paul Le Guen, Vincent Guérin, David Ginola and Youri Djorkaeff, became the darlings of French football.[1]

With the modernisation of the club and an experienced manager in the form of Artur Jorge, PSG rediscovered their ambition.[11] The capital welcomed back UEFA Cup football: PAOK, Napoli, Anderlecht and Real Madrid all fell by the wayside before PSG once again succumbed to their black beast, Juventus, in the last four.[1] It marked the beginning of a new trajectory for the club and a brilliant 1992–93 season: European semi-finalist, second in the league and victory in the Coupe de France. The climb towards the heights continued in 1993–94 with the club registering a second Ligue 1 title and a new French record after going 27 consecutive league matches without defeat. A stunning campaign both domestically and internationally as PSG made the semi-finals of the Cup Winners' Cup.[11]

For the 1994–95 campaign, PSG hired Luis Fernández, an emblematic player of the club in the 1980s, as manager. He led the capital side to the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League with a ten-game undefeated streak. Paris were ultimately eliminated by title-holders Milan after seducing Europe with their football and knocking out the likes of Bayern Munich and Barcelona. The successes kept coming that season, with PSG winning the first ever Coupe de la Ligue as well as the Coupe de France for the fourth time in club history.[11] PSG's crowning glory came with triumph in the 1996 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final, with Bruno N'Gotty hitting the only goal as Rapid Wien were defeated 1–0.[5] Celtic, Parma and Deportivo de La Coruña fell by the wayside as PSG joined the elite of European winners.[11] Paris and Olympique de Marseille are the only French teams to have lifted European titles.[3]

A year later, Les Rouge-et-Bleu finished runners-up to Barcelona in the same competition.[5] Between these finals, a dazzling Juventus proved too strong for PSG in the 1996 UEFA Super Cup, winning 9–2 on aggregate.[12] Despite a younger squad, the side now managed by former PSG players Ricardo and Joël Bats were also league runners-up. PSG, however, struggled to maintain their own high standards during 1997–98. For the first time in the Canal+ era, the club was eliminated before the quarter-finals of the Champions League and struggled in Ligue 1. A tough campaign saved by the two domestic cups lifted by Captain Raí: the Coupe de France and the Coupe de la Ligue.[11] PSG also claimed the Trophée des Champions twice before the turn of the century.[7]

Decline (1998–2006)

Ronaldinho did not win any trophy with PSG, but he is fondly remembered by fans for his skills and his performances against arch-rivals Marseille.

Paris then went into decline following years of mismanagement. Three more domestic trophies arrived and the Parc des Princes faithful also got to marvel at the likes of Marco Simone, Jay-Jay Okocha, Nicolas Anelka, Ronaldinho, Gabriel Heinze, Juan Pablo Sorín, Mario Yepes and Pauleta,[1] but the club instead became better known for lurching from one high-profile crisis to another, and the nasty spectre of hooliganism began to plague the club, an affliction that current day PSG are still trying to fully eradicate.[7]

1998–99 was all about changes. After seven seasons in the hot seat, Michel Denisot left the presidency of PSG, while manager Philippe Bergeroo saved the club from relegation. Bergeroo rebuilt the team and PSG qualified again for the Champions League in 1999–2000.[11] Following a devastating 5–1 loss to Sedan in early December, manager Philippe Bergeroo made way for Luis Fernández. Six months later, PSG finished ninth in the league, yet miraculously earned a place in the UEFA Intertoto Cup. The 2000–01 campaign will be remembered for a great run in the Champions League, brought undone by an incredible comeback from Deportivo de La Coruña.[13]

PSG launched the new term by claiming the 2001 UEFA Intertoto Cup,[14] and then recorded a fourth-place finish in Ligue 1 thanks to the rise of Brazilian genius Ronaldinho.[15] The 2002–03 term saw PSG finish 11th, the worst league position of the last 15 years despite Ronaldinho. The 2003 Coupe de France Final was PSG's last chance to qualify for European competition, but lost 2–1 against Auxerre at the Stade de France. Three wins over Marseille in Le Classique, including a first win at the Stade Vélodrome in 20 years, were the only thing to remember from an otherwise catastrophic campaign.[16]

Following a lackluster season, new PSG leaders Francis Graille (president) and Vahid Halilhodžić (manager) seized Ronaldinho's departure for Barcelona to land Portuguese goalscorer Pauleta. If fans were entitled to fear the post-Ronaldinho era, the 2003–04 season was the most prolific for nearly ten years, with the Coupe de France win against Châteauroux (1–0) and a second place in Ligue 1 (three points adrift champions Lyon).[17] The 2004–05 term was meant to be that of confirmation. But the team slipped alarmingly down the table and former PSG midfielder Laurent Fournier replaced Halilhodžić. Eliminated from all cup competitions, PSG ended up in ninth place. There were still highs along the way, like PSG's superb 2–0 win over reigning European champions Porto in the Champions League, as well as the seventh and eighth consecutive wins against Marseille in the league and the Coupe de la Ligue.[18]

All boded well in the opening months of the 2005–06 season. Unfortunately, a series of poor results sent Laurent Fournier's side into a downward spiral. PSG president Pierre Blayau therefore appointed Guy Lacombe as manager during the winter break. Despite a ninth-placed finish, Les Rouge-et-Bleu defeated archrivals Marseille 2–1 in the 2006 Coupe de France Final to lift their seventh French Cup and move above Saint-Étienne (six titles) in the record books.[19]

Colony Capital ownership (2006–2011)

Cup successes notwithstanding, the 2000s were tough for PSG, who flirted with relegation on occasion as a combination of high expectations and intense media pressure.

PSG's form dwindled as they slipped further down the table and eventually, a split from owners Canal+ became inevitable. That divorce arrived in 2006 after years of underachievement and the club's purchase by Colony Capital, Butler Capital Partners and Morgan Stanley was completed that year. Colony Capital eventually bought out Morgan Stanley's shares in the club to become 95% owners.[7]

The capital club began the 2006–07 season losing to Lyon on penalties in the Trophée des Champions, foreshadowing a complicated campaign. In January, Guy Lacombe was replaced by Paul Le Guen as manager. But PSG were still knocked out of the French Cup, fell to the relegation zone and crashed out of the UEFA Cup to Benfica. But PSG reacted and secured top-flight status in the penultimate game of the season thanks to a victory over Troyes and a brace from Ligue 1 top scorer Pauleta.[20]

Another difficult campaign awaited, as PSG won for the first time in week 6 and had to wait until the second half of the 2007–08 season to record a first home win. Paradoxically, as the side struggled in the league, PSG performed wonders in both cups, reaching the final of the French Cup and winning the League Cup. The cup triumph was translated into a grandstand finish in Ligue 1, as the capital club avoided the drop by taking eight of a possible 12 points in the final four games.[21]

Under new president Charles Villeneuve, the signing of experienced recruits Claude Makélélé and Ludovic Giuly, as well as two of Ligue 1's most promising talents in Guillaume Hoarau and Stéphane Sessègnon, boded well. PSG played a leading role for most of the 2008–09 season before finally settling for a respectable sixth place. The Parisian side also went a long way in the League Cup and the UEFA Cup.[22]

Paris signed goalkeeper Grégory Coupet, along with striker Mevlüt Erdinç and flying full-back Christophe Jallet, while former club defender Antoine Kombouaré returned as manager for the 2009–10 season. After four matches, PSG were sitting second in Ligue 1, but a defeat to Monaco put the breaks on. Beaten away 3–1 to Lille, 2–1 on the road to Lyon and 1–0 against Monaco meant PSG were out of the title hunt, but still going strong in the cups. The Coupe de France run would take PSG all the way to the Stade de France. The capital club defeated Monaco in the final thanks to Guillaume Haorau's goal in extra-time. It was an eighth French Cup crown for PSG, qualifying once again to the UEFA Europa League – the successor to the UEFA Cup – in the process.[23]

Nenê, brilliant with Monaco the season before, Mathieu Bodmer and Siaka Tiéné were brought in as PSG wanted to celebrate their 40th anniversary in style. Les Rouge-et-Bleu competed in the season curtain-raiser – the Trophée des Champions – but lost on penalties to rivals Marseille. However, PSG quickly found their cruising altitude in Ligue 1, and after a stirring 2–1 home win in the Classico in week 12, the club would not quit the top five for the rest of the season, finishing fourth. PSG were also French Cup finalists, League Cup semi-finalists and reached the last-16 of the UEFA Europa League during their 2010–11 campaign.[24]

Qatar Sports Investments era (since 2011)

Revival and third league title (2011–2013)

Zlatan Ibrahimović's presentation with PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi (left) and sporting director Leonardo (right).

After a roller-coaster ride in the 2000s, PSG were bought by the Qatar Sports Investments group in 2011.[3] Following two years of solid progress and stability under manager Antoine Kombouaré and president Robin Leproux, PSG finally restored a sense of balance. Club legend Leonardo was brought back as sporting director.[7] He oversaw an unprecedented spending in Ligue 1 history, which brought in Diego Lugano, Javier Pastore, Maxwell, Alex, Thiago Motta, Blaise Matuidi, Kévin Gameiro and Jérémy Ménez. Kombouaré's men, led by an irrepressible Pastore, were league leaders at the winter break, but the board still recruited famous manager Carlo Ancelotti. He became the first ever PSG manager to win his first five competitive matches. In stunning form until now, Paris lost top spot to Montpellier in March, losing the 2011–12 title to the latter. PSG, in turn, qualified to the Champions League for the first time since 2004–05.[25]

Reinforced by star signings Ezequiel Lavezzi, Zlatan Ibrahimović and Thiago Silva, Paris warmed up for the 2012–13 season with the aim of winning the league crown that dramatically eluded the club the previous year. Back in the Champions League after an eight-year absence, the key moment was the home win over Porto. With it, PSG took top spot in their group, before reaching the summit of Ligue 1 before Christmas, after initially struggling to break their domestic opponents. Despite a minor wobble in early 2013, PSG battled back into the lead again and retained it for the remainder of the season.[26]

In Europe, PSG outclassed Valencia to face Spanish giants Barcelona in the quarter-finals. The match lived up to the hype, with Blaise Matuidi scoring in the last minute of a thrilling 2–2 draw at the Parc des Princes. Then, away at the Camp Nou, Javier Pastore opened the scoring for Carlo Ancelotti's men, only to be eliminated on away goals by Pedro’s equaliser. Quarter-finals exits in both the Coupe de la Ligue and the Coupe de France meant PSG just had to focus on the league. Ligue 1 top scorer Zlatan's 30-goal haul almost single-handedly led the capital side, but in the end, a 1–0 win away to Lyon secured the club's first Ligue 1 title in 19 years, and third overall. Jérémy Ménez struck the goal that sent Paris into rapture.[26]

Laurent Blanc years (2013–2016)

Under manager Laurent Blanc, PSG won one domestic treble and two national quadruples.

Edinson Cavani, among others, joined the squad now managed by Laurent Blanc, who replaced Carlo Ancelotti. PSG won the Trophée des Champions against Bordeaux (2-1) to snare the first silverware of the 2013–14 season. Les Parisiens defended their title and also secured a maiden domestic treble thanks to a 2-1 win over Lyon in the 2014 Coupe de la Ligue Final. One of the turning points of the season was the first Classico. Reduced to ten men and trailing on the scoreboard, Paris came from behind to defeat OM (2-1). In the Champions League, group toppers PSG demolished Bayer Leverkusen 6–1 on aggregate in the last-16 and impressed with a second consecutive quarter-final defeat on away goals to Chelsea.[27]

Just weeks after winning a first trophy of the 2014–15 season, with the 2014 Trophée des Champions and the 2–0 win over Guingamp, Paris were struggling to impose themselves in Ligue 1. With three wins and five draws, PSG were sitting five points adrift of Marseille after eight games. December saw a first loss of the campaign to Guingamp (1–0) as PSG finished the first half of the season in third place. In the Champions League, Thiago Silva and company produced an heroic qualification at Stamford Bridge, knocking Chelsea out last-16 on the away goals rule. A prestigious 3–2 victory over Marseille and a 4–0 win in the 2015 Coupe de la Ligue Final against Bastia followed, before Paris were eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Champions League by future finalists Barcelona. Fighting with Lyon in the championship, Paris set an unstoppable pace and secured a fifth French championship in their history and the third in a row. The capital club then left their mark on French football by defeating Auxerre 1–0 with a goal from Edinson Cavani in the 2015 Coupe de France Final at the Stade de France to claim an unprecedented domestic quadruple.[28]

Paris Saint-Germain began the 2015–16 season with a squad bolstered by the arrival, above all, of Argentina star Ángel Di María and a third consecutive Trophée des Champions with a 2–0 win over Lyon. PSG continued in the Ligue 1 in similar fashion, finishing with a record 51 points at the midway point of the season. In the Champions League group phase, Paris finished second behind future winners Real Madrid. Back in Ligue 1, only Lyon managed to down PSG (2–1), stopping a record 36 matches without defeat in Ligue 1. Les Parisiens were crowned league champions in mid-March – the fastest ever – with a festival of goals against Troyes. It finished 9–0; the biggest away win in the history of the league. PSG also set a new record for number of points with 96. However, after eliminating Chelsea in the last-16 of the Champions League, Paris were once again ousted in the quarter-finals by Manchester City. Now solely focused on defending its historic quadruple, PSG lifted the Coupe de la Ligue with a 2–1 triumph over Lille, before clinching the Coupe de France by defeating Marseille 4–2 in the final. It was a tenth French Cup for Paris, equalling the all-time record of wins, and a tenth-straight Classique win over Marseille. With four more trophies and 156 goals (overtaking Pauleta's all-time scoring record for the club), Zlatan Ibrahimović left the capital club at the end of four highly successful seasons.[29]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "PSG firmly in the pantheon". FIFA. 17 October 2008. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  2. ↑ "Les 30 titres du Paris Saint-Germain (1/3)". PSG.fr. 31 May 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Paris city guide". UEFA. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  4. ↑ "PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN". LFP. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Paris Saint-Germain FC". UEFA. 19 June 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "L'historique du club des saisons 1970/1978". PSG.fr. 19 May 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "A brief history of PSG". ESPN FC. 17 August 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  8. ↑ "Stade municipal Georges Lefèvre". Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  9. ↑ "Le Camp des Loges à St-Germain". 78actu. 26 June 2016. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "L'historique du club des saisons 1978/1990". PSG.fr. 19 May 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "L'historique du club des saisons de 1990/2000". PSG.fr. 19 May 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  12. ↑ "1996: Dazzling Juve shine in Paris". UEFA. 5 February 1997. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  13. ↑ "L'historique du club de la saison 2000/2001". PSG.fr. 19 May 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  14. ↑ "Palmares". PSG.fr. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  15. ↑ "L'historique du club de la saison 2001/2002". PSG.fr. 19 May 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  16. ↑ "L'historique du club de la saison 2002/2003". PSG.fr. 19 May 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  17. ↑ "L'historique du club de la saison 2003/2004". PSG.fr. 19 May 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  18. ↑ "L'historique du club de la saison 2004/2005". PSG.fr. 19 May 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  19. ↑ "L'historique du club de la saison 2005/2006". PSG.fr. 19 May 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  20. ↑ "L'historique du club de la saison 2006-2007". PSG.fr. 20 May 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  21. ↑ "L'historique du club de la saison 2007/2008". PSG.fr. 1 July 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  22. ↑ "L'historique du club de la saison 2008/2009". PSG.fr. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  23. ↑ "L'historique du club de la saison 2009/2010". PSG.fr. 3 July 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  24. ↑ "L'historique du club de la saison 2010/2011". PSG.fr. 4 July 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  25. ↑ "L'historique du club de la saison 2011/2012". PSG.fr. 4 July 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  26. 1 2 "L'historique du club de la saison 2012/2013". PSG.fr. 4 July 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  27. ↑ "Historique du club - saison 2013-2014". PSG.fr. 4 June 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  28. ↑ "Historique du club - saison 2014-2015". PSG.fr. 11 June 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  29. ↑ "Historique du club - saison 2015-2016". PSG.fr. 30 May 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
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