Paris Saint-Germain FC

Compared to most other football powerhouses, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) are a relatively young club. Nevertheless, they were remarkably successful in their short lifespan, winning Ligue 1 titles, French Cups and League Cups. They are one of only two French sides to win a European trophy, a feat they have achieved by winning the 1996 Cup Winners' Cup. Their rivalry with Marseille, often referred to as "Le Classique", is widely considered to be the most passionate derby in French football.

Celebrating the victory in Ligue 1 season 2014-15.

History

For the longest time, Paris did not have a football club that truly belonged to the elite. That finally changed in 1970, when a group of businessmen went through with the plan of merging Paris FC and Stade Saint-Germain into a single club named Paris Saint-Germain. (The year of establishment are somewhat debated though, since the club was affiliated with the Fédération française de football already in December 1969.)

Not surprisingly, PSG immediately drew sympathies of the Parisian crowd, which was exalted to finally have a club that could contend for domestic trophies. Shortly after earning promotion to Ligue 1 in 1972, the club moved into the legendary Parc des Princes, which would serve as their home to this day.

Winning the first major trophies

The early 80s saw PSG win their first major trophies by claiming back-to-back French Cups in 1982 and 1983. This naturally led to the club winning their first Ligue 1 title in 1986 and consequently trying their luck in European competitions, where they played a number of memorable matches but ultimately failed to advance past the quarter-final. It was during this period that PSG developed a penchant for attacking-minded football, which would play a large part in the club becoming fan favorites, both in France and abroad.

Larger investments leading to international success

Following the takeover by Canal+ in 1991, the club's future was destined for greatness. With the new owners investing large sums of money into big-name signings such as George Weah and Raí, PSG quickly developed into one of the most dominant clubs in the country. In addition to claiming their second Ligue 1 trophy (1994), three French Cups (1993, 1995, 1998) and two League Cups (1995, 1998), PSG became the second French club to win a European trophy by defeating Rapid Wien in the 1996 Cup Winners' Cup final.

Decline

These golden years were followed up with a period of decline due to severe mismanagement and cracking under pressure in the title races. Even though the club had some Cup success during the 00s – including three French Cups and a League Cup – this period is mostly remembered for numerous crisis situations and problems with hooliganism.

New owner and new stars

Their fortunes took a turn for the better after the club was bought by Qatar Sports Investments in 2011. Led by their new star, Zlatan Ibrahimović, PSG returned to the spotlight by winning three consecutive Ligue 1 titles from 2013 to 2015. They also added to their trophy collection by claiming another French Cup in 2015 and two more League Cups in 2014 and 2015.

In 2017, a new world record transferred was made when the Brazilian star Neymar was bought from Barcelona for a €222 million fee. Another mega star, Lionel Messi, was transferred to the club in 2021, also from Barcelona.

Most champions in France

After winning the national league in the 2022-23 season, PSG became the French club with most titles (11), in front of Saint-Étienne with 10 titles. Whereas PSG has dominated the French football during the 2012, Saint-Étienne has not won the title since 1981.

By Martin Wahl

References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Saint-Germain_FC
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Saint-Germain_Football_Club
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parc_des_Princes
http://www.espnfc.com/story/1135960/a-brief-history-of-psg
Image source:
Liondartois