History of Paris Saint-Germain F.C.

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 Football Club have always represented both Paris and nearby Saint-Germain-en-Laye.[1]

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. They chose to merge their virtual side, Paris FC, with Stade Saint-Germain after the team from Saint-Germain-en-Laye, 15km west of Paris, won promotion to Ligue 2.[2] Thanks to some 20,000 subscriptions from individuals desperate to see an elite football club in Paris, Guy Crescent, CEO of Calberson and Pierre-Étienne Guyot, vice-president of Racing Club de France, asked the Sangermanois directors to become part of their project. Paris Saint-Germain Football Club was founded on 12 August 1970.[3] The merger was ratified by the French Football Federation on 27 August 1970.[2]

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.[3] PSG made an immediate impact both on and off the pitch; the club built a substantial fanbase,[2] won the Ligue 2 title and celebrated their first birthday in Ligue 1. The 1971–72 term ended with an honourable 16th placed finish.[3] Their momentum was soon checked, however, and the club split in 1972.[2] The professional arm of the club joined CA Montreuil and continued life in Ligue 1 under the name of Paris FC, while PSG were demoted to Division 3.[3]

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 that time, PSG have never been demoted or relegated from the French first division.[3] The club moved into the Parc des Princes that same year.[2] PSG had previously played at the Stade Municipal Georges Lefèvre (now the club's training complex known as the Camp des Loges). Despite no achievements during that period, the club was known for their entertaining style of play.[4]

First titles (1978–1990)

By the end of the 1970s, Les Rouge-et-Bleu were ready to embark upon a historic decade.[1] With charismatic presidents Daniel Hechter and, later, Francis Borelli setting the tone, 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] However, it was not until the 1990s that PSG really started to develop as a giant of French football.[4]

PSG were starting to make a name for itself by consistently finishing in the top third of the French first division.[5] The club's trophy cabinet welcomed its first major silverware in the shape of the Coupe de France in 1981–82.[2] On 15 May 1982, PSG defeated Saint-Étienne, and a certain Michel Platini, in the final, and on June 11, the following year, 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 1985 Coupe de France Final, losing to Monaco.[5] A year later coach Gérard Houllier led the team to their maiden league success, Safet Sušić pulling the strings in midfield.[2] PSG set a new record of 26 matches without defeat along the way.[5]

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 March 1983, against the Belgian outfit Waterschei. However, the most memorable encounter 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 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.[5]

Golden age (1990–2000)

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

An even brighter era dawned when Canal+ took over in 1991.[2] An avalanche of trophies followed, not to mention the first wave of world-class players to grace the Parc des Princes thanks to the investment of their owners.[4] George Weah, Raí, Ricardo, Jay-Jay Okocha, Valdo, Marco Simone, Leonardo and a strong spine of homegrown talent (Bernard Lama, Alain Roche, David Ginola, Paul Le Guen, Vincent Guérin, Youri Djorkaeff, Antoine Kombouaré) became the darlings of French football.[1]

With the modernisation of the club and an experienced coach, in the form of Artur Jorge, PSG rediscovered their ambition.[6] 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 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.[6]

For the 1994–95 campaign, PSG hired Luis Fernández, an emblematic player of the club in the 1980s, as coach. He led the capital side to the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League with a 10 game undefeated streak. Paris were ultimately eliminated by title-holders A.C. Milan after seducing Europe with their football and knocking out the likes of Bayern Munich and Barcelona. And 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 the club’s history.[6] PSG's crowning glory came with triumph in the 1996 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final, Bruno N'Gotty hitting the only goal as Rapid Vienna were defeated 1-0.[2] Celtic, Parma and Deportivo de La Coruña fell by the wayside as PSG joined the elite of European winners.[6]

A year later, Les Rouge-et-Bleu finished runners-up to Barcelona in the same competition.[2] Between these finals, a dazzling Juventus proved too strong for PSG in the 1996 UEFA Super Cup, winning 9-2 on aggregate.[7] Despite a younger squad, the side now managed by former PSG players Ricardo and Joël Bats were also league runners-up. However, Paris 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.[6] PSG also claimed the Trophée des Champions twice before the turn of the century.[4]

1998–99 was all about changes. After seven seasons in the hot seat, Michel Denisot ceded the presidency of PSG to Charles Biétry, himself President of PSG Omnisports since 1992. The latter named Alain Giresse as coach. A premature elimination in the round-of-32 of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, coupled with a difficult start to the season cost the new coach his job. Giresse was replaced in November by Artur Jorge. A month later, Biétry left the presidency for Laurent Perpère. Results didn’t improve and following consecutive eliminations in the Coupe de France and the Coupe de la Ligue, Artur Jorge quit the capital in mid-March. He was replaced by Philippe Bergeroo. Having saved the club from relegation, Bergeroo rebuilt the team and PSG qualified again for the Champions League in 1999–2000.[6]

Decline (2000–2004)

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

The young brigade of the French game led by Nicolas Anelka, Peter Luccin and Stéphane Dalmat was meant to carry PSG to the summit of Ligue 1. Yet despite a promising start, thanks largely to the breathtaking form of Laurent Robert and Anelka, the first frosts of winter quickly cooled Paris’ title aspirations. Following a devastating 5-1 loss to Sedan in early December, coach Philippe Bergeroo made way for Luis Fernández. A firm favourite of the Parc des Princes faithful, the Tarifa Kid brought Mikel Arteta, Mauricio Pochettino and Didier Domi, who returned to the club that discovered him. 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 UEFA Champions League, brought undone by an incredible comeback from Deportivo de La Coruña. But Luis quickly added the likes of Cristóbal, Aloísio, Gabriel Heinze and, above all, Ronaldinho.[8]

PSG launched the new term by claiming the 2001 UEFA Intertoto Cup.[9] And with the rise of Brazilian genius Ronaldinho (13 goals and seven assists in his first season in France) and a hermetically sealed defence (best in the league with 24 goals conceded), the club from the capital qualified for the UEFA Cup thanks to their fourth-placed finish in Ligue 1. PSG’s results in the cup competitions were, on the other hand, disappointing: eliminated in the round-of-32 of the UEFA Cup on penalties by Rangers; eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Coupe de la Ligue by Lorient; and eliminated in the semi-finals of the Coupe de France by Girondins de Bordeaux. Another disappointment of the 2001–02 season was the strike pair of Brazilians Aloísio and Alex Dias. The former Saint-Étienne dynamic duo failed to live up to their billing.[10]

Everyone expected PSG to be battling near the top of the table. Ronaldinho had adapted perfectly to the French game and the summer recruitment was ideal. The results, however, were disastrous. Upset by numerous internal affairs, the 2002–03 term saw PSG finish 11th, the worst league position of the last 15 years. 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 Olympique de 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.[11]

Following a lackluster season, the hope of renewal and stabilization was represented by president Francis Graille and coach Vahid Halilhodžić. The departure of Ronaldinho for Barcelona allowed the new leaders in Paris to make an ambitious recruitment: Pauleta arrived from Bordeaux and Juan Pablo Sorín was brought on loan. The team was consistent thanks to Argentine duo Heinze–Sorín in the back, Fabrice Fiorèse’s great displays in the right flank and the 18 goals from Pauleta, fruit of his partnership with Danijel Ljuboja. If fans were entitled to fear the post-Ronaldinho era, the 2003–04 season was the most prolific for nearly 10 years with the Coupe de France win against Châteauroux (1-0) and a second place in Ligue 1 (three points adrift Olympique Lyonnais).[12]

The dark days (2004–2008)

Cup successes notwithstanding, the early 2000s were tough for PSG, who flirted with relegation on occasion.

The 2004–05 term was meant to be that of confirmation. But Vahid Halilhodžić’s was put to the test when the capital club found itself in the relegation zone after six matches. The summer departures of first-team regulars such as Frédéric Déhu, Gabriel Heinze, Juan Pablo Sorín and Fabrice Fiorèse left gaping holes in the Parisian squad and the new signings found the boots hard to fill. There were still plenty of highs along the way – most notably, Les Parisiens superb 2-0 win over reigning European champions F.C. Porto in the UEFA Champions League as well as the seventh and eighth consecutive wins against Olympique de Marseille in the league and the Coupe de la Ligue. That wasn’t enough, however, to save the campaign. Undermined by a conflict which pitted the supporters against the club directors, the season quickly transformed into a long and tedious affair for the players. As the team slipped alarmingly down the table, former PSG midfielder Laurent Fournier arrived as new coach to try and turn things around. Eliminated from all cup competitions, PSG finally ended up in the top half of the table in ninth place.[13]

PSG’s aim was to finish in the top three of Ligue 1 and all boded well in the opening months of the 2005–06 season. With a stunning opening match 4-1 victory over Metz at the Parc des Princes, Paris were sitting top of the standings after four rounds and was still in the top three come November. Unfortunately, a series of poor results, particularly away from home, sent Laurent Fournier’s side into a downward spiral over the next two months. PSG president Pierre Blayau, thus, appointed Guy Lacombe as coach 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 (6 wins) in the record books. Above all, the win qualified PSG for the following season’s UEFA Cup.[14]

PSG became better known for lurching from one high-profile crisis to another, and hooliganism began to plague the club, an affliction that current day are still trying to fully eradicate. Les Parisiens' 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. Fresh owners and new president Alain Cayzac intended to open a new chapter. However, PSG slumped to a miserable 15th place in 2006–07, narrowly avoiding relegation.[4]

After yet another difficult campaign, PSG plotted on returning to the summit of the local game. But things began badly with just four points garnered from the opening five matches. The first win came in Week 6, 2-0 away to Le Mans. Amazingly, Paris had to wait until the second half of the 2007–08 season to record a first home win (3-0 over RC Lens on 13 January). Rallied behind Paul Le Guen, the players were under the hammer. Paradoxically, as the side struggled in the league, Les Rouge-et-Bleu performed wonders in both cups, winning the 2008 Coupe de la Ligue (2-1 win over Lens). 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.[15]

Back on track (2008–2011)

The announcement of new president Charles Villeneuve and top drawer recruits such as the experienced Claude Makélélé and Ludovic Giuly along two of Ligue 1's most promising talents in Guillaume Hoarau and Stéphane Sessègnon, boded well for the future in the French capital. The objective fixed at the start of the 2008–09 campaign was to finish in the top half of the table and, if the opportunity presented itself, qualify for one of the two European cups. Paris-SG went a long way in the Coupe de la Ligue (eliminated in the semi-finals by future Ligue 1 champions Girondins de Bordeaux) and in the UEFA Cup (eliminated in the quarter-finals by Dynamo Kyiv). Led by captain Claude Makélélé, PSG played a leading role for most of the league season before finally settling for a respectable sixth place.[16]

Paris signed goalkeeper Grégory Coupet, along with striker Mevlüt Erdinç and flying full-back Christophe Jallet while former club defender Antoine Kombouaré returned as coach for the 2009–10 season. After four matches, PSG were sitting second on the league table, but a defeat to Monaco put the breaks on. Beaten away 3-1 to Lille, 2-1 on the road to Olympique Lyonnais 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. After eliminating, among others, Auxerre in the quarters, on 1 May 2010, PSG 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 in the process.[17]

Nenê, brilliant with Monaco the season before, Mathieu Bodmer and Siaka Tiéné were brought as PSG wanted to celebrate their 40th anniversary in style. Les Rouge-et-Bleu competed in the season curtain-raiser - the Trophée des Champions - in Tunisia (lost on penalties to Olympique de Marseille). Paris-SG quickly found their cruising altitude in Ligue 1 and after a stirring 2-1 home win in Le Classique in Week 12, the club would not quit the top five for the rest of the season, before finishing fourth. PSG were also Coupe de France finalists, Coupe de la Ligue semi-finalists and reached the last-16 of the Europa League during this 2010–11 campaign.[18]

Revival (2011–2013)

Zlatan Ibrahimović being signed by PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi (left) and sporting director Leonardo (right)

It wasn't until the club was purchased by Qatar Sports Investments in 2011, following two years of solid progress and stability under coach Antoine Kombouaré and president Robin Leproux, that PSG finally restored a sense of balance. Club legend Leonardo was brought back as sporting director.[4] He oversaw an unprecedented spending in Ligue 1 history: 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 coach Carlo Ancelotti. He became the first ever PSG coach 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 UEFA Champions League for the first time since 2004–05.[19] PSG also set a league record of 79 points for a second-placed team.[4]

Reinforced by new stars 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.[20] 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 as Zlatan’s 30-goal haul almost single-handedly led the capital side.[21] 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, 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. In the end, a 1-0 win away to Olympique Lyonnais secured the club’s first Ligue 1 title in 19 years, and third overall. Jérémy Ménez struck the goal that sent Paris into rapture.[20] PSG finished 12 points clear of second-placed arch-rivals Olympique de Marseille.[21]

The Blanc era (2013–present)

Under manager Laurent Blanc, PSG won the domestic quadruple.

Now led by Laurent Blanc, who succeeded Ancelotti, PSG won the 2013 Trophée des Champions against Girondins de Bordeaux (2-1) in the 2013–14 season curtain-raiser.[22] And for the first time in the club’s history, Les Parisiens defended their title and also secured a maiden league and domestic cup double thanks to Edinson Cavani's brace in the 2014 Coupe de la Ligue Final win over Olympique Lyonnais. After a slow start to Ligue 1, Blanc's change to a three-man midfield composed by Matuidi, Thiago Motta and Marco Verratti in a 4-3-3 system during a 2-0 away win over Bordeaux in early September was the pivotal moment. It took just four more games before PSG permanently overhauled early pacesetters Monaco at the top of the table.[23] Another key moment was the season’s first Le Classique. Reduced to ten men, Paris came back from a goal down to beat Marseille. In the UEFA Champions League, group toppers PSG demolished Bayer Leverkusen 6-1 on aggregate in the last 16 and impressed with a second consecutive quarterfinal defeat on away goals to Chelsea.[22] A Coupe de France defeat at home to Montpellier in the last 32 was the season's low note.[23] In winning Le Championnat, PSG set a new all-time best points total of 89 and also bettered the benchmark of 26 victories, with a total of 27.[24]

Just weeks after winning a first trophy of the 2014–15 season in Beijing, with the 2014 Trophée des Champions and the 2-0 win over Guingamp, Paris were struggling to impose themselves on Ligue 1. With 3 wins and 5 draws, PSG were sitting five points adrift of Marseille after eight games. Les Rouge-et-Bleu really hit their stride in October and moved second on the ladder. PSG were on their way, but December saw a first loss of the campaign to Guingamp (1-0) as the capital club 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, going through on the away goals rule, after a 1-1 home draw with Chelsea in the first leg of the UCL last-16. 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 from the Champions League by future finalists Barcelona. But Paris bounced back by booking their place in the final of the Coupe de France with a resounding semi-final 4-0 win against Saint-Étienne. Fighting tooth and nail 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 Cavani, in the 2015 Coupe de France Final at the Stade de France to claim an unprecedented domestic quadruple.[25]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "PSG firmly in the pantheon". FIFA. 17 October 2008. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Paris Saint-Germain FC". UEFA. 19 June 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "L'historique du club des saisons 1970/1978". PSG.fr. 19 May 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "A brief history of PSG". ESPN FC. 17 August 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "L'historique du club des saisons 1978/1990". PSG.fr. 19 May 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "L'historique du club des saisons de 1990/2000". PSG.fr. 19 May 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  7. ↑ "1996: Dazzling Juve shine in Paris". UEFA. 5 February 1997. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  8. ↑ "L'historique du club de la saison 2000/2001". PSG.fr. 19 May 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  9. ↑ "Palmares". PSG.fr. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  10. ↑ "L'historique du club de la saison 2001/2002". PSG.fr. 19 May 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  11. ↑ "L'historique du club de la saison 2002/2003". PSG.fr. 19 May 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  12. ↑ "L'historique du club de la saison 2003/2004". PSG.fr. 19 May 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  13. ↑ "L'historique du club de la saison 2004/2005". PSG.fr. 19 May 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  14. ↑ "L'historique du club de la saison 2005/2006". PSG.fr. 19 May 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  15. ↑ "L'historique du club de la saison 2007/2008". PSG.fr. 1 July 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  16. ↑ "L'historique du club de la saison 2008/2009". PSG.fr. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  17. ↑ "L'historique du club de la saison 2009/2010". PSG.fr. 3 July 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  18. ↑ "L'historique du club de la saison 2010/2011". PSG.fr. 4 July 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  19. ↑ "L'historique du club de la saison 2011/2012". PSG.fr. 4 July 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  20. 1 2 "L'historique du club de la saison 2012/2013". PSG.fr. 4 July 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  21. 1 2 "Paris Saint-Germain – 2012/13 Season Review". French Football Weekly. 12 June 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  22. 1 2 "Historique du club - saison 2013-2014". PSG.fr. 4 June 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  23. 1 2 "Paris Saint-Germain: 2013/14 Season Review". French Football Weekly. 27 May 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  24. ↑ "Les records du PSG cette saison". Le Parisien. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  25. ↑ "Historique du club - saison 2014-2015". PSG.fr. 11 June 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2015.

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