Paris Saint-Germain (France)

Paris Saint-Germain is a professional football club from the French capital which was formed in 1970 from the merger of Paris FC and Stade Saint-Germain.

Paris FC had been formed in 1969 in an attempt to give the city a professional top flight team. They started out in the second tier but merged with Stade Saint-Germain a year later, before splitting away again in 1972 and taking over Club Athlétique Montreuil 93; changing their name to Paris FC and continuing in Ligue 1.

Stade Saint-Germain had a far deeper history, having being formed in 1904 in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, which is located 20km to the west of the centre of Paris. The club played its matches at Camp des Loges and began life in the USFSA, which was the equivalent of today’s amateur fourth tier.

In 1921 they progressed to the amateur third level Ligue de Paris, while in 1932 a merger took place between US Saint-Germain and the Saint-Germain Sports. Camp des Loges was renamed Stade Georges Lefèvre in 1945 in honour of the Saint-Germain player who lost his life during the War.

Four years later the club won promotion to the amateur second tier Division d'Honneur de la Ligue de Paris. In May 1957 the league title was won with the club moving up into the elite amateur CFA.

Over the years the club reached the last eight of the Coupe de France on a few occasions without ever looking like moving up into the professional set up. The merger with Paris FC came about to allow Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) to compete in the 1970-71 league season in Ligue 2, going on to win the title at their first attempt.

In 1972 the professional arm of the club split away to join Club Athlétique Montreuil in the west of the capital, changing their name to Paris FC and continuing in Ligue 1. PSG assumed amateur status and were placed in the third tier.

Within two seasons PSG had reclaimed their Ligue 1 place and moved from Stade Georges Lefèvre to Les Parc des Princes.

The team consolidated their position in the top flight but the first honour did not arrive at the club until 1981-82 when PSG defeated a Michel Platini led Saint-Étienne 6-5 on penalties after a 2-2 draw at Parc des Princes to lift the Coupe des France.

The trophy was retained the following season with a 3-2 victory over FC Nantes at the same venue. With manager Gérard Houllier at the helm, PSG lifted the French title for the first time in 1985-86, with Safet Sušić the star player of the season.

Around this time, businessman Jean-Luc Lagardère decided that he wanted a club to be the number one in Paris, so he took over Racing Club de France in Colombes, renamed them Matra Racing and moved them in to share Parc des Princes with PSG, bringing a host of big name signings with him.

PSG fought back and as Lagardère’s dream began to fade, they capitalised and were taken over by broadcaster Canal+ in 1991 in a move that gave the club new strength and impetus. Former European Cup winning manager and Mantra boss Artur Jorge took over team affairs with a third cup win coming in 1992-93 following a 3-0 win over FC Nantes, with the skills of David Ginola making him a fans favourite.

A second league title arrived in 1993-94 thanks to some fine displays from goalkeeper Bernard Lama, before Jorge was replaced by former star PSG and France defensive midfielder Luis Fernández who led the side to another Coupe de France win in 1995 over RC Strasbourg and then the 1996 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup with a Bruno N'Gotty goal seeing off Rapid Wien in the final in Brussels’ King Baudouin Stadium.

Brazilian Ricardo took over from Fernández in 1996, leading the side to another cup final win; this time 2-1 against RC Lens in May 1998. The former France midfield legend Alain Giresse stepped in as manager following this success, but his spell lasted just one year before Philippe Bergeroo took over for the 1999-00 season before Fernández returned for a second spell to try and repeat his earlier successes.

This wasn’t to be, with Vahid Halilhodžić of Bosnia and Herzegovina taking over team affairs in 2003; going on to lead the club to their sixth cup triumph in 2004, as Ligue 2 side LB Châteauroux were defeated 1-0 at Stade de France.

Laurent Fournier took over for the 2005-06 campaign before he was replaced by Guy Lacombe who took PSG on to win the Coupe de France in the 2005-06 season with a 2-1 over Olympique de Marseille. Former PSG midfield stalwart Paul Le Guen was the team manager between 2007 and 2009, who was followed in turn by Antoine Kombouaré.

Paris Saint-Germain continued their impressive cup pedigree in 2010 as they lifted the trophy once again, thanks to a 1-0 extra time win against AS Monaco. The club really set out their stall with their next appointment as Carlo Ancelotti arrived at Parc des Princes as Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) took over the ownership of PSG.

Club legend Leonardo was brought back as sporting director as he oversaw an unprecedented spending spree, which aided Ancelotti as he took PSG to become champions of France for the third time in 2012-13; their first title in nineteen years, with the goals of record signing  Zlatan Ibrahimović causing much of the damage.

Players of the quality of Lucas Moura, Thiago Silva, David Luiz, Thiago Motta, Edinson Cavani, Ángel Di María and Julian Draxler would arrive at Parc des Princes over the next few years.

Ancelotti was replaced by former fans favourite Laurent Blanc, who’s side went on to retain the league title. PSG made it three in a row in 2014-15 as well as completing the double as the cup was lifted by courtesy of a 1-0 win against second tier AJ Auxerre.

Blanc’s all star side made it consecutive double triumphs as ‘Les Parisiens’ won their sixth league title and record tenth Coupe de France victory, as old adversaries Olympique de Marseille were defeated 4-2 at Stade de France.

Blanc stood down in May 2016 as Spaniard Unai Emery took over following a highly successful spell as manager of Sevilla FC, leading PSG to runners-up in 2016-17 but retaining the Coupe with a single goal victory over Angers SCO with Edinson Cavani leading the scoring charts. 

Thiago Silva captained the team to the league and cup double in 2017-18 after the signings of alongside major signings Neymar and Kylian Mbappé strengthened the side further as Les Herbiers were beaten 2-0 in the final of the Coupe.

Thomas Tuchel took over from the departing Emery. Once again PSG went out in the Round of 16 in the Champions League before going on to retain the Ligue 1 title, this time by sixteen points with Ángel Di María and Julian Draxler providing the ammunition for the front three.

Stade Rennais upset the apple cart by defeating PSG on penalties in the final of the Coupe de France to deny them a consecutive double. A ninth league title was secured in 2019-20 after the season came to an early end owing to the outbreak of COVID-19.

Paris Saint-Germain will play in Ligue 1 in the 2020-21 season.

My visit

Paris Saint-Germain 2 Lille OSC 1 (Tuesday 7^th February 2017) Ligue 1 (att: 35,189)

A few months before my trip, I thought that PSG would probably be my first ever live experience of French football, but following an earlier debut at AJ Auxerre and fixture changes, it meant that the Parc des Princes would actually be my third venue on the list.

The previous evening had seen me next door at Stade Jean Bouin for the Ligue 2 encounter between Red Star and AC Ajaccio, which I had enjoyed. My PSG match day had begun with a fine tour of Stade de France and a magnificent introduction to Couscous Royale for lunch in a lovely Café Du Théâtre.

Following a siesta at my room at Hotel Baby I enjoyed some pavement café watching during happy hour at Indiana Café - Bonne Nouvelle. I really was getting into the Parisian way of life and thoroughly enjoying it.

Walking up to Bonne Nouvelle metro station I was soon on board a 9 Metro service, which deposited me at Porte de St Cloud twenty five minutes later. I joined the crowds on the short walk up to the stadium along Avenue du Parc des Princes with my print at home €32 ticket, only to be told I needed to walk round to the other entrance.

Within a few minutes I’d crossed above Boulevard Périphérique and along Route de la Reine and then up Rue du Commandant Guilbaud where I got through two ticket checks before getting past the security check at the foot of Tribune Boulogne at the west end of the stadium. All the while I was looking up in awe at the sleek design of the iconic venue that I’d grown up watching so many massive matches from on TV.

The facilities on the concourses were plentiful, if a little pricey so I gave them a miss, still full from the huge late lunch and my couple of pre match beers. Instead I went to find my seat and take in the magnificent arena, and I wasn’t to be disappointed.

Les Parc des Princes really was still beautiful, with its continuous two tiers of seating and cantilevered roof. The gentle curves down the sides and behind the goals gave everyone a decent view and maximised its capacity. All the seating had been replaced in recent years so they were all in the club colours, as well as the addition of two screens in opposite corners.

A group of younger ultra type groups stood both in Tribune Boulogne and Tribune Auteuil drumming up the atmosphere, even though the club had got rid of much of the hooligan element in the previous few seasons.

Fortunately enough the crowd wasn’t at full capacity, and a little under the publicised attendance, because my seat was right next to the away section. The segregation was by way of a giant net, like in a sports hall. When there were folds it meant the view was appalling. I took the initiative and moved right to the back behind the goal where there was plenty of spare speces.

The first half of the game was a bit of a damp squib after all the build up. PSG had the vast majority of the possession but struggled to find a way through the visitors defence. Angel Di Maria had a shot parried away by visiting keeper Vincent Enyeama as Edinson Cavani looked to pounce.

At the interval I decided to remain in my seat and enjoy the fans crossbar challenge and then an excellent one on one match between two junior sides which can be enjoyed here.

Hatem Ben Arfa had been a danger to Lille in the first period and he carried on where he’d left off. Both he and Di Maria tested out Enyeama. The Lille custodian pulled off a fine reflex save from Di Maria on the hour mark.

However, PSG finally make the breakthrough with twenty minutes remaining, when a Di Maria cross was headed home by Cavani. It looked to be plain sailing for Le Parisiens from there, but the tempo dropped and the home side were caught badly off guard.

While home goalie Alphonse Areola dallied with a back pass, Nicolas de Preville put him under pressure, stole the ball and rolled it into an empty net bang on full time. I was doing my best to suppress my laughter. There’s nothing funnier than seeing cock ups of such magnitude.

It’s fair to say that the PSG fans had a differing opinion than me. Their mood was to change once more as the game entered added time. Enyeama saved Cavani's initial shot, but the rebound was put away by Lucas Moura who appeared to be in an offside position.

Friends Matt Bennett and John Mennis who knew I was at the game confirmed that it was a poor decision via my Facebook post. The Lille players were certainly upset, with a distressed Enyeama receiving a yellow card for his troubles.

Referee François Letexier blew his whistle for full time shortly after. No doubt Areola gave out a huge sigh of relief! The fans were certainly in celebratory mood, especially as three points were vital in the pursuit of league leaders AS Monaco.

Fortunately many of the fans wanted to hang around to celebrate, but I had other matters in hand as the time was getting on for 11pm. I managed to get past many of the crowd and was soon on board the 9 Metro, which was organised superbly at Porte de St Cloud.

Having changed at Havre-Caumartin and walked through a maze of tunnels I found the correct platform at Paris Saint-Lazare to go the six stops on 12 Metro to Lamarck / Caulaincourt. From there it was a couple of minutes walk down the hill to La Divette de Montmartre.

The bar had been closed the previous evening, but the reviews and photos had intrigued me. I was not to be disappointed. It was shabby in many ways, but a real pilgrimage to the footballers of Saint-Etienne and rock music. Eclectic tunes were being played by the ageing owner. The atmosphere was convivial and relaxed, even if the toilet facilities were very much old school.

Nearing closing time I wandered across to the familiar Boulevard Barbès from where I took a night bus first to Gare De l’Est and then another to Strasbourg-Saint-Denis. I desperately needed the loo and a nightcap and fortunately I caught last orders at Le Saint Denis on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis before I grabbed a kebab a few days up as I headed back to my hotel.

It had been a magnificent day and night in a city I was falling in love with.