History of Paris Saint-Germain FC facts for kids
Paris Saint-Germain FC, also known as PSG, was created in 1970. It was formed by merging two clubs: Paris FC and Stade Saint-Germain. PSG had a great start, winning the Ligue 2 championship in their first season and moving up to Ligue 1, France's top soccer league. But soon after, the club split in two in 1972. Paris FC stayed in Ligue 1, while PSG was sent down to a lower league, Division 3. However, PSG quickly climbed back, returning to the top league in 1974 and making the famous Parc des Princes stadium their home.
The club won its first major trophies in the 1980s. With great players like Safet Sušić and Luis Fernandez, PSG won the Coupe de France (the French Cup) two years in a row in 1982 and 1983. They also won their first Ligue 1 title in 1986. After a period of struggle, the club was bought by the TV company Canal+ in 1991. This brought new energy and money. Led by stars like David Ginola, George Weah, and Raí, PSG won nine trophies in the 1990s. This included a second league title in 1994 and a big European trophy, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, in 1996.
In the early 2000s, PSG had ups and downs. Even with the amazing skills of Ronaldinho and many goals from Pauleta, the club struggled. They won a few more cups but often faced problems. The club's fortunes completely changed in 2011 when new owners from Qatar, called Qatar Sports Investments, took over. They spent a lot of money to buy some of the world's best players, including Zlatan Ibrahimović, Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappé.
With these stars, PSG became the most powerful team in France. They have won many trophies, including eleven league titles. They also became a top team in Europe's biggest competition, the UEFA Champions League. After reaching the final in 2020, they finally won their first Champions League title in 2025.
Contents
Early History (1970–1978)
A New Club for Paris
In 1970, a group of businessmen wanted to create a major soccer club in Paris. They joined forces with Stade Saint-Germain, a team from a nearby town that had just been promoted to Ligue 2. Together, they formed Paris Saint-Germain. The new club was supported by 20,000 fans who wanted a top team in the capital.
PSG's first official game was a 1–1 draw, and Bernard Guignedoux scored the club's very first goal. In their first season, PSG won the Ligue 2 title and was promoted to Ligue 1. However, the club split in 1972. Paris FC stayed in Ligue 1, while PSG was sent down to the third division.
Return to the Top
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PSG didn't stay down for long. With a team of young, talented players, they were promoted back to Ligue 2 after just one season. In 1973, a fashion designer named Daniel Hechter became the club's president. He brought in money and signed famous players. The team returned to Ligue 1 in 1974 after a thrilling 4–2 victory in a playoff match at the Parc des Princes. Since that year, PSG has never left the top division of French soccer.
During the Hechter years, PSG signed stars like Algerian player Mustapha Dahleb and Argentine striker Carlos Bianchi. Bianchi was the top scorer in Ligue 1 for two seasons. The team became known for exciting cup runs, but they usually finished in the middle of the league table. In 1978, Hechter had to leave the club, and Francis Borelli became the new president.
First Trophies (1978–1991)
Winning the French Cup
Under president Francis Borelli, PSG started to climb higher. They signed great players like Dominique Rocheteau and Safet Sušić. In 1982, PSG won its first major trophy, the Coupe de France. They beat the famous Saint-Étienne team, which had star player Michel Platini. The final was very dramatic. After the game ended in a 2–2 draw, PSG won in a penalty shootout. President Borelli was so happy that he kissed the grass of the Parc des Princes field.
Winning the cup meant PSG could play in a European competition for the first time. The next year, in 1983, they did it again! PSG won the Coupe de France for a second time, beating Nantes 3–2 in the final.
First League Title
The team continued to get stronger. In the 1985–86 season, PSG became the champions of France for the first time. Led by manager Gérard Houllier, the team went on an amazing 26-game unbeaten streak. Players like Joël Bats, Luis Fernandez, and Sušić were the heroes of this victory. It was a huge moment for Paris, as no team from the city had won the league in 50 years.
After this success, the club went through a difficult period. Many star players left, and the team struggled. In 1989, they came very close to winning the league again but lost to their rivals Olympique de Marseille in the final minutes of the last game. By 1991, the club had serious money problems. That's when the French TV company Canal+ bought the club, starting a new era.
The Canal+ Era (1991–2006)
European Glory
The new owners, Canal+, invested a lot of money to build a powerful team. They signed talented players from France and Brazil, like David Ginola, George Weah, and Raí. In 1993, PSG won the Coupe de France again. The next year, in 1994, they won their second Ligue 1 title.
PSG also became a strong team in Europe. In 1996, they won their first and only UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. In the final, they beat Rapid Wien of Austria 1–0. A powerful shot from defender Bruno Ngotty won the game. This made PSG only the second French club ever to win a major European trophy.
The team continued to have success, reaching the final of the same competition again in 1997, but lost to Barcelona. In 1998, they won both the Coupe de France and the Coupe de la Ligue (League Cup).
A Difficult Period
At the start of the 21st century, PSG struggled to stay at the top. Even with a magical player like Ronaldinho, the team was inconsistent. They won a few more cups, including the 2001 UEFA Intertoto Cup and the Coupe de France in 2004 and 2006. However, the club became known for its problems off the field.
In 2006, Canal+ sold the club to a new owner, Colony Capital. But things got worse. For two seasons, PSG fought to avoid relegation (being sent to a lower league). They were saved on the final day of the 2007–08 season. Despite the struggles, they managed to win the Coupe de la Ligue that year.
The QSI Revolution (2011–Present)
Becoming a Superclub
In 2011, everything changed when Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) bought PSG. The new owners had huge ambitions and a lot of money. Their goal was to make PSG one of the best clubs in the world. They started signing world-class players like Zlatan Ibrahimović, Thiago Silva, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappé.
With these superstars, PSG began to dominate French soccer. They won the Ligue 1 title in 2013, their first in 19 years. This was the start of an incredible run. From 2014 to 2016, they won the "domestic quadruple" twice, which means they won all four trophies in France: Ligue 1, the Coupe de France, the Coupe de la Ligue, and the Trophée des Champions (Super Cup).
Chasing the Champions League
The club's biggest dream was to win the UEFA Champions League. They came close many times but faced heartbreaking defeats. One of the most famous was in 2017 against Barcelona. After winning the first game 4–0, PSG lost the second game 6–1 in a historic comeback known as La Remontada.
In the 2019–20 season, PSG finally reached the Champions League final for the first time. They played against Bayern Munich but lost 1–0. A former PSG youth player, Kingsley Coman, scored the winning goal for Bayern.
In 2021, PSG made headlines by signing Lionel Messi, bringing him together with Neymar and Mbappé to form a famous attacking trio. However, even with these three stars, the team could not win the Champions League and faced more disappointing exits.
First Champions League Title
After the superstar era ended with Messi and Neymar leaving in 2023, the club focused on building a more balanced team under manager Luis Enrique. In the 2024–25 season, after Mbappé also left, the new-look PSG team finally achieved its ultimate goal.
They had a fantastic season, winning the Ligue 1 title, the Coupe de France, and the Trophée des Champions. In the Champions League, they beat top teams like Liverpool and Arsenal to reach the final. In the final match in Munich, PSG played an amazing game and defeated Inter Milan 5–0 to win their first-ever Champions League trophy. This historic victory completed a "continental treble," a huge achievement in European soccer.
Images for kids
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François M'Pelé, one of PSG's best strikers in the 1970s.
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Carlos Bianchi, who was the top scorer in Ligue 1 twice with PSG.
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PSG legend Safet Sušić playing against Juventus in 1983.
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The PSG starting team during the successful 1994–95 season.
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PSG playing against Milan in the UEFA Champions League in 2001.
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PSG captain Frédéric Déhu with the 2001 UEFA Intertoto Cup trophy.
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PSG playing away against Dynamo Kyiv in 2009.
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PSG won their third league title in 2013.
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