Paris Saint-Germain FC facts for kids
| Full name | Paris Saint-Germain Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | Les Parisiens (The Parisians) Les Rouge-et-Bleu (The Red-and-Blues) |
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| Short name | PSG, Paris, Paris SG | ||
| Founded | 12 August 1970 | ||
| Stadium | Parc des Princes | ||
| Stadium capacity |
47,929 | ||
| Owner | Qatar Sports Investments (85.9%) Arctos Partners (12.5%) Boardroom (1.6%) |
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| President | Nasser Al-Khelaifi | ||
| Head coach | Luis Enrique | ||
| League | Ligue 1 | ||
| 2021–22 | Ligue 1, 1st of 20 (champions) | ||
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Paris Saint-Germain Football Club, often called PSG, is a famous French football club from Paris. It was started in 1970 when two clubs, Paris FC and Stade Saint-Germain, joined together. PSG plays in Ligue 1, which is the top football league in France. Their home stadium is the Parc des Princes. PSG is the most popular football club in France and has many fans around the world. They have big rivalries with Olympique de Marseille in a match called Le Classique, and with Paris FC in the Paris derby.
PSG is the most successful club in French football, with 60 official trophies. This includes a record 14 Ligue 1 titles, 16 Coupe de France wins, and 9 Coupes de la Ligue. On the international stage, PSG has won six major trophies. These include two UEFA Champions League titles, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, the UEFA Super Cup, the UEFA Intertoto Cup, and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup.
After 2011, a group called Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) became the main owner of PSG. This brought a lot of investment and helped the club sign many top players. PSG then became even more successful, winning many titles in France. The club won its first UEFA Champions League title in 2025 and then won it again in 2026. They also claimed the 2025 UEFA Super Cup and the 2025 FIFA Intercontinental Cup.
PSG is now one of the richest and most valuable football clubs globally. Besides the men's football team, PSG also has a youth academy, a women's football team, and teams for handball, judo, and esports.
Contents
The Story of Paris Saint-Germain
PSG started in 1970 when Paris FC and Stade Saint-Germain merged. In their first season, they won Ligue 2 and moved up to Ligue 1. However, the club split in 1972. Paris FC stayed in the top league, while PSG went down to Division 3. After quickly winning two promotions, PSG returned to Ligue 1 in 1974 and moved to the Parc des Princes stadium.
The club won its first trophies in the 1980s. With players like Safet Sušić and Luis Fernandez, PSG won the Coupe de France in 1982 and 1983. They also won their first Ligue 1 title in 1986. In 1991, a company called Canal+ took over the club. This helped PSG become strong again. During the 1990s, with stars like David Ginola and George Weah, the club won nine trophies. They also reached five European semi-finals in a row. PSG won their second league title in 1994 and the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1996.
In the early 2000s, PSG had some challenges, even with talented players like Ronaldinho and Pauleta. They won five more trophies, including three Coupe de France titles. In 2006, Canal+ sold the club to Colony Capital. For a couple of seasons, PSG had to work hard to avoid being relegated from the top league.
Everything changed in 2011 when Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) became the owners. Since then, PSG has invested a lot in signing world-class players. Famous names like Zlatan Ibrahimović, Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappé joined the team. This helped PSG dominate French football, winning 38 trophies. These include twelve league titles and eight Coupe de France. PSG also became a strong team in the UEFA Champions League. They reached the final for the first time in 2020. Then, they won their first Champions League title in 2025 and kept the trophy in 2026. PSG also won the 2025 UEFA Super Cup and the 2025 FIFA Intercontinental Cup, completing an amazing sextuple of trophies.
Club Identity and Symbols
Team Colours and Mascot
Since it started, Paris Saint-Germain has represented both the city of Paris and the nearby royal town of Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Because of this, red, blue, and white are the club's traditional colours. The red and blue come from Parisian history, and the white is a symbol of French royalty and Saint-Germain-en-Laye.
On the club's badge, the Eiffel Tower in red on a blue background stands for Paris. The white fleur de lys is a symbol of Saint-Germain-en-Laye and French royalty. It reminds us that French King Louis XIV was born there. PSG has used several badges over the years, but all of them have featured these three historical colours.
PSG's most famous jerseys have been mainly red, blue, or white, with the other two colours also included. The club's official mascot, Germain the Lynx, also wears PSG's traditional colours. Germain was introduced in 2010 for the club's 40th anniversary. You can see Germain entertaining kids at the Parc des Princes stadium.
Team Songs and Slogans
"Allez Paris!", sung by Annie Cordy in 1971, was PSG's first official team song. A year later, Cordy became PSG's official godmother. The club's second song, "Allez Paris‑Saint‑Germain!" by Les Parisiens, was recorded in 1977. Its chorus became a popular chant among fans during matches. A new version of this song, using the tune of "Go West", was made in 2010. Fans helped write the new lyrics, and this is the club's current official song.
"Ô Ville Lumière" is another popular song for PSG fans, sung to the tune of "Flower of Scotland". Other well-known chants include "Le Parc est à nous" ("The Parc is ours"), "Ici, c'est Paris" ("This is Paris"), and "Paris est magique" ("Paris is magical"). The song "Who Said I Would" by Phill Collins has been played when players enter the field since 1992.
"Ici, c'est Paris" and "Paris est magique" are also the club's most famous slogans. The "Ici, c'est Paris" slogan was created by a fan group called Supras Auteuil. PSG now uses this slogan in its marketing, and fans can also use it freely.
Famous Jerseys
For its first three seasons, PSG's home jersey was red with blue and white details. This brought together the three club colours: red and blue for Paris and white for Saint-Germain-en-Laye. In 1973, French fashion designer Daniel Hechter became president and designed the club's classic home kit. This was a blue jersey with a red vertical stripe, flanked by two thinner white stripes.
This "Hechter shirt" was first worn in the 1973–74 season and has been PSG's classic look ever since. It was first used in a match against Red Star in November 1973, which was also PSG's first game at the Parc des Princes. Famous PSG players like Raí, Ronaldinho, and Pauleta wore this jersey. In this kit, the club reached five European semi-finals and won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1996.
Hechter said he was inspired by the Ford Mustang car, taking its hood stripes and using the club's three colours. There are two other versions of this design: the "Reverse Hechter" (red–white–blue–white–red) and the "White Hechter" (white–blue–red–blue–white).
PSG's first great team, which won the Coupe de France in 1982 and 1983, wore a distinctive away kit. This jersey was white with blue and red vertical stripes down the left side. It became the club's home jersey from 1981 to 1990 and is known as the "Borelli shirt." It is linked with 1980s PSG legends like Safet Sušić and Luis Fernández.
Badge Changes Over Time
When Paris Saint-Germain was formed from Paris FC (PFC) and Stade Saint-Germain, the first club badge was the same as PFC's. It showed a blue football and a red sailing ship, a symbol of Paris. After PSG separated from PFC in 1972, they needed a new badge. This new badge, which is the basis of today's design, featured the Eiffel Tower in red on a blue background. Below it were two white symbols of Saint-Germain: a fleur-de-lis and the cradle of Louis XIV.
In 1982, an image of the Parc des Princes stadium was added to the bottom of the badge. This stayed until 1990. In 1992, the club's owners, Canal+, changed the badge a lot. It showed "PSG" in white on a blue, white, red, white, and blue background, like the Hechter shirt. Fans wanted the traditional badge back, so it returned in 1995. It then had "Paris Saint-Germain" above the tower and "1970" below the cradle. In 2002, it was slightly updated with a darker blue.
At the request of the Qatari owners, the traditional badge was redesigned in 2013. Now, the word "Paris" is written in large, bold white letters above the Eiffel Tower. This highlights the "Paris" brand. Below, "Saint-Germain" is written in smaller letters under the fleur-de-lis. The cradle of Louis XIV and the founding year "1970" were removed.
Friendly Tournaments Hosted by PSG
Paris Saint-Germain used to host two famous invitational competitions. These were the Tournoi de Paris and the Tournoi Indoor de Paris-Bercy. The Tournoi de Paris was seen as the most important friendly tournament in French football. PSG started organizing it in 1975 and won it a record seven times. This tournament was held at the Parc des Princes and was last organized in 2012. The Tournoi Indoor de Paris-Bercy was an indoor football tournament started by PSG in 1984. It was held every year until 1991, and PSG won the trophy twice.
Home Grounds and Training Areas
Stadiums Where PSG Plays
Since it began, Paris Saint-Germain has played in five main stadiums. These include the Stade Jean-Bouin, the Stade Georges Lefèvre, the Stade Bauer, the Stade Yves-du-Manoir, and their current home, the Parc des Princes. PSG played its first match at the Parc des Princes on November 10, 1973. The club officially moved into the Parc des Princes in July 1974 when it returned to Ligue 1.
The Parc des Princes has been PSG's home stadium ever since. The season with the most fans attending matches was 2024–25, with an average of 47,639 spectators per game. The record for the most fans at a PSG match was 49,575 on March 13, 1983. This was for a UEFA Cup Winners' Cup quarter-final match against Waterschei, which PSG won 2–0.
Training Facilities for the Team
Campus PSG, located in Poissy, has been the club's training ground since 2023. This facility is owned by the club and is home to the men's football team, the women's football team, and the football academy. It also hosts the handball and judo teams. PSG's male team moved to Campus PSG on July 10, 2023. They played their first friendly game there on July 21, 2023, winning 2–0 against Le Havre.
Camp des Loges, located in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, was the club's training facility from 1970 until July 2023. Its main stadium, the Stade Georges Lefèvre, was the home ground for the men's team between 1972 and 1974. The academy and women's team also trained at Camp des Loges until January 2024. However, Camp des Loges remains the main office for the Association Paris Saint-Germain.
Team Achievements and Records
PSG's Many Trophies
Paris Saint-Germain holds many records. They are the most successful French club in history with 58 major official titles. They have won a record 14 Ligue 1 titles, 16 Coupe de France trophies, nine Coupe de la Ligue cups, and 14 Trophée des Champions.
Internationally, PSG has won two UEFA Champions League titles, one UEFA Super Cup, one UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, one UEFA Intertoto Cup, and one FIFA Intercontinental Cup. Their total official titles are 59, including one Ligue 2 title. They have also won unofficial titles like a record seven Tournoi de Paris and two Tournoi Indoor de Paris-Bercy.
PSG's victory in the 1995–96 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup made them the only French club to win that competition. By winning the 2024–25 UEFA Champions League, the 2024–25 Ligue 1, and the 2024–25 Coupe de France, PSG became the first French team to achieve a continental treble. They also won the 2025 UEFA Super Cup and the 2025 FIFA Intercontinental Cup. This made PSG the first French club to win both trophies and a club world title. With the 2024 Trophée des Champions, PSG completed an amazing sextuple, a feat only achieved by a few other clubs.
The Parisians hold the record for the most consecutive seasons in the French top league, with 52 seasons in Ligue 1 since 1974–75. They are also the only club to have won the Ligue 1 title while leading the table from the first to the final matchday (2022–23).
Important people in PSG's history include president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, manager Laurent Blanc, record appearance holder Marquinhos, top scorer Kylian Mbappé, and assist leader Ángel Di María. Other famous players include Ballon d'Or winners Lionel Messi and Ousmane Dembélé, and world-record transfer signing Neymar.
PSG's Seasons in Football
Paris Saint-Germain has played 56 seasons in total. Of these, 53 seasons have been in the top division of French football, Ligue 1. In the other three seasons, the club played twice in the second division, Ligue 2, and once in the third division, Division 3. In the 2025–26 season, PSG celebrated its 52nd consecutive Ligue 1 campaign, making it the longest-serving club in the competition.
The club played its first official match on August 23, 1970, drawing 1–1 against Poitiers in Ligue 2. PSG won the Ligue 2 title that season and moved up to the top league. PSG made its Ligue 1 debut on August 11, 1971, losing 2–0 to Angers. The club split in June 1972, and PSG was moved down to Division 3.
After two quick promotions, PSG returned to Ligue 1 in the 1974–75 season and has stayed there ever since. The club has won a record thirteen league titles. PSG's lowest finish in Ligue 1 was 16th place, which happened in 1971–72 and 2007–08. In both cases, they avoided relegation on the final day of the season.
PSG had its best season in the 2024–25 campaign. They won the continental treble by lifting the UEFA Champions League title, the league championship, and the Coupe de France. They played a record 65 matches, winning 48 of them. The club also set several records in the 2015–16 season. PSG collected 96 points in Ligue 1, their highest total, and only let in 19 goals. Zlatan Ibrahimović scored 50 goals that season, a club record for a single player.
PSG in International Football
Paris Saint-Germain is the most successful French club in international competitions. They have won five European titles: the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1996, the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 2001, the UEFA Champions League in 2025 and 2026, and the UEFA Super Cup in 2025. They also won the 2025 FIFA Intercontinental Cup. PSG is the only French team to have won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and the first to win the continental treble and the Super Cup. They were runners-up in the 1996 UEFA Super Cup, the 1996–97 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, the 2019–20 UEFA Champions League, and the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
The Parisians played their first international match in the 1982–83 season in the Cup Winners' Cup. They reached the quarter-finals but were eliminated. PSG later played in the UEFA Europa League in 1984–85 and then in the Champions League in 1986–87.
Between 1992 and 1997, the club reached five European semi-finals in a row. They won their first European trophy by beating Rapid Wien in the 1996 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final. This win allowed PSG to play in the UEFA Super Cup, where they lost to Juventus. They reached another Cup Winners' Cup final in 1997 but lost to Barcelona. PSG also won the Intertoto Cup in 2001.
PSG reached its first UEFA Champions League final in 2020, where they were defeated by Bayern Munich. The club then won its first Champions League title in 2025, beating Inter Milan in the final. As European champions, Paris competed in the FIFA Club World Cup, the UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup. They finished second in the Club World Cup but won both the Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup. PSG won a second Champions League title in 2026, defeating Arsenal in the final.
PSG Supporters and Fan Culture
Paris Saint-Germain is the most popular football club in France and one of the most followed teams globally. Their home stadium, the Parc des Princes, has been their home since July 1974. The stadium has four main stands: Tribune Auteuil, Tribune Paris, Tribune Borelli, and Tribune Boulogne.
Historically, the Auteuil and Boulogne stands were known for PSG's ultras (passionate fan groups). This made the Parc des Princes famous for its exciting atmosphere. Other fan groups, often more family-friendly, gather in the Paris and Borelli stands. The club's first fan group, Les Amis du PSG, was founded in 1975.
In the early years, the club offered cheaper tickets to young fans. These fans gathered in a section called Kop K. Later, these fans moved to the Boulogne stand, creating the Kop of Boulogne. The first Italian-style ultra group, the Boulogne Boys, started there in 1985. However, some groups in Boulogne caused problems, and there were disagreements between fan groups.
To create a safer environment, the club encouraged non-violent fans to gather at the opposite end of the stadium. This led to the creation of the Virage Auteuil in 1991. Over time, there were still challenges between different fan groups. After a serious incident in 2010, the club made changes to ensure safety. This led to a new plan that changed how fan groups could attend matches.
After some time, former Auteuil supporters formed the Collectif Ultras Paris (CUP) in 2016. The club allowed them to return to the stadium later that year. The CUP is currently the only ultra group officially recognized by the club. They share the stadium with other licensed groups like Hoolicool and Les Amis du PSG.
Major Rivalries of PSG
The Famous "Le Classique" Match
Le Classique is a big French football rivalry between PSG and Olympique de Marseille (OM). It is considered the biggest rivalry in French football and one of the most famous matches in the world. This match involves the two most successful clubs in France and the only French teams to have won major European trophies. People often compare it to Spain's El Clásico.
PSG and OM were the top teams in French football for a long time. They still have the most fans in France and around the world. The rivalry truly began in the 1980s, especially after PSG won its first league title in 1986. The competition became very intense as both clubs fought for the Ligue 1 title.
In the 1990s, the rivalry grew even stronger. A French media company bought PSG in 1991, partly to challenge Marseille's success. With more money and media attention, PSG and OM became the main teams competing for national honours. Even though both teams had less success in the 2000s, the rivalry remained strong. In the 2010s, PSG's big investments from Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) helped them dominate French football, making the rivalry even more intense. These matches always attract large crowds and high television audiences.
This rivalry also exists in women's football between Paris Saint-Germain FC (women) and OL Lyonnes (Lyon). Their matches are called the women's Le Classique. Lyon dominated French women's football for many years. After PSG was bought by QSI in 2012, the two teams became strong rivals, often competing for league titles.
The Paris Derby
The Paris derby is a French football rivalry between PSG and Paris FC (PFC). These are the two largest professional clubs based in Paris. PSG was founded in 1970 when Paris FC and Stade Saint-Germain merged. PSG has become the dominant club in Paris and in French football. Paris FC, which split from PSG in 1972, spent many years in lower leagues before returning to the top league in 2025.
The rivalry goes back to the early days of football in Paris. PSG became the leading club in the capital, taking over the Parc des Princes stadium. They had a long period of success, while Paris FC was mostly in lower divisions. Because of this, the two teams rarely played against each other for many decades.
After Paris FC was promoted to Ligue 1 in 2025, the Paris derby became an important match again. The two clubs' stadiums, PSG's Parc des Princes and PFC's Stade Jean-Bouin, are very close to each other. The first top-league match between them since 1990 happened on January 4, 2026, at the Parc des Princes, with PSG winning 2–1. Later, Paris FC won a Coupe de France match 1–0, which was PSG's first home defeat in that competition in several years.
The Paris derby also happens in women's football between Paris Saint-Germain FC (women) and Paris FC (women). Paris FC (formerly Juvisy) was the top women's club in Paris in the 2000s. PSG largely dominated the Paris derby (women) in the 2010s. In the early 2020s, Paris FC became a strong team, even beating PSG in the 2025 Coupe de France Féminine final.
Club Ownership and Money
Paris Saint-Germain was first owned by its fans. In 1973, a group of French businessmen took control. PSG changed owners again in 1991 when Canal+ bought the club. In 2006, Colony Capital took over. Since 2011, Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) has been the main owner. They currently own most of the club's shares. Other companies, Arctos Partners and Boardroom, also own smaller parts of the club.
QSI, which is backed by the government of Qatar, bought most of the club in 2011 and became the sole owner in 2012. Since then, PSG has been known as a state-backed club and one of the wealthiest in world football. The chairman of QSI, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, has been PSG's president since the takeover. QSI promised to build a team that could win the UEFA Champions League. Since 2011, PSG has spent a lot of money on buying players and paying their salaries. This spending has led to many wins in France and two Champions League titles. The club also follows rules about how much clubs can spend.
As of January 2026, PSG was ranked fourth globally in football revenue, earning €837 million. Forbes magazine valued the club at around €4 billion, making it the seventh-most valuable club in the world. This growth comes from continued investment, success in games, and global branding. PSG's women's team is also among the top earning women's football teams. The club's handball section has one of the biggest budgets in European handball.
Club Honours
| Type | Competitions | Titles | Seasons |
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| Domestic | Ligue 1 | 14 | 1985–86, 1993–94, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–25, 2025–26 |
| Ligue 2 | 1 | 1970–71 | |
| Coupe de France | 16 | 1981–82, 1982–83, 1992–93, 1994–95, 1997–98, 2003–04, 2005–06, 2009–10, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2023–24, 2024–25 | |
| Trophée des Champions | 14 | 1995, 1998, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 | |
| Coupe de la Ligue | 9 | 1994–95, 1997–98, 2007–08, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2019–20 | |
| Continental | UEFA Champions League | 2 | 2024–25, 2025–26 |
| UEFA Cup Winners' Cup | 1 | 1995–96 | |
| UEFA Super Cup | 1 | 2025 | |
| UEFA Intertoto Cup | 1 | 2001 | |
| Worldwide | FIFA Intercontinental Cup | 1s | 2025 |
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Players
Current squad
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Players Out on Loan
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Other Players Under Contract
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Club Personnel
Club Management Team
Technical Staff for the Team
| Position | Name | Source |
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| First-team head coach | ||
| Assistant coach | ||
| Assistant coach | ||
| Psychologist | ||
| Fitness coach | ||
| Assistant fitness coach | ||
| Goalkeeper coach | ||
| Assistant goalkeeper coach |
See also
In Spanish: Paris Saint-Germain Football Club para niños