Paris Saint-Germain Football Club, commonly referred to as Paris Saint-Germain or simply PSG, is one of the most iconic and successful football clubs in the world. Founded in 1970, PSG is relatively young compared to other European football giants. The club is based in Paris, France, and plays its home matches at the famous Parc des Princes Stadium, which has a seating capacity of over 48,000.
Paris Saint-Germain has a rich history, boasting 9 Ligue 1 titles, 14 French Cups, 1 UEFA Champions League Final appearance, and numerous other domestic and international trophies. The club enjoyed its most successful era under the ownership of Qatar Sports Investments, who took over in 2011 and ushered in a period of unprecedented success and star-studded line-ups.
Known for its attacking style of play, the club has nurtured some of football’s greatest talents, including Zlatan Ibrahimović, Ronaldinho, David Beckham, and most recently, Kylian Mbappé and Neymar. Despite some recent challenges in the Champions League, Paris Saint-Germain remains one of the world’s most valuable football clubs, with a global fan base and a rich tradition that continues to shape French and world football.
Paris Saint-Germain FC is one of the most well-known football clubs in the world, boasting one of the highest average home attendances in Europe. The club claims its global fan base includes more than 200 officially recognized branches of the Paris Saint-Germain Fan Club, present in at least 24 countries. The club capitalizes on this support through its worldwide summer tours. Accountancy firm and sports industry consultants Deloitte estimate that Paris Saint-Germain has 75 million fans worldwide. The club has the third highest social media following in the world among sports teams (after Barcelona and Real Madrid), with over 82 million Facebook followers as of July 2023. A 2014 study showed that Paris Saint-Germain had the loudest fans in Ligue 1.
Paris Saint-Germain was formed in 1970 through the merger of Paris FC and Stade Saint-Germain. The team initially competed in Ligue 2, but quickly ascended to Ligue 1 due to their impressive performance. Their first significant victory came in 1982 when they won the French Cup.
In the 1990s, Paris Saint-Germain experienced a period of success under the management of Artur Jorge. This era saw the club win its second league title in 1994, and they also enjoyed success in numerous cup competitions. They became a prominent team in Europe, regularly competing in the UEFA Champions League and winning the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1996.
In 2011, the Qatar Investment Authority became the majority shareholder of Paris Saint-Germain, ushering in a new era of success for the club. With significant financial backing, the club was able to attract world-class talents like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva, and later Neymar and Kylian Mbappe. This period has seen the club dominate French football and become regular contenders in the UEFA Champions League. As of now, Paris Saint-Germain continues to be one of the leading clubs in world football.
Originally funded by the Canal+ Group, Paris Saint-Germain FC was formed in 1970. The club became a limited company in 1991 and sold shares to local supporters via an application form. In 1991, majority ownership passed to Canal+ who invested a significant amount to save the club from financial difficulties. After a decade, the club faced bankruptcy yet again but was saved in 2006 by Colony Capital, who assumed control of the club after an investment of a significant amount. Colony Capital promoted several key individuals to the board over the years.
In 2011, Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) became the majority shareholders of Paris Saint-Germain FC. QSI, a branch of the state-owned Qatar Investment Authority, began acquiring shares in the club; for an investment of approximately €50 million, they accumulated a majority shareholding and took control in 2011. When Colony Capital decided to sell their shares in 2012, their shares passed to QSI, making QSI the sole shareholder of Paris Saint-Germain FC. The position of chairman was taken up by Nasser Al-Khelaifi, a Qatari businessman and former tennis player, who is also the president of QSI.
Under the Qatari ownership, Paris Saint-Germain FC has become one of the wealthiest in the world and most successful clubs in France. They have attracted several high-profile players, such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic, David Beckham, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe. Their investment has not only been in players but also in improving the club's infrastructure. Today, Paris Saint-Germain FC is considered a global branding powerhouse in football, with their influence extending far beyond the borders of France.
Paris Saint-Germain FC is one of the most successful clubs in France in terms of trophies won. The club's first trophy was the Coupe de France, which they won in 1982. Since then, they have gone on to win a record 13 Ligue 1 titles and their total of 14 Coupe de France is a record. Those titles have meant the club has appeared a record 10 times in the Trophée des Champions (formerly the French Super Cup); of those 10 appearances, Paris Saint-Germain FC have won a record 10.
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Paris Saint-Germain Official Website: In-depth details about Paris Saint-Germain FC. https://www.psg.fr/
UEFA Official Website: Information about Paris Saint-Germain's history and achievements. https://www.uefa.com/
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