Canal+ Era

Lore & Background

Paris Saint-Germain were founded in 1970 following the merger of Paris FC and Stade Saint-Germain. PSG made an immediate impact, winning Ligue 2 and thus achieving promotion to Ligue 1 in their first season. PSG's momentum was soon halted, and the club split in 1972. Paris FC remained in the top flight, while PSG were relegated to Division 3. After two consecutive promotions, PSG quickly returned to the top flight in 1974 and moved to the Parc des Princes. The club's first trophies arrived in the 1980s. Led by players such as Safet Sušić, Luis Fernandez and Dominique Rocheteau, the Parisians claimed back-to-back Coupe de France in 1982 and 1983, and their first Ligue 1 title in 1986. A steep decline followed, but the takeover by Canal+ in 1991 revitalized PSG. Led by David Ginola, George Weah and Raí, the club won nine trophies and reached five consecutive European semi-finals during the 1990s. Notably, Paris captured their second league title in 1994 and the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1996, with the legendary Luis Fernandez now as manager.

In Their Own Story

Vienna, May 8, 1996. The air is thick with tension inside Ernst-Happel-Stadion. Rain slicks the grass as Raí stands over the ball in midfield. His teammates huddle tight, eyes fixed on the silver cup resting on a pedestal nearby. In the final moments of regulation, silence falls before the roar erupts. As the victory is secured, the Brazilian captain raises his arms to the sky. The red-and-blue scarves wave in the night air, marking the moment Paris conquered Europe.

Reader's Guide

The club's fortunes changed dramatically with the arrival of Qatar Sports Investments, operated by the government of Qatar, as owners in 2011. Since then, PSG have invested heavily in signings of world-class players such as Zlatan Ibrahimović, Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappé, the latter two being the most expensive transfers in football history. As a result, PSG have dominated French football, winning 38 trophies: twelve league titles, eight Coupe de France, six Coupe de la Ligue and twelve Trophée des Champions. They have also become a regular in the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League, reaching the final for the first time in their history in 2020, winning their first title in 2025 as part of a continental treble, and retaining the title in 2026. PSG also claimed the 2025 UEFA Super Cup and the 2025 FIFA Intercontinental Cup, achieving an unprecedented sextuple.

Did You Know?

• PSG's traditional colours are red, blue and white, representing Paris and Saint-Germain-en-Laye.
• The club's official mascot, Germain the Lynx, was unveiled during the 2010 Tournoi de Paris.
• The club's first official anthem was 'Allez Paris!', recorded by Annie Cordy in 1971.
• The 'Hechter shirt' design, first worn in 1973, has remained PSG's classic home kit.