Trophée des Champions 1995

Lore & Background

The match, with its current name, was first played in 1995, but the format in French football has existed since 1949. The 1995 Trophée des Champions was contested between Paris Saint-Germain and Nantes in January 1996 at the Stade Francis-Le Blé in Brest.

In Their Own Story

The floodlights of the brand-new Stade de France hummed with anticipation as the August night air cooled the fresh grass. Inside, the atmosphere was electric, a mix of national pride and club fervor. David Ginola, the new face of Parisian football, received the ball near midfield. With a few deceptive touches that left the Auxerre defenders bewildered, he surged forward. The first strike curled into the net, followed moments later by a second moment of magic. As the final whistle blew, the blue and red sea erupted; this was not just a win, it was a statement that PSG had taken its place among the elite.

Reader's Guide

The match is co-organized by the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) and the Union Syndicale des Journalistes Sportifs de France (UJSF). It has been played at a variety of venues, including outside France since 2009.

Did You Know?

• The match was not played in the 1996–97 season because Auxerre won the double.
• In 2008, when Lyon won the double, the league runner-up Bordeaux replaced them and won 5–4 on penalties.
• The 2009 Trophée des Champions was the first played outside France, at the Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Canada.