Top 10 Facts about Paris Saint Germain Soccer Club

Top 10 Facts about Paris Saint Germain Soccer Club

Whether you are a soccer (football) fan or not, chances are you have heard of the infamous ‘PSG’ – also known as Paris Saint Germain. This megalith soccer club has had some of the most famous players in the world grace their pitch, with the likes of Neymar, Mbappe, Ibrahimovic, Silva, and Ronaldinho wearing a PSG jersey at some point. 

Known as Les Rouge et Bleu and Les Parisiens, Paris Saint Germain has cemented itself as arguably the most popular soccer club in the country of France. Let’s check out the top things you absolutely NEED to know to qualify as a PSG fan. 

10. The club was founded in 1970

Outside view of the Parc des Princes – By By Mister No, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=54675718

In 1970, Paris Saint-Germain was founded by a couple of Parisian business people. The plan was well in action a few years earlier, with the businessmen coming up with the original idea in the early 1960s. However, a petition to create the club was not officially signed until August of 1970, when 20,000 people put the petition into effect. 

9. PSG has won 31 titles

Trophee des Champions – By By mustapha_ennaimi – DSC_6095, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15998454

With over 30 titles to their name, PSG is the most successful club in football history in France. They have won Ligue 1 six times, the domestic French football league containing teams like Bordeaux, Monaco, Brest, Reims, Marseille, and a few tough competitors.

PSG has also won the Trophee des Champions, Coupe de Ligue, and Coupe de France, one of the only two French sides ever to win a European title – the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1996 and UEFA Intertoto Cup in 2001.

8. They play at the Parc des Princes

Nantes Parc des Princes – By By Zakarie Faibis – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=78338232

Since 1974, PSG has played at their home stadium, a massive prominence on the city’s skyline. Designed by Roger Tailibert, a French architect, this stadium can hold nearly 49,000 fans cheering the club’s name. 

7. They HATE Olympique de Marseille

PSG vs OM – By By Stephan Hoogerwaard – 24.JPG, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23371397

Every sports team has a rival – and that’s what makes London derbies and French derbies so interesting to watch. You have heard of Manchester United vs. Man city, but have you ever heard of Marseille vs. PSG?

Unlike other football duels, this rivalry is solely about the north vs. south, with the haughty Parisians against the blue-collar Marseillais. 

6. PSG is owned by Qatar Sports Investments

Nasser Al-Khelaifi – By By Aisha sahukar – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=36450129

In 2011, Qatar Sports Investments took a 70% share in PSG, becoming their only shareholder just one year later. Five years later, the club was known for having the fourth-highest revenue in the entire football world at nearly 481 million euros. 

5. Their colors are red, white, and blue

The three most iconic shirts of Paris Saint-Germain – By By DroopyDoggy – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=90199584

just like the French national team, PSG’s colors are red, white, and blue. The most notable jersey they wear today is a navy blue background with the PSG logo on the upper left chest, the Nike swoosh on the left chest, and the Fly Emirates across the front of the navy shirt in white. The red accents are placed in the middle of the jersey. 

4. They have had many notable players

PSG rose to prominence in the 2010s after the Qatari takeover and signing of Zlatan Ibrahimovic – By By jeanfrancois beausejour – Flickr: psg 002 IMG_8503 internet, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20391329

One of the most well-known Frenchmen was Jean-Marc Pilorget, cementing his name in the PSG history books by playing 435 games for his club. We also have Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the outspoken and prolific Swedish striker who scored 156 goals in just 4 seasons.

3. Their mascot is Germain the Lynx

Germain the Lynx – By By Pierre-Yves Beaudouin / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24051992

Although a cute lynx is not very intimidating to other teams, Germain is a staple at PSG home games. Kitted out in a full PSG uniform, Germain is a respected icon around the city.

2.  Allez Paris Saint-Germain!

PSG supporters before the 2006 French Cup Final against arch-rivals Marseille – By By TaraO – Own work, CC BY 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1719181

If you ever have the privilege of going to a PSG home game, you will have to learn the team chants, with one o the most popular being Allez Paris Saint-Germain. With the tune of ‘Go West’ by  London pop duo, this song is the official theme song of the club. However, you may also need to memorize the lyrics to Ville Lumiere, another song that is close to the hearts of so many fans. 

1. PSG might not exist without Real Madrid

Santiago Bernabeu – By By Nationaal Archief, Den Haag, Rijksfotoarchief: Fotocollectie Algemeen Nederlands Fotopersbureau (ANEFO), 1945-1989 – negatiefstroken zwart/wit, nummer toegang 2.24.01.05, bestanddeelnummer 924-4485 – Nationaal Archief Fotocollectie Anefo, CC BY-SA 3.0 nl, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25262868

Yes, you read that right – although Real Madrid plays in a completely different country, PSG may not exist without this Spanish football giant. The creation of Paris Saint-Germain has always been a topic for discussion amongst French historians – and here’s why.

In 1969, Paris did not contain a soccer team. Not even did they not have a competing soccer team in the world, they didn’t have any club that could remotely stand a chance against the clubs of other countries. 

However, Madrid already had made a name for themselves with a club. Santiago Bernabeu, the Chairman of Real Madrid, found out that he could take his business expertise to Paris – a place where football infrastructure was lacking.

Bernabeu was put in charge of a crowdfunding campaign to create a Parisian soccer club. Just a few years later, in 1970, PSG was founded. For the first time in the country, the fans contributed to creating a soccer club – and one that would go down in history as one of the most prolific and successful in the world.