The Evolution of Paris Saint-Germain

So dominant are Paris Saint-Germain in France that the capital giants are virtually odds on to win the title in the Ligue 1 football betting markets each year. It wasn’t always this way though. The evolution of PSG from formation in the early 1970s to European superpower is one of world football’s greatest tales. Take a look at the evolution of the Paris Saint-Germain and see just how they have become so successful over the years.

The Making of the Football Club

Half a century ago, Paris didn’t even have a decent football club. Paris Saint-Germain would eventually be born out of the union between two clubs in the city, though even that was a saga. Paris FC was a first attempt but an odd club right from its formation in 1969, and it barely achieved anything! Without even a stadium, the inception of Paris FC proved to be a lackluster attempt to establish a successful soccer presence in the French capital. So with the eventual founders of PSG searching for something a little more substantial, they chanced upon a team plugging away in relative obscurity.

The business people seeking footballing excellence in the French capital spotted some potential when lowly club Stade Sainte-Germaine reached the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France in 1968-69. Within the space of two years, this club was merged with Paris FC to form Paris Saint-Germain.

PSG’s Rise to Success

Having begun their climb to the pinnacle of French football from Ligue 2, Paris St-Germain quickly claimed the second-tier title and arrived in the top division in 1972. Parc des Princes became PSG’s home two years later but the wait for a first major honour would take another decade. This 1982 victory in the French cup was followed up with a league championship two years later.

This era also heralded the emergence of PSG greats. Four Paris-based players turned out at the Spain ‘82 World Cup finals, and four years later another PSG quartet represented their countries at Mexico ‘86. Midfielder Luis Fernandez, who had been integral to a victorious French European Championships squad two years earlier, scored the winning penalty against the host nation to earn his nation a spot in the semis. Exit in the penultimate round at the hands of West Germany was the result but the seeds had been sown for France’s international success to be catalyzed by the evolution of PSG.

An Insight Into PSG’s Greatest Moments and Players

A second league title arrived at Parc des Princes in 1994 and from there the floodgates of success opened. The UEFA Cup Winners Cup was added to the trophy cabinet in 1996. It remains PSG’s only major European title but the Champions League crown grows tantalizingly close to landing in Paris with each passing season. Just like with many other football teams, many football bettors each year are predicting the game outcome and choosing what to bet on their football bet slip when their favorite team is playing. Domestic success is now almost a given – PSG has nine Ligue 1 titles including seven since 2012 along with a record 14 Coupe de France wins – and much of that is due to huge recent investment. The 21st century has not been without a scar though. Paris Saint-Germain staved off two successive potential relegations in 2006-7 and 2007-8 before the Parisian footballing landscape was transformed with a huge Qatari investment in PSG secured from 2011.

While so many great football clubs can celebrate iconic stars stretching back over a century or more, PSG’s greatest players have all been packed into a relatively short timescale. George Weah, David Ginola, and Raí cemented the club’s place at the top table during the 1990s. They were followed by the likes of Ronaldinho and Pauleta in the next decade with Cavani, Ibrahimovic, and Silva becoming world superstars wearing the red-and-blue shirt soon after.

No matter which player fans support, there are always many opportunities for football fans to immerse themselves in the latest Paris Saint-Germain news. If PSG is now firmly established as one of the world’s biggest clubs, then ascending to the next level in an already glorious history looks to be written in the stars. Les Parisiens enjoyed their best ever season in 2019-20 with a domestic quadruple and a breakthrough in making the Champions League final for the first time. Paris Saint-Germain right now is a formidable prospect. With the finest forward line in the game, supreme dominance of European football is on the cards. Neymar, Messi, and Mbappe have ensured PSG has become favorites for the Champions League.

Tags David Ginola Edinson Cavani George Weah Kylian Mbappé Lionel Messi Neymar Pauleta Qatar Sports Investments Rai Ronaldinho Thiago Silva Zlatan Ibrahimovic
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