players

France captain Jean Djorkaeff joined Paris Saint-Germain in June 1970. He became the first licensed professional player and first captain of the club. Claude Makélélé is PSG's current captain, replacing Pauleta, who retired after the 2007-08 season. Pauleta, who scored 110 goals in Paris, left as the club's all-time top scorer with two awards for top scorer of the Ligue 1. Following a survey, PSG.FR chose "The Eagle of Azores" as the best player in PSG's history. Not even the Portuguese striker could match Carlos Bianchi's feat. "El Goleador" spent two seasons at the capital and recorded 71 goals in 80 appearances with two awards for top scorer of the Ligue 1. Mustapha Dahleb is the capital's top scorer in the league with 85 strikes spread between 10 years at Paris. PSG's success in front of goal was in great part thanks to the emblematic Safet Sušić. The Yugoslav international scored 85 goals and made a record 61 assists for Paris Saint-Germain between 1982 and 1991. On 2 February 2010, France Football chose Sušić as the best player in the club's history. Jean-Marc Pilorget, who played 435 matches for Paris Saint-Germain, became the club's all-time most capped player. But perhaps the greatest talent of all was prolific Liberian marksman George Weah, who followed in the footsteps of PSG's many fine strikers by firing 55 goals in 138 games. These included 16 goals in Europe which helped Weah became the club's all-time top scorer in European competitions. "Mister George" would eventually be the first and last Paris Saint-Germain player to won the Ballon d'Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year. Furthermore, Nicolas Anelka and Ronaldinho have the honor of being the club's most expensive transactions. "El Puma" Anelka's €33.2 million deal from Real Madrid became PSG's highest signing. Ronaldinho's €32 million transfer to Barcelona remains the capital's highest sale to date. The most successful players are Alain Roche and Paul Le Guen with nine major trophies won: one League title, three French Cups, two League Cups, two Champions Trophies and one UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.

History

Established on 12 August 1970 after a merger between Stade Saint-Germain and Paris FC, Paris Saint-Germain Football Club have always represented both Paris and nearby Saint-Germain-en-Laye. And with so many people eager to see a big club wearing the capital's colours once again, the nascent team grew at a stunning pace early on. Top-tier status was attained within four years and by the end of the 1970s, "Les Rouge-et-Bleu" were ready to embark upon a historic decade. PSG tasted French Cup honours in 1982 and 1983, before capturing their first league crown in 1986 - breakthroughs that opened the doors to Europe and some memorable encounters, particularly with Juventus.

As significant as those successes were, however, the 1990s proved even more fruitful, with Paris Saint-Germain entering a golden age after television giants Canal+ bought the club in May 1991. Now enjoying serious investment, the capital outfit were able to set their sights steadily higher. PSG were on the move and between 1992 and 1998 they contested two UEFA Cup Winners' Cup finals – winning in 1996 – reached the UEFA Champions League semifinals once and twice advanced to the same stage of the UEFA Cup. On the domestic scene, results were just as satisfying, with PSG celebrating another League title, three French Cups, two League Cups and just as many Champions Trophy wins.

To the considerable chagrin of the club's supporters, Paris Saint-Germain has never threatened to hit those same heights again. Three more trophies have been landed but crisis has never lain far away. PSG's form slipped to 9th in 2004–05 and 2005–06. In 2006–07, they did not impress, failing to reach either cup final and finishing 15th, just three places from relegation. Following their sale by Canal+ to a consortium comprising Colony Capital, Butler Capital Partners and Morgan Stanley, PSG continued to lose momentum in the league eventually finishing 16th, just three points above the relegation zone. PSG nonetheless won the League Cup and reached the French Cup Final, losing to Ligue 1 champions Olympique Lyonnais. In 2008–09, PSG regained fitness and struggled for the title the most part of the season, but finished 6th and out of European action. Colony Capital then acquired all the shares of Morgan Stanley, becoming owners of 95% of the club. The 2009–10 season, became the first time in French football history that both the male and female sections of a club won both the country's national cups. PSG claimed the French Cup, while the Ladies landed the Challenge de France.

Paris Saint-Germain

Paris Saint-Germain Football Club (French pronunciation: [paʁi sɛ̃ ʒɛʁmɛ̃]), also known simply as Paris Saint-Germain and familiarly as Paris SG or PSG (IPA: [peɛsʒe]), is a professional football club based in Paris, France. The club was founded on 12 August 1970, thanks to the merger of Paris FC and Stade Saint-Germain. Paris Saint-Germain has been playing in the Ligue 1 since 1974, the current championship record, and is one of the most prestigious outfits in French football having won two League titles, eight French Cups, three League Cups and two Champions Trophies. Paris Saint-Germain, along with Olympique de Marseille, is the only French club to have won a major European trophy, claiming the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1996. Paris Saint-Germain was named IFFHS World's Club Team of the Year in 1994 and ranked 1st in the UEFA Team Ranking in 1998. The capital club is the only French club to ever achieve these honours. Paris Saint-Germain is currently ranked 12th in the IFFHS and 38th in the UEFA Team Ranking.

The Parc des Princes, with a capacity of 48,713 seats, has been Paris Saint-Germain's home since 1974. The Camp des Loges has been operating as a training center for the club since 1974. The Tournoi de Paris has been hosted by PSG at the Parc des Princes since 1975. PSG's crest features a red silhouette of the Eiffel Tower with the white royal cradle of Louis XIV between its legs on a blue background with white edging. The crest inspired Daniel Hechter to design an iconic shirt which became a strong symbol of the club. It was blue with a red central vertical bar framed by white edgings. PSG's motto is "Paris Est Magique" and the club's official anthem is Allez Paris Saint-Germain by Les Parisiens. Since 1971, PSG Ladies has been the female section of the club. The capital club even founded a professional rugby league club in 1995, PSG Rugby League, which was dissolved in 1997.

Paris Saint-Germain enjoys a considerable amount of popularity; about 11% of the French population support the club, being the second most popular football club in France after Olympique de Marseille. PSG is the third richest club in France behind Olympique Lyonnais and Marseille. The capital club shares an intense rivalry with Olympique de Marseille and contest the most notorious football match in France, known as Le Classique. PSG's average home gate for the 2009–10 season was 33,266, the fourth highest in the Ligue 1. The club was a founding member of the G-14 and is member of its modern replacement, the European Club Association. On 11 April 2006, PSG was bought by a consortium comprising Colony Capital, Butler Capital Partners and Morgan Stanley. On 30 June 2009, Colony Capital acquired all the shares of Morgan Stanley, becoming owners of 95% of the club.