Paris Saint-Germain F.C.

Germain the Lynx, PSG's mascot.

Since their foundation, Paris Saint-Germain have represented both the city of Paris and the nearby royal town of Saint-Germain-en-Laye.[9] As a result, red, blue and white are the club's traditional colours.[16] The red and blue are Parisian colours, a nod to revolutionary figures Lafayette and Jean Sylvain Bailly, and the white is a symbol of French royalty and Saint-Germain-en-Laye.[6][16]

On the club's crest, the Eiffel Tower in red and the blue background represent Paris, while the fleur de lys in white is a hint to the coat of arms of Saint-Germain-en-Laye.[6][16] The fleur de lys is a royal symbol as well and recalls that French King Louis XIV was born in the town.[16] Throughout its history, PSG have brandished several different crests, but all of them have featured the club's three historical colours.[17]

Likewise, PSG's most iconic shirts have been predominantly red, blue or white, with the remaining two colours included as well.[18] The club's official mascot, Germain the Lynx, also sports PSG's traditional colours.[6] It was unveiled during the 2010 Tournoi de Paris in commemoration of the club's 40th anniversary, and can be seen entertaining kids in the stands of Parc des Princes or near the pitch with the players during the warm-up.[19]

"Allez Paris-Saint-Germain!" was initially a chant sung by PSG supporters during games.[20] It then became the club's official anthem in 1977.[21][22] That year the hymn was recorded by Les Parisiens at the initiative of historical PSG leader and music producer Charles Talar, who produced and released it under his homonym record label.[21][23] A new version to the tune of "Go West" by Village People was recorded in 2010 as part of the club's 40th anniversary celebrations.[6][19] The lyrics were rewritten with suggestions made by fans.[22]

"Ô Ville Lumière" ("Oh City of Light"), to the tune of "Flower of Scotland," is another veritable club anthem.[24][25] PSG gave it official status in 2015 when the club announced it would accompany the players' entry into the field, a tradition which began in 1992 with the song "Who Said I Would" by Phill Collins.[24] Supporters' groups from the Boulogne and Auteuil stands also have several different chants, most notably "Le Parc est à nous" ("The Parc is ours"), "Paris est magique!" ("Paris is magical!") and "Ici, c'est Paris!" ("This is Paris!").[6][26] Both stands began exchanging these chants during PSG matches in the 1990s.[20][27][28] "Paris est magique!" and "Ici, c'est Paris!" are also the club's most iconic mottos or slogans.[6][29][30]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Paris Saint-Germain FC kits.

During their first three seasons of existence, the home shirt of Paris Saint-Germain was red with blue and white details in its sleeves and neck to bring together the three colours of the club: the red and blue of Paris, and the white of Saint-Germain-en-Laye.[18][31] During the 2010–11 season, PSG wore a red shirt during home matches to commemorate their 40th anniversary.[32]

The three most iconic shirts of Paris Saint-Germain.

The connection between Paris Saint-Germain and the city's fashion houses is a longstanding one. French fashion designer Daniel Hechter became PSG president in 1973 and designed the club's traditional home look that same year: a red vertical stripe, bordered with white, on a blue background.[31][33] The general belief is that Hechter based his creation on the red-and-white jersey worn by Ajax, the Dutch champion dominating European competition at the time, but with the French flag in mind.[31][33][34] Hechter himself has denied this, though, instead claiming he was inspired by the Ford Mustang. He transposed the car's hood stripes on the shirt and employed the three colors of the club (red, blue and white).[31]

First worn during the 1973–74 season, the so-called "Hechter shirt" has remained the classic home identity of PSG ever since.[18][35][36] The famous jersey made its debut during a home league match against Red Star on November 10, 1973.[37] This was also the club's maiden match at Parc des Princes.[38] PSG stars from the 1990s and 2000s like Raí, Ronaldinho and Pauleta are associated with this shirt. While wearing it, the capital club reached five European semi-finals in a row between 1993 and 1997, claimed the 1995–96 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and achieved the first eight consecutive wins against Le Classique arch-rivals Olympique de Marseille from October 2002 to November 2004.[18][39]

But it was with one of the club's iconic away outfits that fans saw the first big PSG team that won two Coupe de France titles (1982, 1983), experienced their first European campaign in 1983 and claimed their maiden league crown in 1986. The shirt was white with blue and red vertical stripes on the left.[18][35] Like the Hechter jersey, it debuted during the 1973–74 season as the away kit.[31] Promoted by PSG president Francis Borelli, the white shirt became the club's home identity from 1981 to 1990.[35] PSG legends from the 1980s like Safet Sušić, Luis Fernández and Dominique Bathenay are associated with this jersey.[18][36]

The crests of the club throughout its history.

The first crest of Paris Saint-Germain was basically the same as the original Paris FC (PFC) logo. Having to merge and give birth to the club using Stade Saint-Germain's stadium, the PFC crest kept its original design but the name below it changed from "Paris FC" to "Paris Saint-Germain Football Club." This badge consisted of a blue football with a red vessel inside it. The latter is a historic symbol of Paris and is present in the city's coat of arms. The name of the club was written below in red. PSG, however, split from PFC in 1972 and thus needed a new crest.[40]

Representing both Paris and Saint-Germain-en-Laye, the club's second crest became the basis of the one the fans know today. It was a round logo featuring the Eiffel Tower in red against a blue background with a two Saint-Germain symbols in white between its legs. These were a fleur de lys and a cradle. The traditional crest was made by a certain Mr. Vallot, designer by profession. It was first used from 1972 to 1982.[40]

The Parc des Princes, the club's home stadium, was added below the crest in 1982 and lasted until 1990. Following a brief return of the traditional crest between 1990 and 1992, former owners Canal+ radically changed it in 1992. The new model had the acronym "PSG" in white against a blue-white-red-white-blue background (like the color pattern of the Hechter shirt) with "Paris Saint-Germain" underneath in white against a black background.[40]

Under pressure from supporters, the traditional crest returned in 1995 with "Paris Saint-Germain" above the tower and "1970" below the cradle. This logo went through a slight facelift in 2002. At the request of the club's Qatari owners, the traditional crest underwent a major makeover in 2013.[40] “Paris” is now written in big white bold letters above a large Eiffel Tower, clearly putting forward the brand “Paris” instead of “Paris Saint-Germain.” Underneath it, “Saint-Germain” is written in smaller letters below the fleur de lys.[29][41] In contrast, Louis XIV's cradle and the club's founding year "1970" were left out.[41] PSG deputy general manager Jean-Claude Blanc said: “We are called Paris Saint-Germain but, above all, we are called Paris.”[29]

Paris Saint-Germain played their first game at Parc des Princes against Red Star on 10 November 1973, as a curtain-raiser for that season's opening Ligue 1 match between Paris FC (PFC) and Sochaux.[38] PSG moved into the ground upon its return to Ligue 1 in 1974, ironically the same year that Paris FC were relegated. Up until that point it had been the home venue of PFC.[4][42] The club had been playing at several grounds including Stade Municipal Georges Lefèvre, Stade Jean-Bouin, Stade Bauer, and even Parc des Princes a few times that season despite the reluctance of PFC.[43][44] Located in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, the stadium has a seating capacity of 47,929 spectators.[45]

Outside view of Parc des Princes in July 2010.

Located in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, the Camp des Loges became the club's training ground in 1970 following the foundation of Paris Saint-Germain.[46] Construction of a new Camp des Loges began in January 2008, on the same site as the old one. At a cost of €5m, it was inaugurated in November 2008.[47] In 2013, the venue was renamed Ooredoo Training Centre as part of a sponsorship deal with Ooredoo.[48]

The Stade Municipal Georges Lefèvre, whose main stadium has a seating capacity of 2,164 spectators, is a sports complex located in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, just across the street from Camp des Loges.[49] It was one of PSG's main grounds until 1974.[44] That year the club moved into Parc des Princes.[2] The stadium — as well as the other artificial turf and grass football pitches of the complex — hosts training sessions and home matches for the club's male and female youth academy sides.[49]

The Paris Saint-Germain Training Center will be the new training ground and sports complex of Paris Saint-Germain.[50][51][52] It will replace Camp des Loges upon its completion in 2022.[53] Owned and financed by the club, the venue will bring together PSG's male football, handball and judo teams, as well as the football and handball youth academies.[50][53] The club, however, will remain closely linked to their historic birthplace in Saint-Germain-en-Laye as Camp des Loges will become the training ground of the female football team and academy.[54][55]

Paris Saint-Germain shares an intense rivalry with Olympique de Marseille; matches between the two teams are referred to as Le Classique.[71][72] Equivalent to Spain's El Clásico, the fixture is the biggest rivalry in France and one of the greatest in the world.[73][74] Important security measures are taken ahead of these matches to prevent confrontations between the fans, but violent episodes still often occur when they meet.[71][72]

The duo are the two most successful clubs in French football history and the only two French teams to have won major European trophies.[7][10][75] Moreover, PSG and l'OM were the dominant forces in the land prior to the emergence of Olympique Lyonnais in the 2000s.[71] They are also the two most popular clubs in France and the two most followed French teams outside the country, ahead of Lyon.[56][57][72] Both clubs are at or near the top of the attendance lists every season as well.[72]

In their early meetings during the 1970s there was little indication the two would become deadly adversaries. The newly-formed Parisians were trying to assemble a competitive team, while the Olympians were Ligue 1 contenders.[76] It all changed in 1986, when PSG won its first championship and l'OM were bought by Bernard Tapie.[76] By the end of the decade, PSG were fighting for the 1988–89 title against Tapie's star-studded Marseille, and sparks flew for the first time.[72][77] The accusations made by PSG president Francis Borelli against Tapie and l'OM for fixing matches during that season were a big contributor to their growing antagonism.[78]

The 1990s were the real starting point of the rivalry, though. French TV channel Canal+ bought PSG in 1991 with the aim of breaking Marseille's hegemony, but agreed with Tapie to fuel the animosity between them as a way to spice up the league.[72][77] Now with similar financial power, PSG and l'OM established themselves as top dogs in the title race.[71][79] Both sides were less successful in the late 1990s and throughout the 2000s, but the rivalry remained just as fierce.[71][76] Since the 2010s, however, the matchup has been completely dominated by PSG. The investment of their mega-rich Qatar owners has created a huge gulf between them and Marseille.[79]

Initially held by Racing Paris between 1957 and 1966, the Tournoi de Paris briefly returned in 1973 with new organizers Paris FC, before current hosts Paris Saint-Germain successfully relaunched the competition in 1975.[80][81] Abandoned in 1993 for financial reasons, PSG revived it in 2010 for the club's 40th anniversary.[82][83] Not held in 2011, it was renamed Trophée de Paris in 2012, and featured a single prestigious match. This was the last edition to date.[84] PSG is the most successful club in the competition's history, having lifted the trophy on seven occasions.[80] Regarded as French football's most prestigious friendly tournament, the Tournoi de Paris is also considered a precursor of both the Intercontinental Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.[80][85]

The Tournoi Indoor de Paris-Bercy was a mid-season indoor football invitational competition hosted by Paris Saint-Germain at the AccorHotels Arena in Paris, France. The tournament was founded in 1984 and was held annually until 1991. Played indoors (synthetic field and seven-a-side), the competition featured host club PSG and five more teams. Paris SG is the most successful club in the history of the competition, having lifted the trophy on two occasions.[86]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 1 GK Keylor Navas 2 DF Thiago Silva (captain) 3 DF Presnel Kimpembe (third captain) 4 DF Thilo Kehrer 5 DF Marquinhos (vice-captain) 6 MF Marco Verratti 7 FW Kylian Mbappé 8 MF Leandro Paredes 9 FW Edinson Cavani 10 FW Neymar 11 MF Ángel Di María 14 DF Juan Bernat 16 GK Sergio Rico (on loan from Sevilla) 17 FW Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting

No. Position Player 18 FW Mauro Icardi 19 MF Pablo Sarabia 20 DF Layvin Kurzawa 21 MF Ander Herrera 22 DF Abdou Diallo 23 MF Julian Draxler 25 DF Mitchel Bakker 27 MF Idrissa Gueye 30 GK Marcin Bułka 31 DF Colin Dagba 33 DF Tanguy Kouassi 36 DF Loïc Mbe Soh 38 MF Adil Aouchiche 40 GK Garissone Innocent

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player GK Alphonse Areola (to Real Madrid until 30 June 2020) DF Isaac Hemans (to Cholet until 30 June 2020)

No. Position Player MF Eric Junior Dina-Ebimbe (to Le Havre until 30 June 2021) FW Jesé (to Sporting CP until 30 June 2020)