Paris Saint Germain F.C.
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. It was founded on 12 August 1970, thanks to the merger of Paris FC and Stade Saint-Germain. PSG 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, seven French Cups, three League Cups and two Champions Trophies. The capital side is, along with Olympique de Marseille, one of only two French clubs to have won a European competition, claiming the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1996 and the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 2001.[1] In 1994, PSG was ranked 1st in the Club World Ranking made by the IFFHS, and in 1998, "Les Parisiens" were also ranked 1st in the UEFA Team Ranking.[2][3] PSG is the only French club to ever achieve these honours. Currently the club is ranked 27th in the IFFHS and 39th in the UEFA Team Ranking.
The Parc des Princes, the third largest stadium in France 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, an annual two-day pre-season football tournament, has been hosted by Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes since 1975. PSG's traditional colours are blue and red. In May 1973, fashion designer Daniel Hechter collaborated with the club to design an iconic shirt which would become a strong symbol of the club. The shirt was blue with a red central vertical bar framed by white edgings. According to former coach Robert Vicot, the crest was the ingenious idea of amateur coach and professional designer Mr. Vallot. The crest consists of a red silhouette of the Eiffel Tower and the white royal cradle of Louis XIV between its legs on a blue background with white edging. 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. Between 1995 and 1997, the capital club even had a professional rugby league club, PSG Rugby League, but following financial difficulties and the withdrawal of its officers, it was dissolved in May 1997.
Paris Saint-Germain enjoys a considerable amount of popularity; about 11% of the French population support the club. PSG is the second most popular football club in France after Olympique de Marseille. Meanwhile, PSG is the third richest club in France after Olympique Lyonnais and Olympique de 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. PSG was also one of the 14 founder members of the now-defunct G-14 group of the leading European football clubs and is member of its modern replacement, the European Club Association. On 11 April 2006, Paris Saint-Germain was bought by a consortium comprising American investment company Colony Capital, French investment company, Butler Capital Partners, and American investment bank, Morgan Stanley. On 30 June 2009, Colony Capital acquired all the shares of Morgan Stanley, becoming owners of 95% of the club.
Source : Wikipedia.com
