How Paris Saint-Germain Became One of The World’s Greatest Teams

Few clubs in modern European football carry the same level of respect as Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). Throughout its history, this French capital club has seen tremendous transformations, most notably following the state takeover in the mid-2000s. With significant financial backing, PSG has been able to lure some of the world’s best players to the Ligue 1 league. Their hopes for European glory in the form of a desired Champions League win, on the other hand, have proven elusive. Despite these ongoing obstacles, PSG’s ascension to global prominence begs the question: How did the club establish itself as one of the world’s most well-known teams?

Early History

PSG was formed in the summer of 1970 following an ambitious decision made by a group of businessmen. The decision was made to merge with Paris FC and set up a team in the French capital. Immediate success soon followed as they won promotion to Division 2 before ultimately setbacks restricted their plans for the club. A crowdfunding campaign was started following a meeting with Real Madrid’s president, and the new team was formed in June 1970.

Back-to-back promotions soon followed before financial turbulence set them back, as the split with Paris FC led to PSG being relegated to Division 3, and the loss of their professional status. However, the emergence of fashion designer Daniel Hechter led to a transformation at the club, and he helped set up the club for a route back to professional status in 1973. Paris FC was relegated in 1974, which allowed PSG to move to the Parc des Princes after gaining promotion in the same season. Two league titles would follow in the top flight before the success at PSG finally took off after financial backing.

QSI Ownership

After a significant period in the wilderness and battles to remain in the top flight, PSG was bought by Qatar Sports Investments in 2011. This would be a significant move in the history of European football, as it made PSG the richest club in the world. A spending spree in their first summer followed, with players such as Maxwell, Kevin Gameiro, and Blaise Matuidi all brought in. The title would return to Paris in 2012-13, the first season in which Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva represented the club.

Further big additions were made, with Edinson Cavani joining for a league-record fee in 2013, before David Luiz’s arrival broke the record for the most expensive defender in history. Domestic success would follow before the first domestic treble was achieved in 2013-14. The cash was splashed again in 2018, as Neymar was signed from Barcelona for a world-record fee, while Kylian Mbappe was also acquired for £150 million. Further domestic success would follow, but the top prize in Europe was still missing from their collection.

Partnerships with Online Casino and Sports Betting Operators

Another factor contributing to PSG’s rise to prominence is its sponsorship partnerships with sports betting companies that also operate French online casinos. Companies such as Unibet, ParionsSport.com, and CBET have shown their support by sponsoring the club. These collaborations have not only boosted PSG’s financial resources but also enhanced its global visibility and appeal. Such sponsorships have helped PSG attract attention not only from football enthusiasts but also from fans of online gambling.

Recent Seasons

In recent seasons, there has been even more emphasis on winning the Champions League. PSG lost in the 2020 Champions League final, before bringing in stars such as Sergio Ramos, Lionel Messi, and Achraf Hakimi in 2021 to finally get over the line. However, more disappointment followed in the 2021-22 campaign, as they were eliminated by Real Madrid.

The club’s director then promised wholesale changes in 2022 with an emphasis put on teamwork to make the side more competitive in the Champions League. However, they would once again fall short of that target in 2022-23, as they were eliminated from the competition with ease by Bayern Munich. There will be a big summer ahead for the Parisians, as they face huge questions over the futures of the superstar forwards- Mbappe, Neymar, and Messi. This could lead to a new direction for the future, as the superstar era in Paris has failed to live up to the promise of challenging for Champions League glory.

Conclusion- What’s Next?

The 2023 summer transfer window will be a key period for PSG in their recent history, as they look set to allow Messi and Neymar to leave the club. Promises have been made that the club will look to bring in younger replacements that can offer more to the team, which would therefore make them more competitive in the Champions League.

It is a similar approach to that of Manchester City, who have opted against buying ready-made superstars throughout their years of state-ownership with the preference in the transfer market being for stars that could perform better in a team aiming to reach the same goal.