Club history: 1970-78
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN FC was founded on August 12, 1970 (Journal Officiel – August 27, 1970). Thanks to some 20,000 subscriptions from individuals desperate to see an elite football club in PARIS, a group of local businessmen, including Guy CRESCENT, CEO of CALBERSON and Pierre-Etienne GUYOT, Vice-President of RACING-CLUB de FRANCE, asked the directors of Stade Sangermanois to become part of their project.
The SAINT-GERMAIN-EN-LAYE-based first team, who had just earned promotion to the Nationale division (ex D2) allowed the brand new PSG to start its career in France’s second tier for the 1970-71 campaign. Success was immediate with PSG winning the ‘National’ title and celebrating it’s first birthday in the first division.
The 1971-72 term ended with an honourable 16th placed finish. However, the season was marked by the split between the Parisians and the Sangermanois. The professional arm of the club joined CA MONTREUIL and continued life in the first division under the name of PARIS FC, while PSG assumed amateur status and started over in the third division.
1972-73 PSG finished second in its section and when first-placed QUEVILLY balked at promotion, the capital club moved up to the second division.
1973-74 Looking for new backing, President Henri PATRELLE made way for Daniel HECHTER and the club attained professional status. The Coupe de France (French Cup) was already shining on the second division side who made the quarter-finals. Even better was the second-placed league finish which saw PSG take on VALENCIENNES in a play-off tie for promotion to Division One. Beaten 2-1 away, PSG won 4-2 at the Parc des Princes on June 4, 1974 and was promoted to Ligue 1 – ironically, the same year that PARIS FC was relegated!
Since that time, PSG has never been relegated from the French first division.
