Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) may be the undisputed powerhouse of French football today, but its roots are intertwined with a lesser-known club—Paris FC.
The two clubs were once part of the same entity, founded in 1970 as Paris Saint-Germain Football Club, a merger between Paris FC and Stade Saint-Germain. However, financial disputes and disagreements with the Parisian authorities led to a split just two years later.
Paris FC remained in Ligue 1, while PSG was demoted to Division 3. Over the decades, PSG soared to global fame, fueled by Qatari investment, while Paris FC faded into the lower tiers of French football. Now, over half a century later, Paris FC is making a comeback, and a potential intra-city rivalry is on the horizon.
Currently second in Ligue 2, Paris FC is on the verge of earning promotion to Ligue 1. A little more than halfway through the season, they sit 3 points behind Lorient and 2 points ahead of 3rd place Metz, fighting for automatic promotion.
But beyond their strong league performance, the club’s resurgence is being fueled by a major financial shake-up.
Red Bull, the energy drink giant with a strong presence in European football through clubs like RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg, has recently acquired a 10.6% stake in Paris FC. Additionally, the Arnault family, led by billionaire Bernard Arnault through Agache Sports, now holds a controlling interest in the club.
One of the goals of this strategic investment is to modernize the club’s infrastructure, and if the club secures promotion, the Parisian football scene could be in for a transformation.
Social media is buzzing about Paris FC’s upcoming stadium move, as the club plans to relocate from Stade Charlety to Stade Jean-Bouin for the 2025/26 season.
Stade Charlety has long been criticized for its poor atmosphere, with fans feeling disconnected from the action due to the stadium’s track and field layout. Stade Jean-Bouin, apart from offering a more intimate football experience, just so happens to be next door to PSG’s Parc des Princes.
Separated by just a single road, this proximity would set the stage for one of the most unique intra-city rivalries in European football. If Paris FC earns promotion, two Ligue 1 teams will be playing home games in stadiums a stone’s throw from each other, sparking some funny reactions from fans, “First half on one side, second half on the other.”
One Parisian embraced the historical aspect of the potential derby: “I love it. Over 50 years in the making,” while another saw a completely different view, “Holy traffic jam.”
Some even joked about Jurgen Klopp, now Head of Global Soccer for Red Bull, having orchestrated the deal to partner with Paris FC because the German missed the thrill of the Merseyside derby.
