Paris Saint-Germain Handball (PSG) is a French professional handball club founded in 1941, and based in the city of Paris in France. The club is the handball department of Paris Saint-Germain.[1]
Initially called Patriotes d'Asnières (1941–1942), the club has gone through several name changes: Asnières Sports (1942–1987), Paris-Racing-Asnières (1987–1988), Paris-Asnières (1988–1992), PSG-Asnières (1992–2002), and Paris Handball (2002–2012). After being bought by Paris Saint-Germain owners Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) in 2012, the club became Paris Saint-Germain Handball.[1]
Since its inception, the club has won 23 titles. Domestically, Paris SG have clinched 10 LNH Division 1 titles, six French Cups, three Coupes de la Ligue, a record four French Super Cups and two LNH Division 2 titles.[2][4] They are the only club in French handball to have ever won all their matches in LNH Division 1 in a season, which they did in the 2021–22 season.[5] In international club handball, the capital side finished runners-up in the 2016–17 edition of the Champions League.[1] PSG also have a reserve team that currently play in the Championnat National 1, which serves as the third tier of French handball.[6] They have played in Nationale 1 since 2017–18, after clinching the Championnat National 2 title and winning promotion during the 2016–17 season.[7]
History
First titles (1941–2012)
The Parisian club was founded in 1941. Initially, it took the name of Patriotes d'Asnières before becoming Asnières Sports one year later. Asnières Sports was presided by Christian Picard, whose son Gérard Picard took over during the 1975–1976 season and remained president until 2003.[1]
In 1987, the club's management succeeded in convincing the Paris City Council to partner Asnières Sports and create a major handball team in the capital. This resulted in the Hauts-de-Seine team moving to Paris and being renamed Paris-Racing-Asnières then Paris-Asnières. Relegated in 1989, Paris-Asnières immediately bounced back to the top flight in 1990 after winning the D2 title. At the time, the club's most notable players were future French internationals Jackson Richardson and Patrick Cazal.[1]
In 1992, the club came under the management of Paris Saint-Germain Football Club, a partnership that lasted 10 years. This led to another name change, and Paris-Asnières became PSG-Asnières. PSG-Asnières finished second in the LNH Division 1 during the 1995–96 season and then reached the French Cup final in 2001, losing to Montpellier.[1]
But there were tough times too. At the end of the 2008–09 season, the club was relegated to Division 2. Paris Handball won the LNH Division 2 the very next season and rejoined the top clubs. In 2012, the team narrowly avoided relegation in the last round of play.[1]
Domestic dominance (2012–)
PSG players lifting the 2014–15 French Cup trophy.
In the 2012–13 season, PSG claimed their maiden league success, which also meant the club secured a spot in the EHF Champions League. However, PSG were denied the double by Montpellier in the French Cup final.[1]
Big-name signings kept coming in the 2013–14 season with the arrivals of Daniel Narcisse, Igor Vori, Jakov Gojun, Fahrudin Melić and Gábor Császár. PSG reached the Champions League quarterfinals for the first time in its history, but failed to keep up the pace with Dunkerque in the league. Despite this, the season finished on a high note, thanks to a victory in the French Cup final against Chambéry, adding a second national cup trophy to the club's honours.[1]
In the 2014–15 season, new manager Zvonimir Serdarušić and star signing Nikola Karabatić led the capital club to its second league title following a nail-biting battle for top spot against Montpellier. PSG claimed the trophy on the last day of the season, after a win over Tremblay. The league crown rounded off a domestic treble, going alongside the French Cup and the French Super Cup that they had won after beating Nantes and Dunkerque, respectively. On the European stage, PSG's hopes were dashed, for a second time, by Veszprém in the Champions League semifinals.[1]
PSG continued its winning ways in the 2015–16 season by claiming a second French Super Cup and a third league title. However, the crowning moment was reaching the Champions League Final4 for the first time in its history. Along the way, the club downed THW Kiel at the Sparkassen-Arena, where the German side had been undefeated for four years; topped its group for the first time ever; and trumped Kiel in the third-place play-off. Additionally, Mikkel Hansen set a new record for goals in a Champions League season, with no fewer than 141 strikes to his name.[1]
In the 2021–22 season they finished off LNH Division 1 with 60 points on 30 matches, being the only team ever in the french league to achieve that.[5]
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.[10][9] The fleur de lys is a royal symbol as well and recalls that French King Louis XIV was born in the town.[9] Throughout its history, PSG have brandished several different crests, but all of them have featured the club's three historical colours.[11] Likewise, PSG's most iconic shirts have been predominantly red, blue or white, with the remaining two colours included as well.[12] The club's official mascot, Germain the Lynx, also sports PSG's traditional colours.[10]
In 2023, the club's first team and academy will move to the Paris Saint-Germain Training Center.[13] On the second plateau of the new training ground and sports complex handball players – professionals as well as academy attendees – will enjoy the use of two fields, a stand with a capacity of 250 spectators, fitness rooms, recovery areas, staff offices and meeting rooms.[13][14]
Between 2010 and 2016, with the impossibility for fan groups to support parent club Paris Saint-Germain (men's football team) at home or away, the PSG faithful turned to Paris Saint-Germain Féminine, and to a lesser extent to the Paris Saint-Germain Academy sides, being the very rare case of fan groups supporting their club's women's football team. Liberté Pour les Abonnés and Nautecia, which were among several groups that reunited Boulogne and Auteuil supporters, were behind this initiative.[15] PSG ultras have also occasionally attended big matches of the club's handball team ever since it was bought by PSG owners Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) in 2012.[16][17][18]
Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, ruler of Qatar, bought 70% of parent club Paris Saint-Germain through state-owned shareholding organization Qatar Sports Investments (QSI).[19][20][21] Colony Capital (29%) and Butler (1%) remained minority shareholders.[19] In March 2012, QSI purchased the remaining 30% stake to become PSG's sole shareholder, valuing the club at €100m.[19][22] PSG thus became one of the wealthiest clubs in the world.[20] Paris Saint-Germain Handball (previously called Paris Handball) were then bought by PSG owners QSI in 2012.[1]
In late June 2019, Paris Saint-Germain announced a long-term contract extension with kit manufacturer Nike, which is now one of European football's most lucrative and the biggest sponsorship agreement in the club's history.[23] PSG are tied to the American brand until 2032 and will more than triple their previous €25m deal with an annual figure in excess of €80 million.[23][24] PSG said the new Nike deal will cover the men's and women's football teams, as well as their handball outfit.[23]
