Ground Capacity 4,016 / 4,272 Manager Zvonimir Serdarušić Location Paris, France | President Nasser Al-Khelaifi League LNH Division 1 Founded 1941 | |
Ground Stade Pierre de Coubertin / Halle Georges Carpentier (for EHF Champions League matches) Owner Qatar Sports Investments Profiles | ||
Paris Saint-Germain Handball, better known as Paris SG or PSG, is a handball club from Paris, France, that plays in the LNH Division 1. PSG hosts their home games at Stade Pierre de Coubertin.
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From Asnières to Paris (1941–1992)
The Parisian club was founded in 1941. Initially, it took the name of Patriotes d'Asnières before becoming Asnières Sports one year later. In 1945, although not recognised by the French Handball Federation, the team contested the Coupe de France final against Villemomble at the Parc des Princes in front of a crowd of 15,000. At the time, handball teams had 11 players. Asnières Sports was presided by Christian Picard, whose son Gérard Picard took over during the 1975–1976 season and remained president until 2003.
In 1987, the club's management succeeded in convincing the Paris City Council to partner Asnières Sports and create a major handball club in the capital. This resulted in the Hauts-de-Seine team moving to Paris and being renamed Paris-Racing-Asnières then Paris-Asnières. Future international stars came through Paris such as Jackson Richardson, an iconic French handball player, double world champion and Olympic medallist, who played two seasons in Paris from 1989 to 1991. The club also crossed paths with Patrick Cazal, another French international and future double world champion, who signed his first professional contract with the capital's team in 1989.
PSG-Asnières (1992–2002)
The club came under the management of PSG Omnisport in 1992. At the time, that body was managed by Charles Biétry and covered numerous disciplines including volleyball, rugby and even boxing. This change led to another name change, and Paris-Asnières became PSG-Asnières. The partnership lasted 10 years. PSG-Asnières came second in the LNH Division 1 during the 1995–96 season and then reached the French Cup final in 2001, losing to Montpellier.
The Parisian team managed to attract several international players. Stéphane Stoecklin, an Olympic medallist and handball champion with France in 1995, came through the club as well as Denis Lathoud and Gaël Monthurel. Nenad Peruničić, a Serbian international with a third placing in the European and world championship, also played for the club. During this period, PSG-Asnières signed Olivier Girault who would go on to become world champion in 2001, European champion in 2006 and Olympic champion in 2008. He set up home in the capital in 1999, playing for the club until 2008 and then coaching the team until 2011.
Paris Handball (2002–2012)
Under yet another name, Paris Handball began 2002 with new club owner Louis Nicollin. He was to stay with Paris until 2010. In his decade at the club, some good results were achieved. Paris Handball played in the EHF Champions League during the 2005–06 season. They finished second in the group stage but fell twice to Kiel in the round of 16. The club's first trophy was won in 2007. Paris Handball stamped its mark on the French Cup with a 28-21 win in the final over Pays d'Aix.
At the end of the 2008–09 season, the club finished 13th in Division 1 and was relegated to Division 2. The following season, Paris Handball won the D2 championship and rejoined the top clubs. The club also had a great run in the French Cup but fell in the semi-final to Montpellier. Paris Handball rebounded by winning their first match back in D1 against Ivry and finished a respectable 11th in the 2010–11 season. Alix Nyokas, a product of the club's youth system, subsequently gained his first French international cap. The following season, Paris Handball narrowly avoided relegation in the last round of play and ended 12th in the championship.
Philippe Gardent years (2012–2014)
After being bought by Paris Saint Germain owners Qatar Sports Investments in 2012, the club became Paris Saint-Germain Handball. Under the initiative of incoming club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, a new management and playing team was assembled. Jean-Claude Blanc was named General Manager, while Philippe Gardent, world champion with France in 1995 and former coach of Chambéry, set up home in the capital. Thierry Ferreux, another world and Olympic champion with the French team, signed in as assistant coach.
PSG Handball saw the arrival of 9 internationals including 2012 Summer Olympics gold medal winners Didier Dinart, Luc Abalo and Samuel Honrubia. Mikkel Hansen, named best player in the world in 2011, and Spanish players José Manuel Sierra and Antonio García, who became world champions with Spain in January 2013, also arrived. Paris SG claimed their maiden league success in the 2012–13 season as star player Didier Dinart retired in style. The title also meant the capital club secured a spot in the EHF Champions League. However, PSG were denied the double by Montpellier in the French Cup final.
The 2013–14 season season, Paris made some big-name signings including double Olympic, World and European champion, Daniel Narcisse, and the two Croatians Igor Vori (the country's most capped player) and Jakov Gojun. Not to mention Fahrudin Melić or Gábor Császár, leader of the Hungarian national team. A host of international players thanks to which PSG was the most represented club in the semifinals of the 2014 European Championship in Denmark (9 players).
The season certainly had a European flavour, with the club competing in the Champions League and reaching the quarterfinals for the first time in its history. Despite being knocked out by Veszprém, the double confrontation against Barcelona, one of the best clubs in the world, was worth the journey. In the league, however, The Parisians failed to keep up the pace with Dunkerque, who went on to win for the first time ever. 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.
Zvonimir Serdarušić years (since 2014)
With new coach Zvonimir Serdarušić at the helm and star signing Nikola Karabatić, the 2014–15 season saw Paris clinch their second French Championship title following a nail-biting battle for top spot against Montpellier. The Red-and-Blues were finally able to lift the trophy on the last day of the season, after a win over Tremblay. The league crown rounded off a magnificent treble, going alongside the French Cup and the Trophée des Champions 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 semifinals of the Champions League.