Qatar has changed French football forever. Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) wasn’t what it is now, having transformed itself since Qatar Sports Investments’ (QSi) takeover in 2011.

PSG has won a record six league titles in the French league -Ligue 1, with four out of the six titles coming after QSi’s takeover of the French club. Out of the 34 trophies the club has won, 16 have been hoisted since 2011.

Founded in 1970, the club has now become one of the greatest in European football. Parc des Princes has a capacity of 47,929, with stadium redevelopment slated to entertain even more Parisian fans, and with 100% capacity rates for PSG home-games, it’s hard to find an empty seat in the stands.

(Photo credit: www.worldfootball.net)

The fan base for the French club has tripled over the last six years, with its fan-base increasing in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and the U.S., as the QSi-led club shapes itself from being a top French club, into a European powerhouse in the sport.

Since taking over the reigns, QSi has made PSG synonymous with French football, and with Paris as a whole. It’s also made the club into a footballing giant, with the club boasting record attendance every home-game, alongside a travelling support that’s been record breaking.

PSG has now become a brand name; a name associated with top-quality football. QSi has also made it an endeavour to promote local French talent, and has seen many football greats pass through its academy on to the senior squad. QSi, under the helm of Nasser Al-Khelaifi, has spent enormous amounts in developing the youth system at PSG – the results of which are an envy of many.

Paris Saint-Germain has become French football’s best export due to QSi, with the footballing community is taking of France’s home team in turn, and the club earning respect and recognition among its peers in the sport.

(Photo credit: Sky Sports)

The club also has one the best fan support-management relationships. With the recent DWE poll suggesting that 98% of Parisians were happy with how the club was run, QSi has grand plans for PSG and with every Champions League final set firmly in their sights.

QSi transformed PSG with the signings of players Zlatan, Cavani, and Silva to league success. Zlatan was famously (or infamously) quoted: “PSG is too good -- too great for the French league.” Some experts seemed to agree with him, but the comment got Zlatan into troubled waters.

PSG has been trying to push for European glory, with the Champions League final being the ultimate goal. Yet for the past few seasons, they’ve come heartbreakingly close to accomplishing this dream.

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QSi has made massive investments towards the club infrastructure, as well as the Parc des Princes, with the stadium fast becoming a leading tourist attraction for the city of Paris. EA Sports’ FIFA 18 has also taken note of the strides made by QSi, with the game’s commentators making reference to its rebuilding of PSG.

Most recently, the club has broken transfer records with what can only be described as the most eye-watering pay-day world of football – the signing of the Brazilian maestro Neymar Jr. for nearly a whopping 200 million pounds sterling. The historic acquisition made the world sit up and take notice of PSG and the serious intentions of QSi on making it in to the top club in Europe.

PSG has set the stage this season with Cavani, Neymar, and Mbappe forming the most destructive front three in Europe. They’re on the road to glory and QSi will make the Parisians’ dream of European dominance a reality.

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Since 2011, the club has won a record 16 trophies in six years:

4 – League titles

3 – Coupe de France

4 – Coupe de Ligue

5 – Trophee des Champions-

QSi has also been responsible for turning the club’s finances around. Prior to the take-over, PSG suffered heavy losses and had accumulated enormous debt, but in the last six years, it’s shown record-breaking profits year after year. The club is estimated to be worth around $841 million USD, and is the the world’s fourth highest-earning football club with an annual estimated revenue of $578 million Euros.

PSG is set to become the best football club in the world, and the top management of QSi are to be given due credit for steering the ship in the right direction. The vision of club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has the Parisians demand the respect of the world on the pitch, and his leadership has been instrumental in shaping the future of the club.

Are you a PSG fan? Did you manage to catch any of the PSG stars on their recent winter training camp here in Doha? If so, drop us a line in the comments below and tell us about your experience. Also, don’t forget to like and share this article!

(Words by Asad Bisati)

(Cover image courtesy of www.hindustantimes.com)

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