5 Players who you didn't know played for PSG

Ibrahimovic scored a ridiculous 156 goals in 180 games for PSG in four seasons.
Ibrahimovic scored a ridiculous 156 goals in 180 games for PSG in four seasons.

Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint Germain possess one of the best squads in European football today and have done so for about half a decade. During this trophy-laden period, they've won the league title every year bar one (2016-17, second to AS Monaco), along with four Coupe de France, five Coupe de la Ligue and six Trophée des Champions titles.

The credit for much of this success goes to PSG's new Qatari owners, who arrived back in 2011, and pummeled the French club to new heights with their financial muscle. The acquisition of the ever-so mercurial Zlatan Ibrahimovic spearheaded the revolution, and it was clear that PSG were heading to an era of absolute dominance in French football.

Now, Ibrahimovic might be gone, but PSG continue to boast a squad that only a select few clubs can match on-paper. The attacking trio of Neymar-Cavani-Mbappe is one of the most fearsome in football today. Add to that the presence of world-class talents like Angel di Maria, Marco Verratti and Thiago Silva, and you have a roster to envy.

However, this current batch of superstars aren't the only ones to fill up PSG's hall of fame. In fact, they have had a number of big names in their ranks much before the Qataris intervened. Today we'll take a look at five such players, who you probably didn't know played for the Parisians at a time.


#5 David Ginola (1992-1995)

David Ginola in PSG colours
David Ginola in PSG colours

Fans know the French wizard best from his days in the Premier League. He came to England in 1995, and stayed there till retirement in 2002, playing for clubs like Everton, Aston Villa, and most notably, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur.

However, barring the lifelong Geordies, not many would manage to recall that it was indeed PSG who shipped Ginola to the Premier League.

Ginola was with PSG for just three seasons, but his time at the club was a massive success. He won the Coupe de France and reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup in his first season (1992-93) at the capital, and went on to win the French Footballer of the Year award in 1993.

The next season, Ginola won the league title with PSG, putting behind a World Cup to forget, where France was sent crashing out by Bulgaria.

After one more season with PSG, Ginola moved to England where he continued to shine.

#4 Mauricio Pochettino (2001-2003)

Pochettino spent three years in Paris
Pochettino spent three years in Paris

Although the Argentine is best known now for his heroics as a manager with Spurs (if not for his ridiculous tackle in the 2002 World Cup that helped England beat his Argentina), Mauricio Pochettino was a very decent centre-back during his playing days.

He spent most of his career with LaLiga club Espanyol, where he stayed for seven seasons. However, once his time in Spain was up, he moved to the French capital with PSG.

He was a regular starter in the two seasons he played there, appearing 70 times in the league. His time at PSG yielded no silverware, and after a solitary season with Bordeaux, he returned back to Espanyol.

He retired early at 34, winning the Copa del Rey in his final season as a player. He then, as we know, began his coaching career at the same club.

#3 Claude Makelele (2008-2011)

Makelele returned to his homeland after his spell in England
Makelele returned to his homeland after his spell in England

A defensive midfielder so revolutionary, he has a position named after himself!

The French midfield dynamo is best known for his time with Chelsea and Real Madrid, and perhaps even his early days in France with Nantes and Marseille, but it is interesting to note that it was Paris St. Germain where Makelele retired.

After winning six trophies in four seasons with Chelsea, Makelele was released by the London club. PSG roped him up for free, and he went on to play nearly a hundred league games before retiring in 2011. He also won a Coupe de France in 2009-10.

The next season, 2011-12, he was appointed the assistant manager to Carlo Ancelotti, who had just joined PSG from Makélélé's previous club, Chelsea.

With Ancelotti and Makelele, PSG won their first ever Ligue 1 title since the takeover, while also reaching the quarterfinals of the Champions League, where they were beaten on the away goals rule by Barcelona.

#2 George Weah (1992-1995)

George Weah of Paris St. Germain and Sergi of Barcelona
George Weah of Paris St. Germain and Sergi of Barcelona

The current President of Liberia is also one of Africa's greatest ever footballers, and to this date, the only player from the region to win the Ballon d'Or.

George Weah has donned the jerseys of a number of European clubs, including AS Monaco, AC Milan, Manchester City, Chelsea and Marseille. He's best known for his time in Italy, where he won two Scudettos with AC Milan.

However, not many will remember that the club where he enjoyed maximum success, was, in fact, Paris St. Germain. He won four trophies with PSG, including one league title and two Coupe de Frances. He scored 32 league goals in 96 games for Le Parisien, before making the big move to AC Milan.

As good as Weah was for PSG, he isn't uncontested with it comes to earning the title of being PSG's greatest ever African recruit...

#1 Jay-Jay Okocha (1998-2002)

Okocha representing PSG against Deportivo La Coruna.
Okocha representing PSG against Deportivo La Coruna.
So good, they named him twice!

The skilful Nigerian international represented his country 73 times and played for clubs like Eintracht Frankfurt and Fenerbahce.

It was perhaps at Bolton Wanderers where he really got the attention he deserved. He was humbling defences week in, week out in England with his breathtaking tricks, and was a joy to watch irrespective of the club you support - except Paris St. Germain!

PSG let Okocha leave on a free transfer when he was aged 29, to Bolton, where he made PSG lament over their avoidable loss. It remains one of the biggest transfer blunders the club has ever made.

Interestingly, PSG made Okocha the most expensive African player in the world back in 1998, when he was roped in from Fenerbahce for £14 million.

He won two trophies with PSG - the UEFA Intertoto Cup and the Trophee des Champions. He also worked as a mentor for a young Brazilian the club had signed in 2001 - a player you probably did know played for PSG - Ronaldinho.

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Edited by Debjyoti Samanta