Paris Saint-Germain, or often called as PSG is a French club that has a long history. The club was not too prominent compared to Olympique Marseille, Lyon, or AS Monaco. PSG has emerged as a new power in the European football since 2012-2013 season, when the new owner from Qatar decided to disburse a lot of money to buy a lot of world class players. This great amount of funding automatically allows PSG to recruit big names such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Javier Pastore, Edinson Cavani, and many more. In this article, I want you to take a little look at the history of PSG in the past and discuss their best players who played many years before Ibrahimovic or Cavani joining this club.
15. Safet Susic
Safet Susic is a retired Bosnian attacking midfielder who played for PSG in the period 1982 to 1991. Susic until now still holds the record as the player with the most assists PSG, with a total of 61 assists. This player also has a very big contribution in helping PSG become the champions in French League in the 1985-86 season. After his retirement, Safic becomes a coach. At the moment, he works as the head coach of Bosnia and Herzegovina national team.
14. Leonardo
Despite only playing one year for PSG, Leonardo left quite memorable memories for fans of this club. Playing as an attacking midfielder, Leonardo's debut season was remarked with a scintillating run, in which he was capable of scoring seven goals in 34 games. His appearance makes AC Milan fell in love, and they then decide to buy Leonardo with high transfer fee. At the moment, Leonardo still holds the records as one of ten most expensive players ever sold by PSG.
13. Juan Pablo Sorin
Juan Pablo Sorin is an Argentine fullback who is known for his long hair. Sorin played for PSG for one season as a loanee from Cruzeiro. Although only played for one season, Sorin made an impressive record where he remained unbeaten for 28 matches that he played for Paris Saint-Germain. Sorin was also able to bring PSG to be the French Cup winning in 2003-2004 season.
12. Valdo Filho
Valdo is a former midfielder who played for PSG for four years, from 1991 to 1995. During this period, Valdo played in 115 matches and scored 10 goals. He was also part of a golden generation of PSG in the 90s, where he was able to lead his team win the French League in 1993-94 and also won the French Cup twice. At international level, Valdo capped 45 times for the Brazil national team and scored four goals.
11. Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Although he just joined PSG in 2012-2013 season, Zlatan deserves to be called as one of the best PSG players of all time. He had incredible debut season, where he helped PSG become the champions of Franch League. He also became the League top scorer of the competition with 30 goals in 34 matches. Being signed from AC Milan, Zlatan is also a symbol of the new generation of PSG that is regarded as one of the world's great powers in European football. I believe Zlatan has a big chance to be the all-time top scorer for PSG if he decides to stay with this club for at least two more years.
10. Joel Bats
Joel Bats played for PSG for seven years, from 1985 to 1992. In his last year, the former French national team goalkeeper was even trusted to be the team captain. In total, Bats played 216 times for PSG and 50 times for the French national team. Bats was the main PSG goalkeeper who led the club win its first French League title in 1985-1986 season. After his retirement, he became a PSG coach in 1997-1998 season.
9. Luis Fernandez
Luis Fernandez is the important part of the French national team midfielder and one of the living legends of Paris Saint-Germain. He played for PSG from 1978 to 1986, and before moving to the RC Paris, he helped PSG tasted its first French League victory. After his retirement, as a coach Fernandez took PSG to win French Cup in the 1995-1996 season.
8. Bernard Lama
Bernard Lama is a retired French goalkeeper who was trusted to replace the role of Joel Bats, a legendary PSG goalkeeper who just retired. Apparently, Lama successfully demonstrated impressive performances. He was very tough in front of the goal, and his toughness was instrumental in helping PSG to be a French champion in 1994. In 1996, Lama was also part of PSG squad that won Winners' Cup.
7. Ronaldinho
Ronaldinho still holds the record as the most expensive ever PSG players sold to other clubs. In 2003, Ronaldinho was bought by Barcelona for around 32 million euros, following his impressive performances at PSG in the previous season. In his two years playing with PSG, the player who is known as one of the best playmakers in the world played in 55 matches and scored 17 goals.
6. Carlos Bianchi
Carlos Bianchi played for PSG for two seasons, from 1977 to 1979. Although he failed to present any title for his club, the Argentine striker managed to carve out quite brilliant individual achievements. Bianchi managed to become the top scorer in the French league twice. He also still holds the record as PSG's top scorer in a single season, with a total of 39 goals. I am sure this record will be hard to be broken by any strikers, even by Zlatan Ibrahimovic or Edinson Cavani.
5. Pauleta
The Portuguese striker is the Paris Saint-Germain's top scorer of all time. In total, Pauleta scored 109 goals in 168 appearances for PSG. The attacker also became two-time French league's top scorer in 2005 and 2006. In addition, he was also trusted to be the team captain for three years, from 2005 to 2008. Viewing this record, I think it is appropriate to put Pauleta's name in the list of top five best PSG players of all time.
4. George Weah
Until now, Weah is the only PSG player who won the Ballon d'Or and FIFA Player of the Year. Weah won both titles in 1995, the year in which he just presented French Cup trophy to PSG. Weah was also the main PSG's striker when they won the league in the 1993-1994 season. After going through three glorious seasons, Weah was transferred to AC Milan.
3. Rai
Rai is a retired Brazilian attacking midfielder who achieved the golden period of his career when he played for PSG. In addition to successfully made Paris Saint-Germain became the French League champion in 1993-94 season, Rai also led Brazil national team win the World Cup 1994 held in the United States. One year later, Rai won Winners' Cup trophy. During his five-year career in Paris Saint-Germain, Rai played 145 times and scored 51 goals.
2. Jean-Marc Pilorget
Speaking about loyalty, Pilorget is the number one in the history of PSG. This defender played for Paris Saint-Germain for 14 years, from 1975 to 1989. Throughout his career with the club, Pilorget tasted the sweetness of the French league title in 1986. One more note that is quite special, until now Pilorget also still holds the record as PSG player with the most appearances, with a total of 435 matches.
1. Dominique Rocheteau
Before Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edinson Cavani, Ronaldinho, or George Weah joining PSG, the club had already owned a world class striker. Indeed, the striker is Dominique Rocheteau, a Frenchman who played for eight years for PSG. During his career at this club, he scored 100 goals. This player also fought alongside Michel Platini in helping France national team to be the European champions in 1984. During his career, Rocheteau played in 49 matches for the French national team and scored 15 goals.
