# 1987–88 Paris Saint-Germain FC season

The 1987–88 season was Paris Saint-Germain's 18th season in existence. PSG played their home league games at the Parc des Princes in Paris, registering an average attendance of 19,507 spectators per match. The club was presided by Francis Borelli. The team was coached by Gérard Houllier until October 1987. Erick Mombaerts took over as manager from October to December. Houllier returned in February 1988 for the second half of the campaign. Fabrice Poullain was the team captain.

## Summary

PSG's championship-winning team continued to break apart in 1987–88 as Dominique Rocheteau also left the club. World-class midfielders Gabriel Calderón and Ray Wilkins arrived in Paris but could not turn the tide either. Wilkins only played ten matches before joining Rangers in December 1987. Their last-place finish in the Tournoi de Paris, a first since 1976, predicted the way things would unfold. Following a run of seven defeats in eight games, Gérard Houllier took a step back and became the club's sporting director in October 1987.
Erick Mombaerts was named manager but he also failed to steer the ship and PSG finished the year in the relegation zone, prompting Houllier's return in February 1988 for the second half of the campaign. Paris reached its lowest point in late April 1988, when they lost 0–4 against Nice at the Parc des Princes. Still the club's record home league defeat, it plunged them back into third from bottom with only five games remaining. Earlier that month, PSG had also suffered their biggest away cup defeat. It was a 0–3 loss to Sochaux in the French Cup last-32 stage (eliminated 1–6 on aggregate). They rallied up just in time, though, Daniel Xuereb scoring the only goal of the game away to Le Havre on the final matchday to avoid the drop with a dramatic 15th-placed finish. With top-flight status secured, Houllier left the club in June 1988 following the end of the season.

## Players

    As of the 1987–88 season.

### Squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | GK | FRA | Claude Barrabé |
| — | GK | FRA | Joël Bats |
| — | DF | FRA | Thierry Rabat |
| — | DF | FRA | Michel Bibard |
| — | DF | FRA | Jean-Luc Vasseur |
| — | DF | FRA | Christian Zajaczkowski |
| — | DF | FRA | Jean-François Charbonnier |
| — | DF | FRA | Stéphane Persol |
| — | DF | FRA | Philippe Jeannol |
| — | DF | FRA | Pierre Bianconi |
| — | DF | FRA | Franck Tanasi |
| — | DF | FRA | Thierry Bacconnier |
| — | MF | FRA | Pierre Reynaud |
| — | MF | FRA | Éric Martin |
| — | MF | ENG | Ray Wilkins |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | MF | FRA | Fabrice Poullain (captain) |
| — | MF | FRA | Olivier Martinez |
| — | MF | FRA | Philippe Dehouck |
| — | MF | SEN | Oumar Sène |
| — | MF | FRA | Patrice Marquet |
| — | MF | ARG | Gabriel Calderón |
| — | MF | YUG | Safet Sušić |
| — | MF | NED | Pierre Vermeulen |
| — | FW | ALG | Liazid Sandjak |
| — | FW | FRA | Amara Simba |
| — | FW | FRA | Alain Couriol |
| — | FW | FRA | Daniel Xuereb |
| — | FW | FRA | Bruno Roux |
| — | FW | FRA | Franck Vandecasteele |

### Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | DF | FRA | Jean-Marc Pilorget (at Cannes) |
| — | MF | CMR | Fabrice Moreau (at La Roche) |
| — | MF | FRA | Alain Polaniok (at Cannes) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | MF | FRA | Didier Rabat (at Laval) |
| — | FW | SEN | Jules Bocandé (at Nice) |

## Transfers

    As of the 1987–88 season.

### Arrivals

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | DF | FRA | Pierre Bianconi (from Bastia) |
| — | DF | FRA | Jean-François Charbonnier (from Cannes, end of loan) |
| — | DF | FRA | Stéphane Persol (from PSG Academy) |
| — | DF | FRA | Christian Zajaczkowski (from Le Havre) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | MF | ARG | Gabriel Calderón (from Real Betis) |
| — | MF | FRA | Philippe Dehouck (from Thonon) |
| — | MF | ENG | Ray Wilkins (from Milan) |
| — | FW | FRA | Bruno Roux (from Beauvais) |

### Departures

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | GK | FRA | Jean-Michel Moutier (Retired) |
| — | DF | FRA | William Ayache (to Marseille) |
| — | DF | FRA | Claude Lowitz (to Marseille) |
| — | DF | FRA | Jean-Marc Pilorget (loaned to Cannes) |
| — | MF | CMR | Fabrice Moreau (loaned to La Roche) |
| — | MF | FRA | Alain Polaniok (loaned to Cannes) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | MF | FRA | Didier Rabat (loaned to Laval) |
| — | MF | NED | Pierre Vermeulen (to Tours) |
| — | MF | ENG | Ray Wilkins (to Rangers) |
| — | FW | YUG | Vahid Halilhodžić (Retired) |
| — | FW | FRA | Dominique Rocheteau (to Toulouse) |
| — | FW | SEN | Jules Bocandé (loaned to Nice) |

## Kits

French radio RTL and French premium television channel Canal+ were the shirt sponsors. German sportswear brand Adidas was the kit manufacturer.
| Home 0 0 | Away 0 0 | Third 0 0 |

## Friendly tournaments
### Mundialito de Clubs

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Milan | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 7 | Champions |
| 2 | Porto | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 5 | |
| 3 | Inter Milan | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 | |
| 4 | Barcelona | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | −1 | 3 | |
| 4 | Paris Saint-Germain | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 | −4 | 1 | |

### Tournoi Indoor de Paris-Bercy
#### First group stage (Group B)

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Köln | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 4 | Second group stage (Winners Group) |
| 2 | Paris Saint-Germain | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | −1 | 1 | Second group stage (Ranking Group) |
| 3 | Auxerre | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | −2 | 1 | Second group stage (Ranking Group) |

#### Second group stage (Ranking Group)

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Final standings |
| 1 | Auxerre | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 3 | 4th place overall |
| 2 | Paris Saint-Germain | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 6 | −1 | 2 | 5th place overall |
| 3 | Botafogo | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | −1 | 1 | 6th place overall |

## Competitions
### Overview

| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record |
| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % |
| Division 1 | 18 July 1987 | 4 June 1988 | Matchday 1 | 15th | 38 | 12 | 10 | 16 | 36 | 45 | −9 | 031.58 |
| Coupe de France | 12 March 1988 | 5 April 1988 | Round of 64 | Round of 32 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | −4 | 033.33 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 41 | 13 | 10 | 18 | 38 | 51 | −13 | 031.71 |
Source: Competitions

### Division 1
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 13 | Toulouse | 38 | 14 | 7 | 17 | 35 | 47 | −12 | 35 |
| 14 | Laval | 38 | 12 | 10 | 16 | 38 | 38 | 0 | 34 |
| 15 | Paris Saint-Germain | 38 | 12 | 10 | 16 | 36 | 45 | −9 | 34 |
| 16 | Nice | 38 | 15 | 3 | 20 | 42 | 47 | −5 | 33 |
| 17 | Lens | 38 | 13 | 7 | 18 | 40 | 62 | −22 | 33 |

#### Results by round

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 |
| Ground | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A |
| Result | W | L | W | D | W | L | W | W | L | L | L | W | L | L | L | L | L | D | D | W | L | D | L | L | D | D | W | L | D | W | D | D | L | L | D | W | W | W |
| Position | 6 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 12 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 15 |

#### Matches
### Coupe de France
#### Round of 32
## Statistics

    As of the 1987–88 season.

### Appearances and goals

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Division 1 | Division 1 | Coupe de France | Coupe de France |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||
| | GK | FRA | Joël Bats | 41 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Defenders ||||||||||
| | DF | FRA | Jean-François Charbonnier | 37 | 4 | 35 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| | DF | FRA | Thierry Rabat | 35 | 1 | 34 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| | DF | FRA | Michel Bibard | 35 | 1 | 32 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| | DF | FRA | Philippe Jeannol | 26 | 1 | 25 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| | DF | FRA | Franck Tanasi | 24 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| | DF | FRA | Christian Zajaczkowski | 13 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | DF | FRA | Jean-Luc Vasseur | 10 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | DF | FRA | Pierre Bianconi | 7 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | DF | FRA | Thierry Bacconnier | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | DF | FRA | Stéphane Persol | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Midfielders ||||||||||
| | MF | ARG | Gabriel Calderón | 34 | 4 | 32 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| | MF | FRA | Fabrice Poullain | 32 | 0 | 29 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| | MF | SEN | Oumar Sène | 31 | 6 | 28 | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| | MF | YUG | Safet Sušić | 26 | 3 | 24 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| | MF | FRA | Pierre Reynaud | 24 | 2 | 22 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| | MF | FRA | Patrice Marquet | 16 | 2 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| | MF | FRA | Éric Martin | 9 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| | MF | FRA | Philippe Dehouck | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | MF | FRA | Olivier Martinez | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Forwards ||||||||||
| | FW | FRA | Bruno Roux | 27 | 1 | 26 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| | FW | ALG | Liazid Sandjak | 20 | 2 | 19 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| | FW | FRA | Daniel Xuereb | 19 | 3 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| | FW | FRA | Amara Simba | 18 | 3 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| | FW | FRA | Alain Couriol | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Players transferred / loaned out during the season ||||||||||
| | MF | ENG | Ray Wilkins | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | FW | SEN | Jules Bocandé | 9 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Source: Competitions