page_title: History of Paris Saint-Germain F.C.
section_title: Back-to-back promotions
hierarchical_section_title: History of Paris Saint-Germain F.C. / Return to Ligue 1 (1972–1978) / Back-to-back promotions
caption_attribution_description: Français&#160;: Domicile de Just Fontaine à Toulouse. 7 Juillet 1971. Vue de Just Fontaine, ancien joueur international français, à son domicile toulousain.
context_page_description: Paris Saint-Germain Football Club was founded on 12 August 1970 after the merger of Paris Football Club and Stade Saint-Germain. PSG made an immediate impact, winning promotion to Ligue 1 and claiming the Ligue 2 title in their first season. Their momentum was soon checked, however, and the club split in 1972. Paris FC remained in Ligue 1, while PSG were administratively relegated to Division 3. PSG got their revenge in 1974 when they returned to Ligue 1 and Paris FC slipped into the division below. The club also moved into Parc des Princes that same year.
  The club's trophy cabinet welcomed its first major silverware in the shape of the Coupe de France in 1982, during a decade marked by players such as Safet Sušić, Luis Fernández and Dominique Rocheteau. PSG then claimed its maiden league title in 1986, after which they went into decline. But a takeover by television giants Canal+ revitalised the club and PSG entered their golden era. Led by David Ginola, George Weah and Raí, the club won nine trophies during the 1990s. Most notably, the Parisians claimed a second league title in 1994 and their crowning glory, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1996.
context_section_description: Most of the club's stars, including team captain Jean Djorkaeff, preferred to stay in Ligue 1 with Paris FC. As a result, PSG began life in Division 3 with a young but talented squad that would star in the club's forthcoming back-to-back promotions. Some of these gifted youngsters included Christian André, Éric Renaut, Othniel Dossevi, Michel Marella and Jacques Laposte. Paris would finish second in Group West of the 1972–73 French Division 3, six points behind Quevilly, missing out on promotion by little. Fortunately, Quevilly had to dissolve due to financial problems shortly after the end of the season and PSG took their place in Ligue 2 by default.
  PSG really took flight when fashion designer Daniel Hechter took over. Shortly before the start of the 1973–74 campaign, he replaced Henri Patrelle as president and named Francis Borelli as vice-president. Besides offering his financial support to the club, Hechter also designed PSG's classic home outfit. He then shocked the national game as he appointed French legend Just Fontaine as coach and signed several prestigious players like Jean-Pierre Dogliani, Jean Deloffre and Louis Cardiet.
  The Parisians finished second in Group B of the 1973–74 French Division 2, four points behind Red Star, qualifying for the Ligue 1 playoffs against Valenciennes. The winner of this double-legged match would be promoted to the top flight. Valenciennes won 2–1 at home, but PSG recorded an incredible 4–2 comeback in the second game, thus winning promotion to the 1974–75 French Division 1 and regaining its professional status abandoned two years earlier. Overwhelmed by emotion, Fontaine collapsed on the lawn, victim of a heart attack. Fortunately, he recovered and was carried by the players in celebration. Since then, PSG have always played in Ligue 1.
caption: Just Fontaine took PSG back to Ligue 1 in 1974.
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