The Paris Saint-Germain Academy, commonly known as the PSG Academy, is the youth system of both Paris Saint-Germain (men's team) and Paris Saint-Germain Féminine (women's team). Established in 1970, the academy is managed by the Association Paris Saint-Germain. Its first men's youth training centre opened in 1975. The academy now has centres in several countries around the world. The club launched the women's section of the academy in 2012. The Camp des Loges in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Paris Region, is currently the training ground of both sections, but they are expected to move to the Paris Saint-Germain Training Center in the summer of 2024.
Since its inception, PSG's youth system has produced several renowned players such as Jean-Marc Pilorget, Luis Fernandez, Nicolas Anelka, Mamadou Sakho, Kingsley Coman, Adrien Rabiot, Alphonse Areola, Presnel Kimpembe, Marie-Antoinette Katoto, Grace Geyoro, Perle Morroni and Sandy Baltimore. Many other graduates have also gone on to sign professional contracts with PSG or other clubs.
Recognized as one of the best in the country, the PSG Academy has been named Best Youth Club by the French Football Federation on four occasions. Domestically, the men's under-19 team have won a record four Championnat National U19 titles, one Coupe Gambardella and one Tournoi Carisport. The men's under-17 outfit have won three Championnat National U17 titles and one Championnat National des Cadets. The women's under-19 side have won the three times.
In international club football, the men's U19 side have won one . The men's U17 squad have won a record three Alkass International Cups and one Montaigu Tournament. Additionally, the now-defunct men's reserve team won three Coupe de Paris. The club's amateur reserve side competes in the Championnat National 3.
History
First graduates and Coupe de Paris champions (1970–1987)
On 17 June 1970 Paris Football Club and Stade Saint-Germain merged to form men's football team Paris Saint-Germain Football Club. It was made official on 12 August 1970 with the creation of the Association Paris Saint-Germain. This organization has managed the club's amateur section, including the academy, ever since then. It also ran the professional section until 1991. So, like the club itself, the Paris Saint-Germain Academy was officially established on the same date.
The first wave of graduates emerged in the 1972–73 season. A total of ten players were promoted to the first team in what still is the largest class in the academy's history. It was made up of Éric Renaut, Patrice Zbinden, Claude Rivet, Patrice Turpin, Bernard Lambert, Michel Llodra, , Robin Leclercq, Richard Vanquelles and Kamel Ben Mustapha. These players would all go on to play for the first team, with Renaut being the most successful one, amassing 290 appearances during his decade at the club. They were part of the club's reserve side that won the Coupe de Paris in 1971–72 and 1972–73, the academy's first titles ever. PSG won this cup again in 1979–80.
On 4 November 1975, the club opened the academy's first centre, with Pierre Alonzo as its director. The maiden generation issued from this centre was led by François Brisson, Jean-Marc Pilorget, Lionel Justier and Thierry Morin. On 21 December 1975, a few weeks after the inauguration, PSG's so-called « four musketeers » made their professional debuts as starters against Reims in a league match at the Parc des Princes. Brisson won an Olympic gold medal with France in 1984, while Justier became a fan favorite at PSG. For his part, Pilorget remains to this day PSG's all-time record appearance maker with 435 official matches. Finally, Morin played most of his career with PSG before being named director of the CFA Omnisports in 1994. Formed at the club's initiative, this organization is responsible for the education of the academy players. Morin presided it until 2018. He is now the general secretary of the Association PSG.
Another great youth product was Luis Fernandez. A big PSG fan, he made his debut in 1978, became team captain and led the club to its first major trophies in the 1980s. He then returned as coach during PSG's golden era in the 1990s, leading them to the domestic cup double in 1995 and the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1996.
Gambardella winners and rise to the top (1987–2009)