French football has been home to some of the most exceptional talent the world has ever seen as well as the unforgettable moments they have created in this beautiful game. The country’s rich history in football is filled with love, passion, impressive skills, and dedication of the players to the beautiful Mediterranean coast and buzzing Paris streets. These top elite clubs aren’t just teams to their fans and players but the institutions that have become an integral part of their system. Countless young kids join these clubs with hopes and dreams of becoming professional footballers in the future.
These clubs have nurtured some of the world-class talents who conquered the domestic league and major tournaments and etched their names in the history of French football. We will look into the history of these top 5 biggest French football clubs of all time filled with triumphs and legacy. From Paris Saint-Germain, Marseille, Lyon, Saint-Etienne, and Monaco, these clubs have changed the face of French football over the years.
| CLUB NAME | FOUNDED | HONOURS |
| Paris Saint-Germain | 1970 | 12x Ligue 1 1x Ligue 2 15x Coupe de France 9x Coupe de la Ligue 12x Trophee des Champions 1x UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup 1x UEFA Intertoto Cup |
| Olympique de Marseille | 1899 | 9x Ligue 1 1x Ligue 2 10x Coupe de France 3x Coupe de la Ligue 3x Trophee des Champions 1x UEFA Champions League 1x UEFA Intertoto Cup |
| Olympique Lyonnais | 1950 | 7x Ligue 1 3x Ligue 2 5x Coupe de France 1x Coupe de la Ligue 8x Trophee des Champions 1x UEFA Intertoto Cup |
| AS Saint-Etienne | 1919 | 10x Ligue 1 3x Ligue 2 6x Coupe de France 1x Coupe de la Ligue 5x Trophee des Champions |
| AS Monaco | 1924 | 8x Ligue 1 1x Ligue 2 5x Coupe de France 1x Coupe de la Ligue 4x Trophee des Champions |
Paris Saint-Germain
Paris Saint-Germain also known as PSG is arguably one of the biggest French football clubs. PSG was established in 1970 and it is rather a young football club but it is also one of the largest football clubs in European Football. Currently, PSG has evolved from being just a team to an icon, PSG’s rise in the last decade or so resembles the rise of the Parisian capital itself.
Since 2011, PSG has been a modern football club that was taken over by Qatar Sports Investments and has entered an era of high achievement. The club is associated with some of the most famous stars in world football. Which fan can avoid the reminiscence of the great acrobatic display of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the trickery of Neymar Jr, or the sheer pace of Mbappe? So many of these superstars among other legends have wielded their jerseys on the pitch.
The PSG trophy case proves that the club has dominated the domestic league. It is one of the most successful clubs in Ligue 1 tallying 12 titles of which 8 have been in the last 10 seasons. In addition to 15 Coupe de France titles, 9 Coupe de la Ligue titles, and 12 Trophee des Champions. In 1996, they captured the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, to cement their position in Europe.
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Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille represents the passionate soul of French football, and perhaps the soul of football in general. Marseille was founded in 1899, steeped in history and tradition. Highs and lows from the club’s story but always underlined with the backing from their supporters, who help to create the wonderful cauldron of noise and color in the stadium on match day.
In the late 80s and early 90s, Marseille’s golden years took place under the crazy ownership of Bernard Tapie. In this period, they won the Ligue 1 and reached the summit of European success. In 1993, they became the first (and so far only) French club to win the UEFA Champions League. They managed to defeat the Serie A giants AC Milan in a memorable final.
More than that, their domestic record is as good as their European exploits. Coupled with 10 Coupe de France victories that show that Marseille are pretty consistent in cup competitions, they’ve claimed 10 Ligue 1 titles, most recently in 2010. Some of the greatest players to have played for French football have been home to Marseille, including Didier Deschamps, Jean-Pierre Papin, and more recently Dimitri Payet.
While Marseille’s history includes its darker and cloudier chapters, here, quite frankly, nothing makes sense. They also lost their league title and were relegated, following the match-fixing scandal in 1993. It is still a stain on their illustrious past. Le Classique is one of the most fierce rivals in Europe and matches with PSG.
Olympique Lyonnais
They may not have the long history that some of its rivals boast but their achievement and innovation more than make up for it. Olympique Lyonnais has a history going all the way back to 1950, and their rise to prominence is a testament to how smart they are in managing this fantastic youth development system, and how committed they’ve been to attractive and attacking football.
From 2001 to 2008, Lyon saw a golden era by winning seven successive Ligue 1 titles, a record which still remains solid to this day. It was a time of dominance for homegrown talents along with big spend signings. During this time in French football, players like Juninho Pernambucano, known for his mesmerizing free kicks and passing, Michael Essien and Karim Benzema became household names.
Lyon has 5 Coupe de France winners, five Ligue 1 titles, and one Coupe de la Ligue holder. While they have never tasted European success, they have never been an absent name in the UEFA Champions League or the UEFA Europa League in recent years.
The commitment to youth development certainly has to be Lyon’s greatest legacy. French football has long been synonymous with world-class talents, from Benzema to Alexandre Lacazette, from Samuel Umtiti to Nabil Fekir, and Lyon’s ability to nurture young talents has been a model for clubs across Europe.
AS Saint-Etienne
AS Saint-Etienne is also known as “Les Verts” (The Greens) because of their famous green jerseys. The club was founded in 1919 and has its own deep history, legacy, and tradition. Saint-Etienne has experienced the dizzying highs of domestic dominance, and European glory as well as the lows of relegation coupled with financial difficulties.
Saint-Étienne enjoyed their golden days in the 1960s and 1970s when they were not only the best team in France but also in the European circuit as well. They have won an incredible 10 Ligue 1 titles with four in a row between 1967 and 1970. Their greatest success was in 1976 when they got as far as the European Cup final, where they lost to German side Bayern Munich.
Perhaps the most famous of the many who spent his career at Saint-Étienne for three years and took the club to a league victory and European Cup final, Michel Platini. Saint-Etienne’s iconic club has also been blessed with other legends such as Aimé Jacquet, Dominique Rocheteau, and Johnny Rep.
During the most recent years, the club has seen hard times, like relegation and financial situation. Their fans still run hot and still love them. ‘Le Chaudron’ is famous for its intense atmosphere making their stadium one of the most intimidating stadiums. Saint-Étienne’s rich history and loyal supporter base have ensured that they are still one of the biggest clubs in French football as they work to reclaim a spot back among the country’s elite.
AS Monaco
AS Monaco was founded in 1924 and, despite being not in France, but in the sovereign city-state of Monaco. The club competes in the French league system and has since become one of the most successful, and intriguing clubs in French football history.
In 1961, the club won its first Ligue 1 title and has gone on to add seven more to its impressive trophy cabinet. They’ve not only been a dominant side in domestic competitions but also international tournaments. Monaco managed to reach the European Cup final in 2004 where they lost against the team coached by Jose Mourinho in a famous game that signaled their arrival in the European game.
The club has accumulated 8 Ligue 1 titles, 5 Coupe de France, and 1 Coupe de la Ligue. But it has perhaps been their performances in Europe that have proved to catch the attention of the footballing world. Their Champions League final appearance in 2004 and the way they regularly push above their weight in European competitions, often taking down stronger and elite sides along the way are proof enough of that.
Monaco’s biggest strength has always been its ability to develop young and promising talents. From Thierry Henry to Kylian Mbappé, James Rodríguez to Bernardo Silva, Monaco has been a launching pad for some of the game’s biggest stars in the footballing world.
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FAQs
1. Which club is considered the biggest in French football history?
A. Paris Saint-Germain or PSG is considered as the biggest club in the French football history.
2. How many Ligue 1 titles has Olympique de Marseille won?
A. Olympique de Marseille has won 9 Ligue 1 titles.
3. How does PSG’s recent success compare to other French clubs?
A. PSG’s recent success can’t be compared with other clubs as they have won three straight Ligue 1 titles and have been the most dominant club in the French league for over a decade now.