Le Classique

Le Classique
Derby de France
City or region Paris / Marseille, France
First contested 12 December 1971
Teams involved Olympique Marseille
Paris Saint-Germain
Most wins Olympique Marseille (32)
Most recent meeting OM 3 – 0 PSG (27/11/11)
Largest victory PSG 5 – 1 OM (8/1/1978)

Le Classique (French pronunciation: [lə klasik], The Classic),[1] also known as Derby de France,[2] is a football match contested between French top-flight clubs Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique de Marseille. The term "Le Classique" is modeled on the El Clásico, contested between Real Madrid and Barcelona. These meetings became important during the late 1980s and the beginning of the 1990s. Canal + and Bernard Tapie started to promote near the general public confrontations between the two clubs, making these matches of interest for all French football fans.[3] The tension between OM and PSG fans is legendary, and both clubs' world-class stadia, the Stade Vélodrome and the Parc des Princes, respectively, are renowned for the white-hot atmosphere and fervent fans. More and more, the various groups of Marseille and Parisian supporters have hated and battled each other. Important security measures are taken to prevent confrontations between the fans, but violent episodes still often occur every time the duo meet.[4]

Like all major rivalries, the antipathy between Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique de Marseille extends outside the pitch as Paris and Marseille are the two largest cities in France, while the duo are the most successful and influential football clubs in the country having won eleven Ligue 1 titles, eighteen French Cups, five League Cups and five Champions Trophy. Both clubs are also the only French clubs to have won a major European trophy, as PSG claimed the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1996 and OM landed the UEFA Champions League in 1993. The duo were the dominant forces before the appearance of Olympique Lyonnais during the 21st century. Despite their recent ups and downs, PSG and OM remain, along with Saint-Étienne, the only French clubs with a truly nationwide, faithful and passionate fan base, giving the country's biggest match a special atmosphere.[5]

Contents

History

Main article: History of Le Classique

The so-called "French clásico" has a historical, cultural and social importance that makes it more than a simple football game, facing capital against province and the chosen ones of French football against their "enfants terribles". The match is often referred to as the North versus the South as the duo represent Paris, the national capital, and Marseille, the chief city of southern France. Many French people dislike Paris due to its dominant political, cultural and economic influence.[4] By extension, they tend to dislike its chief football team, Paris Saint-Germain, mainly supported by Parisians. As the best-supported club, Olympique de Marseille also attracts its share of detractors. The rivalry may not be the oldest in France's top flight, but it is undoubtedly the fiercest and most significant both on and off the pitch, being a fixture that divides loyalties right around the country. It is the most followed football match in France, watched by millions of people in the country. The southerners have been around for over a century now, while "Les Parisiens" only came into being in 1970, and in their early meetings there was little indication the two would become deadly adversaries as the situation between both clubs were two worlds apart.[5]

Meetings between the duo became relevant during 1988–1989. PSG and OM faced each other in a virtual title decider at the Stade Vélodrome, with both clubs tied on points. Franck Sauzée scored a last minute winner giving OM the title. 1993 saw Marseille reached both the very pinnacle and the very bottom of the European club game. A corruption scandal and a Canal+'s shining light for Paris Saint-Germain would threaten their hegemony. Basile Boli hit home the winning goal against Milan as Marseille became the first French side to win a European trophy and the only to win the Champions League. Their fans greeted the triumph by chanting "A jamais les premiers" which referred to the fact that they won the first "Classico" against PSG in 1971. Three days later, Boli's 18-yard header against PSG gave Marseille their fifth straight Ligue 1 title.[4] The city exploded with a joy shared across the nation but no sooner had the trophy been hoist aloft than the celebrations were brought to a halt. It is believed that Bernard Tapie bribed Valenciennes to lose so that Marseille would win the French League earlier, giving them more time to prepare for the Champions League Final. Marseille was later stripped of their League title and relegated to Division 2 by the FFF, while Bernard Tapie was forced to step down as its President. Marseille would dominate the fixture for many years and from 1990 to 1999 they did not lose to their arch-rivals in the league.[5]

On 8 May 1996, Paris Saint-Germain became the youngest European club to win a European Cup, doing so in its 26th year. Driven by French playmaker Youri Djorkaeff, PSG became the second and last French club to win a European title, beating Rapid Wien in the Cup Winners' Cup Final thanks to Bruno N'Gotty's indirect free kick. Luis Fernández became the first and, so far only, French manager to win a major European trophy. Paris Saint-Germain then earned their first league win over their arch-rivals since 1990. Olympique de Marseille would finish the season a point behind champions Bordeaux making the victory even more special for the capital club. PSG became the dominant side, achieving eight consecutive wins between 2002 and 2004. Paris won all the three matches disputed in 2003, including two wins at the Vélodrome, with superlatives performances from Ronaldinho. Six more victories arrived for PSG thanks in part to Pauleta's goals. He scored 6 times in 11 appearances, becoming Le Classique's all-time top scorer. The two met in the French Cup Final in 2006. PSG was struggling to avoid relegation, while OM was looking for a spot in Europe. PSG, however, lifted the French Cup for the seventh time in their history thanks to a magnficent 25-yard-goal from Vikash Dhorasoo.[5] PSG then recorded their first victory at the Vélodrome since 2004, but Marseille responded with their biggest ever win and their first back-to-back victories at the Parc des Princes.[6] These victories set "Les Marsellais" on the road to their ninth Ligue 1 title, having already clinched their first League Cup.[7] PSG, meanwhile, repaid their fans after a tough season with their eighth French Cup to ensure a return to European competition.[8] Olympique de Marseille then defeated PSG for a fourth consecutive match after Edouard Cissé struck the winning penalty against his former club as the Ligue 1 champions lifted the 2010 Trophée des Champions.[9]

Incidents

PSG's former owners Canal+, knowing the significance it could take on in the French socio-sporting landscape, began to promote confrontations between the two sides in the early 1990s. OM's infamous former president Bernard Tapie also claims he instigated and nurtured the rivalry to motivate his team since the late 1980s.[3] More and more, the numerous groups of Marseille and Paris supporters have hated and battled each other. Important security measures are taken to prevent confrontations. However, many incidents still occur between the supporters when both clubs clash.[4]

Other Facts

According to a survey by Le Point in 2009, Olympique de Marseille has the largest following in France with 20%. Paris Saint-Germain, tied with Olympique Lyonnais, is far behind with 11%. Girondins de Bordeaux is close behind with 10%.[19] Marseille are also the most popular French club in the world followed by Paris and Lyon.[20] Paris Saint-Germain hold the honor of being the richest club in the country and are one of the richest clubs in the world.[21] OM are the third richest club in France, only surpassed by Lyon.[22] The duo were founding members of the G-14 and form part of its modern replacement, the European Club Association. OM's average home gate for the 2010–11 season was 51,081, the highest in the Ligue 1, while PSG came fourth with 29,317.[23] PSG was named IFFHS World's Club Team of the Year in 1994 and ranked 1st in the UEFA Team Ranking in 1998. Paris Saint-Germain is the only French club to ever achieve these honours.[24][25] Marseille reached the 3rd spot in 1991, their highest since the creation of the ranking.[26] From 1993 to 1997, PSG finished in the top ten of the Club World Raking. The IFFHS also publishes a ranking taking into account the results over the past twelve months. PSG has been five times 1st in this mensual rankings.[27] Taking into account the period from 1991 to 2009, PSG is ranked 25th globally, being the highest ranked French club after Lyon.[28] PSG and OM are currently ranked 12th and 51st in the IFFHS.[29] The duo, meanwhile, are respectively ranked 44th and 14th in the UEFA Team Ranking.[30]

Statistics

As of 27 November 2011 (2011 -11-27).

All-time results

As of 27 November 2011 (2011 -11-27).
All official matches.
  • F = Final
  • SF = Semi-finals
  • QF = Quarter-finals
  • R16= Round of 16
  • R32= Round of 32
  • R64= Round of 64
Olympique de Marseille Draw Paris Saint-Germain

Switching Sides

47 players have worn the shirt of both Olympique Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain. Sometimes through a direct transfer, sometimes after many years and some have even found their way back. The number increases to 49 if we add Abel Braga, who played for PSG from 1979 to 1981 and then managed OM in 2000, and Tomislav Ivić, who managed both Paris and Marseille. The large amount of players who have represented for both sides is surprisingly high considering the enmity between the clubs. Olympique Marseille's current squad features former Paris Saint-Germain players Édouard Cissé, Fabrice Abriel and Gabriel Heinze. Paris Saint-Germain, meanwhile, have former Marseille members Péguy Luyindula and Claude Makélélé. An incredible surprise for many supporters, as it seems obvious that a player from Marseille has nothing to do in Paris and viceversa, especially when there isn't a 10-year-career in between. Only four players have left one club for the other and then returned. Jérôme Leroy left Paris Saint-Germain in 1999 for Olympique Marseille and then returned to the French capital in 2002. Xavier Gravelaine, meanwhile, left Paris Saint-Germain in 1995 to join Guingamp before signing for Marseille in 1996. Three years later, he returned to Paris. Bruno Germain was directly transferred from Marseille to Paris Saint-Germain in 1991. He returned to the south of France in 1994. Saar Boubacar had the same experience, arriving at the capital club from Olympique Marseille in 1979 before returning to his first club in 1983. The rivalry has never prevented the business. Many players have crossed the bridge without knowing or caring about the intense rivalry between both clubs and have subsequently suffered abuses from the supporters.[34]

Love and passion for the shirt is a figment of the imagination and career choices from the players have ended in sounded failures. Captain Frédéric Déhu left Paris Saint-Germain, Ligue 1 vice-champions, French Cup champions and UEFA Champions League contenders, for an Olympique de Marseille side without European action but that would pay him twice the amount he earned at the capital club in 2004. His future was revealed just days before the French Cup Final against Châteauroux and he was widely booed by Paris fans throughout the match. After the final whistle, Déhu run to the locker room to hide his tears before coming out and briefly lifting the trophy.[35] Months later, Fabrice Fiorèse slammed the door at PSG after a confrontation with then manager Vahid Halilhodžić. He was transferred to OM in stormy conditions and went from being a fan favorite to being the most hated. Considered to be the new Christophe Dugarry at the time, Fiorèse insisted on the fact that Halilhodžić had refused his request to miss a match when his wife gave birth. A player's transferring directly from one club to another is seen as high treason, as Fabrice Fiorèse discovered when he was effectively whistled and chanted out of a Clasico by Paris fans outraged by his transfer to their arch-rivals.[4] "Treason" has in fact happened in different ways: transfers, players out of contract or exchange. During the 1990s, we witnessed the record shuffles between the two cities, when the sporting and media rivalry was at its peak. French football hope Jocelyn Angloma from PSG was exchanged for OM players Bernard Pardo, Bruno Germain and Laurent Fournier. Laurent Fournier replaced Vahid Halilhodžić as PSG coach and midfielder Lorik Cana fell out of favour in 2005. This prompted him to move to the south of France. Although previously declaring they will never play for OM, Modeste M'bami in 2006 and Gabriel Heinze in 2009 joined "Les Phocéens".[34]

As of 12 September 2011 (2011 -09-12).

References

Specific
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  2. ^ "Ligue 1 Preview: Paris Saint-Germain – Olympique de Marseille". Goal.com. 26 February 2010. http://goal.com/en/news/90/france/2010/02/26/1808160/ligue-1-preview-paris-saint-germain-olympique-de-marseille. Retrieved 28 February 2010. 
  3. ^ a b "Rewind to 1993: The shame of Marseille". ESPNsoccernet. 10 March 2011. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story/_/id/894439/rewind-to-1993:-the-shame-of-marseille?cc=3888. Retrieved 8 October 2011. 
  4. ^ a b c d e "OM-PSG D-2: The match that divides a nation". Ligue 1. 23 October 2009. http://www.ligue1.com/ligue1/article/om-psg-d-2-the-match-that-divides-a-nation.htm. Retrieved 25 October 2009. 
  5. ^ a b c d "France's passion play". FIFA. http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/stories/classicderby/news/newsid=1037223.html#frances+passion+play. Retrieved 25 October 2009. 
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  10. ^ a b "Marseille plan to take advanatge of poorly PSG in Ligue 1's Le Classique". 101 Great Goals. 22 October 2009. http://www.101greatgoals.com/marseille-plan-to-take-advanatge-of-poorly-psg-in-ligue-1s-le-classique/39206/. Retrieved 6 October 2011. 
  11. ^ "Contrat Local de Sécurité pour le Parc des Princes (2004)". Paris.fr. 29 June 2010. http://www.paris.fr/accueil/Portal.lut?page_id=8684&document_type_id=4&document_id=54902&portlet_id=20594&multileveldocument_sheet_id=10254. Retrieved 6 October 2011. 
  12. ^ "PSG-OM : tout un quartier sur le pied de guerre". La Dépêche du Midi. 25 October 2002. http://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2002/10/25/402119-PSG-OM-tout-un-quartier-sur-le-pied-de-guerre.html. Retrieved 6 October 2011. 
  13. ^ a b c d e "Quinze ans d'échauffourées". Le Parisien. 19 December 2008. ISSN 0767-3558. 
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  15. ^ "Violence in Marseille After Game Postponed". The New York Times. 26 October 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/sports/soccer/27iht-SOCCER.html. Retrieved 28 October 2009. 
  16. ^ "Marseille beats PSG 1–0; 15 fans arrested". The Star. 21 November 2009. http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2009/11/21/sports/20091121085608&sec=sports. Retrieved 24 November 2009. 
  17. ^ "Coupet: PSG squad "responsible" for OM violence". ESPNsoccernet. 3 March 2010. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=750159&sec=europe&cc=3888. Retrieved 3 March 2010. 
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  21. ^ "Beckham poised to sign with French side". The New Zealand Herald. 25 October 2011. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/soccer-football/news/article.cfm?c_id=86&objectid=10761591. Retrieved 9 November 2011. 
  22. ^ "PSG, OL, OM, ASSE…: Les effectifs les plus chers de L1". Sportune.fr. 9 September 2011. http://www.sportune.fr/sport-business/psg-ol-om-asse%E2%80%A6-les-effectifs-les-plus-chers-de-l1-35529. Retrieved 12 September 2011. 
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  25. ^ "UEFA Team Ranking 1998". XS4ALL. http://www.xs4all.nl/~kassiesa/bert/uefa/data/method1/trank1998.html. Retrieved 12 October 2010. 
  26. ^ "IFFHS Club World Ranking 1991". IFFHS. http://www.iffhs.de/?eedbca388d8569d817285fdcdc3bfcdc0aec70a713. Retrieved 12 October 2010. 
  27. ^ "Clubs more times First in Club World Ranking". IFFHS. http://www.iffhs.de/?bca384f02788705f94b40385fdcdc3bfcdc0aec70aeed412. Retrieved 12 October 2010. 
  28. ^ "All-Time Club World Ranking". IFFHS. http://www.iffhs.de/?3d4d443d0b803e8b40384c00205fdcdc3bfcdc0aec70aeedbe1a. Retrieved 12 October 2010. 
  29. ^ "IFFHS Club World Ranking". IFFHS. 30 September 2010. http://www.iffhs.de/?10f42e00fa2d17f73702fa3016e23c17f7370eff3702bb1c2bbb6f28f53512. Retrieved 12 October 2010. 
  30. ^ "UEFA Team Ranking 2012". XS4ALL. 22 July 2011. http://kassiesa.home.xs4all.nl/bert/uefa/data/method4/trank2012.html. Retrieved 22 July 2011. 
  31. ^ The Coupe de la Ligue is established. The Challenge des Champions is renamed the Trophée des Champions.
  32. ^ The Division 1 is renamed the Ligue 1.
  33. ^ Matches won on penalties count as a draw.
  34. ^ a b "Les joueurs qui ont connu le PSG et l’OM". PSGMAG.NET. 12 March 2009. http://www.psgmag.net/409-28e-j-Les-joueurs-qui-ont-connu-le-PSG-et-l. Retrieved 3 February 2011. 
  35. ^ "Déhu : "La faute du PSG"". Eurosport. 30 May 2004. http://www.eurosport.fr/football/coupe-de-france-04/2003-2004/dehu-la-faute-du-psg_sto595367/story.shtml. Retrieved 28 October 2009. 
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