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| Paris Saint-Germain Handball | |
|---|---|
| Clubname | Paris Saint-Germain Handball |
| Fullname | Paris Saint-Germain Handball |
| Founded | 1941 (as Patriotes d'Asnières), 1970 (as PSG Handball refounded) |
| Ground | Stade Pierre de Coubertin |
| Capacity | 4,200 |
| Chairman | Nasser Al-Khelaifi |
| Manager | Raúl González |
| League | LNH Division 1 |
| Season | 2023–24 |
Paris Saint-Germain Handball is a professional handball club based in Paris, France. Founded through earlier incarnations including Patriotes d'Asnières and refounded under the Paris Saint-Germain identity, the club competes in the Ligue Nationale de Handball (LNH Division 1) and in European competitions such as the EHF Champions League and EHF European League. Backed by ownership connected to Qatar Sports Investments and linked institutionally to Paris Saint-Germain Football Club, the team has become one of the premier clubs in French handball and a regular contender on the European handball stage.
Paris Saint-Germain Handball traces origins through clubs like Patriotes d'Asnières and later mergers that connected to the wider Paris Saint-Germain sporting organization; key moments include re-establishment in the 1990s and the transformative acquisition by Qatar Sports Investments in 2012, an investment vehicle associated with figures such as Nasser Al-Khelaifi and institutions including Qatar Investment Authority. The club rose to prominence in the same era that saw growth in LNH Division 1 competition alongside rivals such as Montpellier Handball, HBC Nantes, and Starligue participants. Significant milestones feature domestic league titles, success in the Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue, and deep runs in the EHF Champions League culminating in reaching the final and securing high finishes against clubs like KS Kielce, THW Kiel, FC Barcelona Handbol, Vardar Skopje, and RK Zagreb.
The club's honours include multiple LNH Division 1 championships, victories in the Coupe de France, triumphs in the Coupe de la Ligue, and titles in the Trophée des Champions. European achievements comprise notable runs in the EHF Champions League and participation in the IHF Super Globe. Domestic rivals such as Montpellier HB and US Ivry Handball have provided context for PSG's trophy hauls, while international clashes with teams like RK Vardar, HC Veszprém, SG Flensburg-Handewitt, and RK Celje have underscored the club's stature.
Home matches are primarily held at the Stade Pierre de Coubertin in Paris with occasional fixtures at larger venues such as Accor Arena (formerly Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy). Training and administrative operations have taken place at facilities linked to the broader Paris Saint-Germain sporting complex and involve partnerships with local municipalities including Asnières-sur-Seine and institutions like CNOSF. The club has benefitted from investments similar to those seen in stadium developments such as Parc des Princes and training centres associated with elite European clubs.
PSG Handball has featured internationally renowned players including Mikkel Hansen, Nikola Karabatić, Luka Karabatic, Luc Abalo, Mikey Williams (note: example), Sander Sagosen, Pedro Rodríguez Losa (note: example), Sébastien Bosquet (note: example), and other notable professionals who have represented national teams such as France men's national handball team, Denmark national handball team, Norway men's national handball team, and Croatia national handball team. The squad mixes domestic talent produced by academies like INF Clairefontaine-linked programs and recruits from clubs such as Montpellier HB, HBC Nantes, US Ivry Handball, Paris Handball (historical), Cesson Rennes Métropole Handball, Tours Handball, and international sides including THW Kiel, FC Barcelona Handbol, SC Magdeburg, and Veszprém KC.
Executive oversight has included figures from Qatar Sports Investments and executives affiliated with Paris Saint-Germain Football Club management structures, notably Nasser Al-Khelaifi. Sporting directors, head coaches, and technical staff have included high-profile names with histories at clubs such as RK Vardar, THW Kiel, and national federations like the Fédération Française de Handball. Coaching appointments have seen former players and tacticians from the IHF, EHF, and national team programs take charge, reflecting connections to coaching networks in Spain, Germany, Denmark, and France.
PSG Handball's season-by-season record shows domestic domination in multiple campaigns within LNH Division 1, cup runs in the Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue, and progressive improvement in the EHF Champions League with knockout appearances against opponents such as RK Zagreb, KC Veszprém, SG Flensburg-Handewitt, KS Vive Kielce, RK Celje, and RK Vojvodina. The club's league standings have frequently placed them at the summit of standings alongside competitors like Saint-Raphaël VHB and Chambéry Savoie Mont Blanc Handball.
The youth academy links with municipal and national development pathways including training partnerships like INSEP and regional centres in Île-de-France. The academy has produced players who progressed to senior roles and national team selection, mirroring development models used by clubs such as Montpellier HB and institutions like Fédération Française de Handball. Scouting networks extend across Europe, South America, and North Africa, recruiting prospects from academies such as AS Cannes Handball and feeder clubs in the French handball pyramid.
Rivalries are most intense with Montpellier Handball and regional adversaries like HBC Nantes, Saint-Raphaël VHB, and historical rivals US Ivry Handball. Supporter groups align with the broader fan culture of Paris Saint-Germain Football Club and include organised groups that have appeared at venues such as Stade Pierre de Coubertin and Accor Arena. The club's fanbase intersects with supporters of other Parisian clubs and has connections to international fans drawn by marquee signings and high-profile fixtures against European powerhouses like FC Barcelona Handbol and THW Kiel.
Category:Handball clubs in France