5 Football Clubs With The Most French League Titles
Paris Saint-German football club has won the most French League titles in the professional era (12). However, some other teams have come close.
See The Five Clubs Below
| Rank | Club | Ligue 1 Titles |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) | 12 |
| 2 | AS Saint-Étienne | 10 |
| 3 | Olympique de Marseille | 10 |
| 4 | AS Monaco | 8 |
| 5 | FC Nantes | 8 |
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1. Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) – 12 titles
Paris Saint-Germain Football Club, known as PSG, is the club with the most titles in the French league. Founded in 1970, PSG is based in Paris, France, and is seen as the most successful club in the history of French football.
Competing in Ligue 1, which is the top level of French football, PSG has won an impressive total of 12 league titles. This success has made them a strong force in the country’s football competitions.
PSG’s journey to success began when they won their first major trophy, the French Cup, in 1982. They followed this achievement by winning their first league title in 1986.
The club gained more recognition in the 1990s, winning many domestic cups and the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1996.
This win was special because PSG is one of only two clubs in France to have won a major European trophy. However, the club faced some difficulties in the 2000s.
They struggled with their performance and stability during this time. A big change happened in 2011 when Qatar Sports Investments bought the club.
This new ownership brought in a lot of money, which helped PSG improve and attract some of the best players in the world, like Neymar, Kylian Mbappé, and Lionel Messi.
Since this takeover, PSG has dominated French football, winning many league titles and national cups. From 2013 to 2020, they even won the Trophée des Champions for eight years in a row.
PSG has also made its mark in European competitions, reaching the UEFA Champions League final in 2020, though they could not win the title.
They have consistently performed well in Ligue 1 and have the record for the most consecutive seasons in the league. PSG also has a fierce rivalry with Olympique de Marseille, known as “Le Classique.” This match is one of the most exciting and anticipated in French football.
2. AS Saint-Étienne – 10 titles
AS Saint-Étienne is the second football club with the most titles in the French league, known as Ligue 1. The club has won a total of 10 championships.
AS Saint-Étienne is based in Saint-Étienne, a city in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France. The club was founded in 1919 and has a long and proud history in French football.
AS Saint-Étienne’s success is especially notable during the 1960s and 1970s. They won their first league title in the 1956/57 season under the management of Jean Snella.
This victory was the start of a golden era for the team, as they continued to win titles rapidly over the next two decades.
The seasons in which they won their championships are as follows: 1956/57, 1963/64, 1966/67, 1967/68, 1968/69, 1969/70, 1973/74, 1974/75, 1975/76, and 1980/81. Their strong performances during these years made them one of the most successful clubs in French football history.
A memorable moment for AS Saint-Étienne was in 1976 when they reached the final of the UEFA Champions League, then called the European Cup.
Although they lost to Bayern Munich, this achievement helped them gain recognition across Europe. Key figures in the club’s history include influential managers like Albert Batteux and Robert Herbin.
Under their leadership, the team developed a unique style of play that helped them dominate French football. In recent years, AS Saint-Étienne has faced ups and downs, including struggles with relegation.
Despite these challenges, their legacy in French football remains strong. The club has also expanded to include a women’s team.
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3. Olympique de Marseille – 10 titles
Olympique de Marseille is the second most successful football club in France alongside AS Saint-Etienne. The club was founded in 1899 and has a long history with a passionate fan base.
Marseille is known for its impressive achievements, including winning the French league title ten times. Their most recent title was in the 2009-2010 season.
However, Marseille’s journey to success began in the 1936-37 season when they won their first Ligue 1 title. Over the years, the club continued to perform well, with major victories in the 1970s and 1980s.
They had a golden era in the late 1980s and early 1990s, winning several titles in a row. During this time, Marseille had a strong team and effective coaching, which helped them dominate French football.
One of the highlights of Marseille’s history is winning the UEFA Champions League in 1993. This victory made Marseille the first and only French club to win this prestigious tournament.
The final took place in Munich, and they defeated AC Milan 1-0, thanks to a goal from Basile Boli. However, Marseille’s history has not been without problems.
In 1994, the club faced a major setback when they were relegated to Ligue 2 due to a bribery scandal. This scandal also caused them to lose their domestic titles from that time.
Despite this, Marseille worked hard to recover and quickly returned to Ligue 1, regaining its position among France’s top clubs.
In the 2000s and 2010s, Marseille continued to be competitive, winning more domestic trophies, including the Coupe de France, which they have won a record ten times. Their consistent performance keeps them in the race for both domestic and European titles.
4. AS Monaco – 8 titles
AS Monaco FC is the third club with the most French League titles. It was founded in 1918 and has become one of the most successful teams in French football.
Monaco has won a total of eight Ligue 1 titles. The eight titles were won in different seasons: 1960–61, 1962–63, 1977–78, 1981–82, 1987–88, 1996–97, 1999–2000, and the most recent in 2016–17.
Under the guidance of coach Lucien Leduc, Monaco won its first major trophy, the Coupe de France, in 1960. The following year, they achieved their first league title, which was the start of a successful period for the club.
Leduc led the team to its first League and Cup Double in 1963. In the 1970s and 1980s, the club experienced ups and downs, sometimes moving between the top division and the second division.
However, they made a strong comeback in the late 1970s, winning another league title in 1978. The club continued to impress in the following years, winning more league titles in 1982 and 1988, along with domestic cup victories.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, AS Monaco made an impressive run to the UEFA Champions League final in 2004, finishing as runners-up.
The club’s eighth and most recent league title was in the 2016–17 season, under coach Leonardo Jardim. This victory ended a long 17-year wait for the championship.
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5. FC Nantes – 8 titles
One of the clubs with the most French league titles is FC Nantes, which has won the title eight times. FC Nantes, also known as Football Club de Nantes, is based in the city of Nantes, located in the Pays de la Loire region.
The club was founded on April 21, 1943, during World War II. It was created by merging several local clubs to form a stronger team in French football.
FC Nantes has grown to become one of the most successful clubs in French football history. Their achievements include winning the Ligue 1 championship eight times.
The seasons in which they won their titles are 1964–65, 1965–66, 1972–73, 1976–77, 1979–80, 1982–83, 1994–95, and 2000–01.
This impressive record places them among the top clubs in France, along with famous teams like Paris Saint-Germain and AS Saint-Étienne.
Besides their league titles, FC Nantes has also won the Coupe de France four times and the Coupe de la Ligue once. FC Nantes is known for its unique playing style called jeu à la nantaise, which means Nantes-style play.
This style focuses on teamwork and smooth movements on the field. Coaches like José Arribas, Jean-Claude Suaudeau, and Raynald Denoueix helped develop this style.
The club is also famous for its youth academy, which has produced many talented players, including Marcel Desailly, Didier Deschamps, and Claude Makélélé.
Recently, FC Nantes has faced some challenges in staying at the top level of French football, but they continue to compete in Ligue 1.
Kenneth is a an avid soccer follower, fan and writer. He is a consistent follower of the sport and is a fan of Chelsea FC.
