At 85 years old, Pierre Phelipon is an active retiree who always closely follows the results of “his” PSG, even if he has settled near Reims (Marne). It was with him that the story began. Arrived in 1969 to lead Stade Saint-Germanois in the 3rd division, he was the first coach of Paris Saint-Germain. He brought it up to the 1st division in 1971 and then maintained it the following year before the split with Paris FC. He tells his memories.
How did you find yourself at the Stade Saint-Germanois in the 3rd division?
PIERRE PHELIPON. I was 35 years old and with Angoulême, we had just moved up to the 1st division after play-offs against Monaco. I can tell you that my choice surprised many. But coming to Saint-Germain as a player-coach, it allowed me to start my retraining. Henri Patrelle, the president of the club, was well placed in the Federation, I think he already had an idea behind his head. Rumors circulated that we were going to form a 1st division team in Paris because there were no more. Me, this adventure pleased me because I am a Parisian. I grew up near Boulevard Magenta and Gare de l’Est (Paris Xe), I had played Racing and Stade Français.
To what ressembled the Saint-Germain club at the time?
You could tell he wanted to grow up. We had great facilities in Saint-Germain-en-Laye. It was already at the place where PSG is currently, at the Camp des Loges. We really had a great season in CFA (3rd division) and we moved up to 2nd division.
It was there, in 1970, after many negotiations and adventures, that the Stade Saint-Germanois and Paris FC merged …
We had the facilities and Paris FC, the money, thanks to its president Guy Crescent, who was also CEO of Calberson. We recruited professionals like Jean Djorkaeff and Jean-Pierre Destrumelle (OM), Jean-Claude Bras (Liège) or Roland Mitoraj (Saint-Etienne). In addition to my fans from Saint-Germain, we had a great team. I was still a player-coach, I was on the pitch when Bernard Guignedoux scored the first goal in club history. But after a few games, I stopped playing. It was getting too complicated to combine the two.
After only one season, the club moved up to the 1st division …
Two climbs to launch my coaching career, it wasn’t bad, wasn’t it? (Smile.) This rise in 1st division and the title of champion of France of D2 (Editor’s note: there were three groups and a final tournament between the first three designated the champion) is my fondest memory with PSG. But I’ll be honest. Our opponents were Rouen, Limoges, Quimper, Montluçon, Quevilly… With the team I had, it would have been a real underperformance not to manage to climb.
Paris SG did not have a fixed stadium at the time?
No, the Parc des Princes was under reconstruction. In the 2nd division, we played at Stade Jean-Bouin. It was small but we were quite followed, 10,000 spectators. Then we went to the Bauer stadium in Saint-Ouen in the 1st division. It was a little bigger, we played in front of 15,000 spectators. But when you think about it, the PSG among the Communists, it’s funny anyway …
Do you remember that you coached the first Brazilian in the history of PSG, Joël Camargo, in 1971-1972?
I don’t want to talk too much about it because it’s a bit sad story. He was world champion with Brazil in 1970. But before arriving here, he had a serious car accident. On the pitch, I could see he was limping… I couldn’t make him play so he went with the reserve. Guy Crescent had also forced me to take an Englishman named Derrick. He was supposedly from Arsenal. But he was very average. He only had to play six or seven games. At the time, there were no actual agents but already intermediaries who revolved around the clubs. Crescent had been fooled. It’s like Pelé… You know he almost came to PSG?
Tell us this story …
One day, the newspaper L’Equipe headlined: “Pelé at PSG next year. It made a lot of noise at the time. But it had all started with a conversation the day before in a car. There was Patrelle, Crescent, his driver, a reporter from L’Equipe and me. The next day it was out in the headline. But the story was incredible. Pelé was expected to come and play on Saturday or Sunday with PSG, fly back to Brazil and come back every weekend. A return trip every week, do you realize? (He bursts out laughing.) Of course that was impossible. Crescent had been tricked again. Patrelle really knew football, Crescent also a little but he was very poorly surrounded, especially by the people around Paris FC.
Which player you have managed marked you the most?
Jean Djorkaeff. He had been captain of the France team, he was a real boss. He was very serious. Bras, it was something else … At the time, Mr. Patrelle had forced all players to live in Saint-Germain. But he continued to live in Paris. At the time of the 2nd Division, I did two sessions. One in the morning with the professionals and the other in the evening with the whole team because I had amateur players who worked during the day.
Do you have any regrets that you had to leave PSG?
I was not fired, eh… We held on (16th). But things were getting complicated between Saint-Germain and Paris FC. I was coming to the end of my three-year contract and it was I who wanted to leave. I signed in Bordeaux in the 1st division.
Do you have the feeling that you have left a mark in the history of PSG by being its first coach?
Yes, I am proud of it. This club will always keep a special place at home. I remain a great supporter of Paris Saint-Germain. Do you know what makes my heart warm? It is to see that the club has not forgotten me.
This season, you were invited to the match against Montpellier at the Parc des Princes on February 1st…
(Emu.) PSG received me like a king. The club offered me a flocked jersey with my number 1 name, I was able to discuss with the coach, Thomas Tuchel. It was a wonderful evening. I was supposed to come back for the 50th birthday party but it was canceled with the coronavirus. I hope it will still take place and that I can come.
What do you think of the evolution of PSG?
In Paris, it is much more difficult than elsewhere. There have always been things internally, politics. But I’m happy to see this club at this level today. There are only stars, it’s very cosmopolitan and it’s not easy to find an amalgam in all of that. We can have the 11 best players in the world, if they don’t get along, it can’t make a team. But the coach is doing a good job. I really hope they will win the Champions League this year.
Which player would you have liked to coach?
Mbappé, of course. He is young, he has yet to confirm but he is really very, very good. In the past, I really loved Pauleta. They are the kind of players every coach dreams of having. We don’t need to motivate them on a pitch, they are always at their best and the public likes them. It’s like Cavani. He has a very good state of mind. Of course, he was getting older, but I regret his departure.
