One defining characteristic of the club is the strength of the women’s side.
Formerly known as Juvisy before merging with Paris FC in 2017, the team is a six-time national champion and regularly qualifies for European competitions, usually finishing behind only Lyon and PSG in the league table.
Comparing their neighbors, who already have established competition, is the most immediate goal here.
Fittingly, the women’s team’s first match after winning the title was a home match at Stade Charlety against PSG, with a late goal from France international Clara Mateo securing a point for the hosts.
“The idea is to aim higher, to develop women’s football at the same level as men. I can’t promise that we will be at the level of Lyon immediately, but we will look to enter the top two positions and then set new goals when we get there,” Ferracci adds.
Where exactly in the capital the club’s ambitions will take place will be another matter entirely. Both the men’s and women’s first teams play at the multi-purpose Charlety, which stands against the Peripherique ring road in southeast Paris.
The open field is not suitable for equipment, mainly due to its athleticism and limited scope for expansion. Low attendances were a constant issue until the free ticket scheme, introduced midway through last season, saw average attendances rise to more than half of the 20,000 capacity.
For Ferracci, a move to the Stade Jean-Bouin, a smaller stadium that sits in the exact shadow of the Parc des Princes and currently hosts Stade Francais rugby club, would be a great short-term option.
“I hope that, one day, 20,000 seats will not be enough,” Ferracci says. “We can aim for something from 40,000, which we don’t have in one of those stadiums. If we go up to Ligue 1 in the next few years, we will finish one of them.”
While the prospect of a more competitive derby has dominated the headlines, Paris FC referees have avoided talking about the fierce rivalry – with Antoine Arnault himself claiming to be a long-time fan of 12-time league champions PSG.
“I think there is room for two clubs in Paris, for two different stories that can be completed,” explained Arnault, who is the CEO of Christian Dior, in a press conference.
Ferracci adds: “There is no hostility, I myself had a season ticket (at PSG) with my son in the past.”
The club president also points out that PSG and Brazil legend Rai and former PSG president Michel Denisot are involved in the Paris FC club.
Whether that gentle, bridge-building approach will survive the potentially bitter reality of a battle for supremacy in Ligue 1 with Paris remains to be seen.
For now, though, Paris FC have a promotion campaign to get back on track.
