Paris FC look to Leicester City and Brest for inspiration

Paris FC is a club on the precipice of revolutionary change as their takeover from the Arnault family looms. Speaking to RMC Sport, their prospective new owner, Antoine Arnault, revealed that he has taken inspiration from the likes of Leicester City and Stade Brestois. 

Arnault is set to become the new owner of the Ligue 2 side. Initially, he is set to buy a 55% stake in the club, Red Bull will acquire a 15% share, and the current owner, Pierre Ferracci, will retain a 30% share which he will then relinquish in 2027. Having sat down with the DNCG, French football’s financial watchdog, last week, Arnault has now unveiled further details of the project. 

Paris FC are currently top of Ligue 2 after some ambitious summer spending. The objective is to earn promotion to Ligue 1 this season, although during their meeting with the DNCG, Arnault didn’t state that an immediate promotion was a necessity, instead choosing to give Paris FC two full seasons under his stewardship.

The ambition long-term, however, will be to not only make the step up to Ligue 1 but to make their mark. To do so, Arnault has taken inspiration from some of the most captivating under-dog stories in recent years. “We don’t have a model, however, the philosophy that has led English teams in recent times is really the idea that I have of what Paris FC will be in the coming years,” Arnault told RMC Sport. 

“I have the example of Leicester who, against all odds, won the English league (2016). I have a tradition of sports betting that unfortunately I will have to stop but I think they were 10,000 to 1 to win the English championship. There are stories like Brest recently (reaching the UEFA Champions League having been tipped for relegation) that I find inspiring,” he added.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle