Paris Saint-Germain Judo

Active departments of Paris Saint-Germain
Football (Men's)	Football (Youth Mixed)	Football (Women's)
Handball (Men's)	Esports	Judo (Mixed)

Closed departments of Paris Saint-Germain
Boxing (Men's)	Rugby League (Men's)

Paris Saint-Germain Judo, commonly known as PSG Judo, is a French professional judo club founded in 2017, and based in the city of Paris in France. The club is the judo department of Paris Saint-Germain.

PSG Judo was officially formed on 1 September 2017 by Paris Saint-Germain F.C. president Nasser Al-Khelaifi through a press release. He also announced the signing of French judoka star Teddy Riner as the figurehead of the project. Djamel Bouras and Nicolas Mossion were named president and technical director of PSG Judo, respectively. Mossion is also one of the club's coaches, the squad's performance manager and the director of the Paris Saint-Germain Judo School. Julien Boussuge, Laurent Calléja and Florent Urani are the other three coaches.

Initially, PSG Judo was going to be male-only project, but ended up being a mixed-gender team. In September 2018, the club recruited 14 judokas, opened the Paris Saint-Germain Judo School, and inaugurated its Dojo, located in the CMG Sports Club One Italie complex.

History[]

Initial approach[]

On 1 September 2017, Paris Saint-Germain Football Club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi announced the creation of Paris Saint-Germain Judo, the club's judo department. The press release was accompanied by the signing of French judoka and two-time Olympic champion Teddy Riner to spearhead the project.^[1] The unveiling also saw the appointment of Djamel Bouras as club president, while Nicolas Mossion was named technical director, coach and performance manager of PSG Judo.^[2][3][4] Julien Boussuge and Laurent Calléja were also signed as coaches.^[5][6]

Judo at the club is not entirely new. The section existed already between 1992 and 2002 (now Paris Judo) with Olympic champions such as David Douillet and Djamel Bouras.^[7] At first, this new version of PSG Judo was supposed to be composed of a male-only team of judokas of all ages.^[1] Teddy Riner was the club's sole judoka during its first year. The other judokas contacted to join him in the new Parisian project were not convinced by the proposed contractual conditions: one-year fixed-term contracts, accompanied by unattractive salaries (less than 4,000 euros a month). Walide Khyar (European −60 kg champion), Benjamin Axus (French −73 kg champion) or Pape Ndiaye (French −81 kg champion) notably declined the proposal.^[8]

Mixed-gender project[]

As a result, the club's male-only approach changed.^[8] In September 2018, a year after its launch, the club signed 14 judokas (nine men and five women) to compete alongside Teddy Riner, opened the Paris Saint-Germain Judo School, and inaugurated its Dojo, located in the CMG Sports Club One Italie complex at Porte d'Italie in the 13th arrondissement of Paris.^[9] In December 2018, Julien Boussuge joined as coach, alongside Nicolas Mossion.^[10]

PSG Judo started out with a squad composed of ten male judokas and five female judokas for a total of 15 judokas, including multiple world champion Teddy Riner.^[9] The women's team was composed of Faïza Mokdar, Habi Magassa, Lalou Lebrun, Mélanie Vieu and Carla N’Zossi Elecka, while the men's team had Heydar Ouchen, Yhonice Goueffon, Joris Agbegnenou, Widdman Laudort, Hugo Metifiot, Eniel Caroly, Tanou Keïta, Christopher Mvuama, Israil Dakayev and the aforementioned Riner.^[7][9][11]

Roster expansion and first titles[]

In September 2019, the club welcomed Ophélie Vellozzi, Laura Espadinha, Juliette Diollot and Martha Fawaz to the women's squad, while Sina Sadroleslami, Antony Duporge, Ahmed-Yacoub Belkahla, Bilel Yousfi and Arnaud Aregba signed for the men's team.^[12] Nabil Hachem, Amaury Assiga, Adam Tazabaev and Abdoullah Khadzhimuradov also joined the male squad in December 2019.^[13] During the second half of 2020, the club announced the signatures of female judokas Clara Wentzler, Lou-Anne Brustel, Marie-Ève Gahié and Romane Dicko as well as those of male judokas Driss Masson Jbilou, Khamzat Saparbaev, Alpha Djalo, Vang-Si Nzaou, Benjamin Gomes, Hugo Tchorowski and Luca Otmane.^{[14][15][16][17][18][19]}

PSG Judo further expanded its roster in 2021 with the signings of Amandine Buchard and Sanne Vermeer for the women's side alongside male counterparts Bastien Jenner, Denis Vieru and Davlat Bobonov.^[20][21] The club also reinforced its technical staff with French coach Florent Urani.^[22] These new additions were all part of the club's first two titles at the European Club Championships – Europa League in December 2021.^[23][24] Made up of twenty athletes, including Buchard but also Romane Dicko, Teddy Riner and Luca Otmane, PSG Judo made their return to the European stage by claiming an historic double.^[21][23] The club's male and female sides won their respective finals and clinched a spot in next year's Champions League.^[25]

Grounds[]

CMG Dojo[]

After opening its Judo school in September, PSG Judo president Djamel Bouras, club star Teddy Riner and several representatives of Paris Saint-Germain's other sporting sections came together in the 13th arrondissement of Paris to inaugurate the Dojo of the club's Judo section, where young judokas had been training since 2018.^[7][11]

PSG male footballers Kylian Mbappé, Layvin Kurzawa and Maxwell, PSG female footballers Laure Boulleau and Ashley Lawrence, PSG handballers Bruno Martini and Daniel Narcisse, and PSG esport players "DaXe" and "Ferra" were amongst those present in the inauguration ceremony.^[11]

The home of PSG's fifth sport section is located in a dedicated part of the CMG Sports Club One Italie complex. Decorated in club colours, the 180m² Dojo at the Porte d'Italie houses the Paris Saint-Germain Judo School as well as high level training facilities for Teddy Riner and the 14 other judokas.^[11] The school is open to all age categories, from 4 years old to adults, and is managed by PSG Judo technical director Nicolas Mossion.^[3][9][26]

Paris Saint-Germain Training Center[]

The Paris Saint-Germain Training Center, located in Poissy, Paris Region, will be PSG Judo's new training ground and sports complex.^[27][28][29] Owned and financed by parent club Paris Saint-Germain, the venue will bring together its male football, handball and judo teams as well as the football and handball academies.^[27][30] Each division will have its own dedicated facilities.^[31] Construction began in February 2020 and is expected to end in June 2023.^[32][33] The capital club will invest around €350m.^[34]

Honours[]

As of 11 December 2021.

European[]

• European Club Championships – Europa League (2):
  • PSG Judo Men's Team in 2021.^[35]
  • PSG Judo Women's Team in 2021.^[35]

Judokas[]

As of 6 December 2021.

Male[]

Teddy Riner

Player	Paris Saint-Germain	Weight class	Source
Heydar Ouchen	2018–	(−55 kg)	[9]
Yhonice Goueffon	2018–	(−60 kg)	[9]
Ahmed-Yacoub Belkahla	2019–	(−60 kg)	[12]
Antony Duporge	2019–	(−60 kg)	[12]
Driss Masson Jbilou	2020–	(−60 kg)	[14]
Widdman Laudort	2018–	(−66 kg)	[9]
Israil Dakayev	2018–	(−66 kg)	[9]
Sina Sadroleslami	2019–	(−66 kg)	[12]
Vang-Si Nzaou	2020–	(−66 kg)	[18]
Benjamin Gomes	2020–	(−66 kg)	[18]
Bastien Jenner	2021–	(−66 kg)	[21]
Denis Vieru	2021–	(−66 kg)	[21]
Hugo Metifiot	2018–	(−73 kg)	[9]
Bilel Yousfi	2019–	(−73 kg)	[12]
Nabil Hachem	2019–	(−73 kg)	[13]
Hugo Tchorowski	2020–	(−73 kg)	[18]
Luca Otmane	2020–	(−73 kg)	[19]
Arnaud Aregba	2019–	(−81 kg)	[12]
Amaury Assiga	2019–	(−81 kg)	[13]
Adam Tazabaev	2019–	(−81 kg)	[13]
Alpha Djalo	2020–	(−81 kg)	[17]
Eniel Caroly	2018–	(−90 kg)	[9]
Davlat Bobonov	2021–	(−90 kg)	[21]
Joris Agbegnenou	2018–	(−100 kg)	[9]
Tanou Keïta	2018–	(−100 kg)	[9]
Christopher Mvuama	2018–	(−100 kg)	[9]
Abdoullah Khadzhimuradov	2019–	(−100 kg)	[13]
Khamzat Saparbaev	2020–	(−100 kg)	[14]
Teddy Riner	2017–	(+100 kg)	[9]

Female[]

Marie-Ève Gahié

Player	Paris Saint-Germain	Weight class	Source
Mélanie Vieu	2018–	(−48 kg)	[9]
Lalou Lebrun	2018–	(−52 kg)	[9]
Laura Espadinha	2019–	(−52 kg)	[12]
Amandine Buchard	2020–	(−52 kg)	[20]
Faïza Mokdar	2018–	(−57 kg)	[9]
Ophélie Vellozzi	2019–	(−57 kg)	[12]
Martha Fawaz	2019–	(−57 kg)	[12]
Clara Wentzler	2020–	(−63 kg)	[14]
Sanne Vermeer	2021–	(−63 kg)	[21]
Carla N’Zossi Elecka	2018–	(−70 kg)	[9]
Juliette Diollot	2019–	(−70 kg)	[12]
Habi Magassa	2018–	(−78 kg)	[9]
Lou-Anne Brustel	2020–	(−78 kg)	[15]
Marie-Ève Gahié	2020–	(−78 kg)	[16]
Romane Dicko	2020–	(+78 kg)	[16]

Staff and management[]

Djamel Bouras

As of 8 November 2021.

Position	Name	Paris Saint-Germain	Source
President	Djamel Bouras	2017–	[2]
Technical director	Nicolas Mossion	2018–	[3]
Coaches	Nicolas Mossion Julien Boussuge Laurent Calléja Florent Urani	2018–	[5][6][10][22]
Performance manager	Nicolas Mossion	2018–	[4]
School director	Nicolas Mossion	2018–	[26]

References[]

External links[]

Official websites

• PSG.FR - Site officiel du Paris Saint-Germain