Paris Saint-Germain 1996–97 Away Shirt – Authenticity Guide
The PSG 1996–97 Away Shirt is a cult classic from one of the club’s most competitive eras in European football. Designed by Nike with bold red colouring and high-contrast detailing, it has become increasingly rare among collectors. Known issues include colour fading, especially in the red dye, and separation or cracking of the Opel sponsor on heavily worn shirts. Some reproductions on the market confuse this design with later Nike templates or use inaccurate stitching on the PSG crest.
Shirt Overview
- Club: Paris Saint-Germain
- Season: 1996–97
- Type: Away Shirt
- Manufacturer: Nike
- Main Colours: Red with blue and white detailing
- Sponsor: Opel (front)
- Competition Use: Division 1 (Ligue 1), UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup
- Available Versions: Short sleeve and long sleeve, fan replica and player issue
- Retail Release: Summer 1996
Design Details
- Bright red base with dark blue side panels and white trim
- Polo-style collar in red with a single-button fastening
- Embroidered PSG crest on the left chest
- Nike Swoosh embroidered in white on the right chest
- Large white “Opel” sponsor printed across the front
- Inner woven Nike size label at the collar
- Worn with blue shorts and red socks in most away fixtures
- Official name and number printing used bold white lettering with no outline
Variants and Notes
- Player Issue Versions: Used thinner, more breathable fabric and may have included reinforced stitching or heat-applied elements
- European Match Variant: Occasionally worn with UEFA sleeve patches; some shirts had adjusted sponsor size for compliance
- Long Sleeve Version: Same body design with red sleeves and blue cuffs
- Youth Sizes: Often included printed crests and simplified stitching
Player Info
| Player | Appearances (All Competitions) |
| Raí | 41 |
| Leonardo | 44 |
| Patrice Loko | 38 |
| Youri Djorkaeff | 36 |
| Bernard Lama | 46 |
| Bruno N’Gotty | 40 |
| Vincent Guérin | 42 |
| Alain Roche | 39 |
| Paul Le Guen | 37 |
| Laurent Fournier | 34 |
| Jérôme Leroy | 26 |
| Pascal Nouma | 30 |
| Franck Gava | 28 |
Season Summary
The 1996–97 season was one of the most memorable in PSG’s pre-Qatari era. Under manager Ricardo, the club finished second in Division 1, narrowly missing out on the league title to AS Monaco. They also had an excellent European run, reaching the final of the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, where they were narrowly defeated by FC Barcelona. Domestically, they claimed the Trophée des Champions early in the campaign and reached the Coupe de France semi-finals, establishing themselves as a major force in both French and European football during the mid-1990s.