Francis Borelli took over as club chairman in 1978; under his control, Paris-Saint Germain conquered its first major trophies: one [European Cup] two French Cups (1982, 1983) and the 1985-1986 French league.

The most notable players of this period were Carlos Bianchi, Dominique Baratelli, Luis Fernandez, Ivica Surjak, Dominique Bathenay and Dominique Rocheteau first, Safet Susic, Joël Bats, and Gabriel Calderón later, with Georges Peyroche, Gérard Houllier, Lucien Leduc and Tomislav Ivic as some of the coaches.