Error code: %{errorCode}
The finalists' shared players and coaches
- Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain face off in the FIFA Club World Cup Final on 13 July
- The Blues and Parisians have a shared history
- FIFA explores the players and coaches who have represented both sides
From 32 teams, to two. The FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ final pits Premier League giants Chelsea FC against current European champions Paris Saint-Germain.
Separated by just 455 km, it’s no surprise that the capital city clubs have a shared history. Ahead of the final on 13 July at MetLife Stadium, FIFA remembers some of the best players and coaches to have represented both clubs.
Watch the Club World Cup live and free on DAZN
Thiago Silva
The Brazilian, who was just seen captaining Fluminense to a Club World Cup semi-final against the Blues, played a combined 12 seasons in Paris and London, during which time he was considered one of the world's best defenders.
Having moved from AC Milan to PSG in the summer of 2012 for a then record €42 million, he went on to make 204 appearances over eight seasons in Paris, helping the club capture seven Ligue 1 titles, six Coupes de la Ligue, and five Coupes de France. The centre-back also played in PSG’s first-ever UEFA Champions League final under Thomas Tuchel, with whom he would reunite in London just a few months later.
In the summer of 2020, Thiago Silva moved to London on a free transfer. During his four years in London, he won the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup™. Such was his class that Thiago Silva is considered a legend at both clubs.
Claude Makelele
Born in Kinshasa, the man who redefined the defensive midfield position burst on to the scene while at Real Madrid, but solidified his status as one of the most influential players of his generation at Chelsea and later PSG.
Makelele anchored the midfield triumvirate of the Blues' all-conquering side under Jose Mourinho. He made 144 appearances for the London club, winning two Premier League titles and two FA Cups, and reaching the final of the Champions League.
After five seasons in London, the Frenchman returning home, signing for PSG. He fell two short of 100 appearances for the French side, but captained the club to a Coupe de France title just before Qatar Sports Investments' involvement began. Makelele also shared the bench with Carlo Ancelotti, assisting the Italian during his stint in Paris.
David Luiz
The Brazilian played six seasons in London, split over two spells, separated by two seasons in Paris. He was integral to Chelsea’s conquests of the UEFA Champions League in 2011/12 and the UEFA Europa League in 2012/13 and 2018/19, and also won the Premier League under Antonio Conte.
His transfer to PSG broke the record for a defender, which the French giants had set years earlier with the purchase of Thiago Silva. David Luiz won every trophy on offer in France, but was unable to help the club capture the Champions League.
Nicolas Anelka
Anelka was one of the most prodigious talents of his time. Coming through France’s famed Clairefontaine academy, he broke into the PSG aged 16 team during the 1996/97 season, making ten appearances and scoring one goal. It was enough to convince Arsene Wenger to bring him to London with Chelsea's city rivals, Arsenal.
But Anelka was not one to stay in place for long. After two seasons in London and one in Madrid, Anelka found himself back in Paris. Anelka’s return brought huge fanfare, and he was even named captain, but after one season he was on the move again.
Between the summer of 2001 and that of 2008, the Frenchman played for four clubs, three in the Premier League, before eventually finding his way to Stamford Bridge. There, he formed a formidable strike partnership with Didier Drogba and, after four seasons, left the club with winner's medals from the Premier League and the FA Cup (2), and a Golden Boot award as the 2008/09 season's top scorer.
George Weah
The only African to win the Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards, and one of the greatest players of his generation, George Weah was the dominant force in PSG’s front line for three seasons. The Liberian scored 32 goals, including a wonder goal against FC Bayern München, and won Ligue 1, two Coupe de France, and one Coupe de la Ligue. He was also the top scorer of the UEFA Champions League 1994/95 edition.
In his later years, Weah was loaned from AC Milan to Chelsea, for whom he made just 11 appearances. However, Weah is remembered fondly in West London, most notably for scoring on his debut against rival Tottenham Hotspur and for helping the Blues defeat Aston Villa in the 1999/00 FA Cup.
Thomas Tuchel
The German remains the only manager to reach consecutive UEFA Champions League finals with two different clubs. Tuchel arrived in Paris after two strong seasons with Club World Cup quarter-finalist Borussia Dortmund.
In Paris, he imposed a more diligent training regimen and, boosted by the signing of Kylian Mbappe, led the Parisians to a record point total by Christmas, eventually winning Ligue 1 in his first season. In his second season, Tuchel went one step further. The German guided the club to a domestic quadruple and its first Champions League final. In a closed-door final due to Covid-19 restrictions, PSG fell 1-0 to Bayern.
Tuchel was dismissed from PSG in December of the following season, and quickly found himself with a new job in London. Chelsea appointed the German a month later, and in just a few months, he righted the ship in London, guiding the Blues to a 1-0 victory over Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the Champions League final. He won the FIFA Intercontinental Cup the following season and led the Blues to the FA Cup and EFL Cup finals before parting ways with the club.
Buy tickets to the Club World Cup final
Carlo Ancelotti
While Tuchel went from PSG to Chelsea, Ancelotti did things in reverse. After nearly a decade with AC Milan, the Italian moved to West London, where he immediately guided the Blues to a domestic double, their first since Jose Mourinho’s first season in charge. Ancelotti unlocked the Blues' offensive firepower, partnering Anelka with Drogba, which saw the side set a scoring record, netting 103 goals across the season.
Ancelotti left Chelsea after his second season in London, and just a half a season took the reins in Paris. He was unable to guide the Parisians to silverware in his first season, but helped PSG reclaim the Ligue 1 title in 2012/13, after which he swapped Paris for Madrid.
Mauricio Pochettino
The current USA men’s national team coach had two short stints in Paris and West London. Better known for his work with Tottenham, Pochettino took over PSG in 2021 after Tuchel’s departure. Having played for the club for two years, he was familiar with the environment, although PSG was now a club laden with stars like Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe.
The Argentinian led PSG to Coupe de France glory in his first season and a Ligue 1 title in his second, but was unable to return them to the Champions League final. He parted ways with the club in July 2022 and roughly a year later was back in London, this time signing with Chelsea.
There, he took over a club that recently underwent a change in ownership and was establishing a new identity. Though he led the club to the EFL Cup final, Pochettino left after just one season, with Chelsea having finished in sixth. During his time in West London, he won his 400th game in English football.
