In Episode 8 of Tactical Touch, we tell the story of a football club that lives in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower but carries the weight of Paris’s true soul. While Paris Saint-Germain may dominate the headlines today, it was Red Star FC that laid the foundations of what football could and should be.

Founded in 1897 by Jules Rimet, a young idealist who would later create the World Cup, Red Star was not built for fame or silverware. It was built for unity. In a time of class struggle, social unrest, and deep division in France, Rimet dreamed of a club where all people could come together through sport. At a time when most French clubs served only the elite, Red Star opened its doors to everyone: workers, clerks, immigrants, and aristocrats alike.

This episode explores how Red Star FC became a symbol of resistance, creativity, and community. From early games on borrowed pitches to winning five Coupe de France trophies, from the story of Resistance hero Rino Della Negra to the punk spirit of Stade Bauer today, Red Star’s journey is filled with courage and conviction.

We look at how the club's working-class identity took root in Saint-Ouen, how it stayed strong through wars and political change, and how its supporters built one of the most passionate fan cultures in France. Red Star is more than just the second team of Paris. It is a club that chose authenticity over glamour, and family over fame.

In a city now shaped by corporate football and billion-euro budgets, Red Star remains defiantly true to its values. This is the real Parisian football story: one of resistance, of dreams that refuse to die, and of fans who keep singing no matter the division.

Whether you are a football romantic, a history lover, or just someone curious about how one club can capture the spirit of a city, this episode is for you.

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