From Hauts-de-Seine to Paris (1941–1992)[edit]
The Parisian club was founded in 1941. Initially, it took the name of Patriotes d'Asnières before becoming Asnières Sports one year later. In 1945, although not recognised by the French Handball Federation, the team contested the Coupe de France final against Villemomble at the Parc des Princes in front of a crowd of 15,000. At the time, handball teams had 11 players. Asnières Sports was managed by Christian Picard, whose son Gérard Picard took over during the 1975–1976 season and remained president until 2003. In 1987, the club's management succeeded in convincing the Paris City Council to partner Asnières Sports and create a major handball club in the capital. This resulted in the Hauts-de-Seine team moving to Paris and being renamed Paris-Racing-Asnières then Paris-Asnières. Future international stars came through Paris such as Jackson Richardson, an iconic French handball player, double world champion and Olympic medallist, who played two seasons in Paris from 1989 to 1991. The club also crossed paths with Patrick Cazal, another French international and future double world champion, who signed his first professional contract with the capital's team in 1989.[1]