The Parc des Princes pays homage to Charles Talar

Charles Talar has passed away in Lisbon, Portugal, the home of his great friend Artur Jorge. Born in 1941 in the Tunisian town of Sousse, Charles Talar left his home country to head to Paris, where he would later become one of biggest personalities in the world of show business. He worked as a producer for some of the most influential French and international artists from the end of the twentieth century, including Stone & Charden, Johnny Hallyday, Claude François, Serge Lama, Mike Brant and even Francis Cabrel. He was also involved in the production of some France’s biggest musicals, including the great “Notre-Dame de Paris.”

It was during this period that Charles Talar discovered his love for Paris Saint-Germain. He was a close friend of fashion designer Daniel Hechter, and in the spring of 1973 the two men decided to take over a club that was in danger of going under, with a little help from Francis Borelli, Bernard Brochand and Jean-Paul Belmondo. Nicknamed “The Pink Shirt Gang”, they gave Paris Saint-Germain a new lease of life. The club returned to top flight football in 1974 with Just Fontaine at the helm as manager.

“We were all mad football fans,” Charles Talar explained, ten years ago. “During my trips to the United States I really got to understand the power of professional sport and I was sure that whoever decided to start a professional football club in Paris would succeed. The Parc des Princes was also available and it had our name on it…”

Talar worked closely with Daniel Hechter but was equally close to Francis Borelli, who succeeded Hechter as president in January 1978. Borelli was born in the same town as Talar. Together they would end up witnessing the club win their first trophies – the Coupe de France in 1982 and 1983, and the league title in 1986. They were both important presences at the many directors’ meetings that took place at Francis Borelli’s home. “Charles was someone who set the tone,” says ex-Paris Saint-Germain president Alain Cayzac . “He was so passionate, as well as being very funny, generous and hard-working. Most importantly, of all the directors of the club that I’ve known, Charles was definitely someone who really understood football. He was often involved in recruitment, whether it was under Francis Borelli or during the Canal+ era, notably when Artur Jorge and Ricardo were brought in in 1991.”

For the whole of the Canal+ era (1991-2006), Charles Talar was a discrete yet indispensable figure in a group of “legendary directors” that included Alain Cayzac, Bernard Brochand and his brother Simon Tahar, who became president of the club in 2008. In recent times Charles had been living in Miami, having stepped back from the worlds of football and show-business. His son Nicolas carried on his name as a producer. “Charles is a huge figure to lose,” said Alain Cayzac, remembering his “loyal friend”. Talar not only helped his beloved club survive, but also to flourish and become what it is today.

To his wife Danielle, his brother Simon, and to all of Charles Talar’s family and friends, the Paris Saint-Germain community sends its condolences and best wishes. The club will never forget the impact that Charles had in giving Paris Saint-Germain a new lease of life and helping the club become a hugely respected name both in French and European football.