George Weah
George Weah
Personal Information
- Full Name: George Manneh Oppong Weah
- Date of Birth: October 1, 1966
- Place of Birth: Monrovia, Liberia
- Nationality: Liberian
- Spouse: Clar Marie Weah
- Children: 3
Career
- Occupation: Politician, former professional footballer
- Position: Striker
- Years active: 1986–2003
- Clubs: Mighty Barrolle (1986–1988), Invincible Eleven (1988), Tonnerre Yaoundé (1988–1990), AS Monaco (1990–1992), Paris Saint-Germain (1992–1995), AC Milan (1995–2000), Chelsea (2000), Manchester City (2000–2001), Marseille (2001), Al-Jazira (2001–2003)
- National Team: Liberia (1987–2003)
Awards and Honors
- Ballon d'Or: 1995
- FIFA World Player of the Year: 1995
- African Footballer of the Year: 1989, 1994, 1995
- Serie A Player of the Year: 1995
- Ligue 1 Player of the Year: 1994
- UEFA Champions League Top Scorer: 1994–95
- CAF Champions League Top Scorer: 1989
Political Career
- President of Liberia: 2018–Present
- Senator from Montserrado County: 2014–2018
Early Life and Career
George Weah was born in Monrovia, Liberia, on October 1, 1966. He grew up in a poor family and started playing football at a young age. He joined the local club Mighty Barrolle in 1986 and quickly made a name for himself as a talented striker. In 1988, he moved to Invincible Eleven and then to Tonnerre Yaoundé in Cameroon.
Professional Football Career
Weah's professional career took off in 1990 when he joined AS Monaco in France. He spent two seasons at Monaco, scoring 32 goals in 64 appearances. In 1992, he moved to Paris Saint-Germain, where he won the Ligue 1 title in 1994 and was named the league's Player of the Year.
In 1995, Weah joined AC Milan, where he spent five seasons and won the Serie A title in 1996 and 1999. He also won the UEFA Champions League in 1995 and was named the FIFA World Player of the Year the same year.
Weah left Milan in 2000 and had brief spells at Chelsea, Manchester City, and Marseille before finishing his career at Al-Jazira in the United Arab Emirates in 2003.
International Career
Weah made his debut for the Liberia national team in 1987. He went on to make 75 appearances for his country, scoring 22 goals. He represented Liberia at the 1996 and 2002 FIFA World Cups.
Political Career
After retiring from football, Weah entered politics. He was elected to the Liberian Senate in 2014 and served until 2018. In 2017, he ran for president of Liberia and won the election in a landslide. He took office in January 2018.
Legacy
George Weah is considered one of the greatest African footballers of all time. He was a prolific goalscorer and a skillful playmaker. He is also known for his humanitarian work and his efforts to promote peace and reconciliation in Liberia.
