George Weah
Personal information
Full name	George Manneh Oppong Ousman Weah
Date of birth	October 1, 1966 (1966-10-01) (age 40)
Place of birth	Monrovia, Liberia
Height	1.84 m (6 ft +1⁄2 in)[1]
Playing position	Forward
Club information
Current club	Retired
Senior clubs1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1981-1984 1984-1985 1985-1986 1986-1987 1987-1988 1988-1992 1992-1995 1995-1999 1999-2000 2000-2000 2000-2001 2001-2002	Young Survivors Bongrange Company Mighty Barolle Monrovia Invincible Eleven Tonnerre Yaoundé AS Monaco Paris Saint-Germain AC Milan Chelsea F.C. Manchester City Olympique Marseille Al-Jazeera Career	018 (15) 105 (55) 098 (35) 115 (48) 011 0(8) 007 0(2) 019 0(5) 0 (0) 373 (169)
National team
1988-2002	Liberia	065 (10)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. * Appearances (Goals) is the 274th day of the year (275th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. ... Monrovia in the 1800s. ... The striker (wearing the red shirt) has run past the defender (in the white shirt) and is about to take a shot at the goal, while the goalkeeper positions himself to attempt to stop the ball. ... I.E. is a football (soccer) club from Liberia based in Monrovia. ... Tonnerre Yaoundé are a football (soccer) club based in Yaoundé, Cameroon. ... The Association Sportive de Monaco Football Club is a Monegasque football club, founded in 1919. ... Paris Saint-Germain FC, or PSG, is a French football club based in Paris. ... Associazione Calcio Milan is an Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy. ... Chelsea Football Club (also known as The Blues or previously The Pensioners) are an English professional football club based in west London. ... Manchester City Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Manchester. ... Olympique de Marseille is a football team that plays in Ligue 1, the top level of the French Football League, based in Marseille. ... Al Jazeera Club (also spelled Al Jazira Club, Arabic: الجزيرة) is a sporting club in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Liberia. ...

George Manneh Oppong Ousman Weah (born October 1, 1966 in Monrovia^[1]) is a Liberian politician and former football forward. He spent 14 years of his professional football career playing for clubs in France, Italy, and England, winning titles in two of the three countries. In 1995, he was named FIFA World Player of the Year, European Footballer of the Year, and African Footballer of the Year. He is commonly regarded as one of the greatest African footballers of all time.^[2] Weah has since become a humanitarian and politician in Liberia, and ran unsuccessfully in the 2005 Liberian presidential election, losing to Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf in the second round of voting. is the 274th day of the year (275th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. ... Monrovia in the 1800s. ... The Politics series Politics Portal This box:      Politics is the process by which groups of people make decisions. ... A player (wearing the red kit) has penetrated the defence (in the white kit) and is taking a shot at goal. ... The striker (wearing the red shirt) has run past the defender (in the white shirt) and is about to take a shot at the goal, while the goalkeeper positions himself to attempt to stop the ball. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem No official anthem specific to England — the anthem of the United Kingdom is God Save the Queen. See also Proposed English National Anthems. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ... The FIFA World Player of the Year is a football award given annually to the male and female player who are thought to be the best in the world, based on votes by coaches and captains of international teams. ... The Ballon dOr trophy, as awarded to Zinedine Zidane in 1998. ... The African Footballer of the Year award, presented to the best African football (soccer) player each year, has been confered by the Confederation of African Football since 1992. ... Liberian elections in 2005 mark the end of the transition following Liberias second civil war. ... Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf (born October 29, 1938) is the current president of Liberia and Africas first elected female head of state. ...

Personal life

George Weah was born and raised in the Clara Town slum of Monrovia. He is a member of the Kru ethnic group, which hails from south-eastern Liberia's Grand Kru County, one of the poorest areas of the country. His parents were William T. Weah, Sr. and Anna Quayeweah. He was raised largely by his paternal grandmother, Emma Klonjlaleh Brown. He attended middle school at Muslim Congress and high school at Wells Hairston High School. Before his football career allowed him to move abroad, Weah worked for the Liberia Telecommunications Corporation as a switchboard technician. A boy from an East Cipinang trash dump slum in Jakarta, Indonesia shows his find. ... Monrovia in the 1800s. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Grand Kru is one of Liberias 15 counties. ... Medium-to-large organisations often employ switchboard operators—specialised staff who answer general phone calls to the organisation and usually maintain internal communication through telephones, semaphones (bleeps) and pagers. ...

Weah has received a Bachelor of Arts in Sports Management from Parkwood University in London. This school was later decried as a diploma mill and closed by the US Federal Trade Commission, in collaboration with the British government. Also, in 1999, he received an Honorary Doctorate in Humanity from the A.M.E. Zion University College in Liberia. A B.A. issused as a certificate Bachelor of Arts (B.A., BA or A.B.), from the Latin Artium Baccalaureus is an undergraduate bachelors degree awarded for either a course or a program in the liberal arts or the sciences, or both. ... Sport management is a field of education and vocation concerning the business aspect of sport. ... Parkwood University was a diploma mill supposedly in London. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... A diploma mill (also known as a degree mill) is an organization which awards academic degrees and diplomas with very little or no academic study and without recognition by official accrediting bodies. ... FTC headquarters, Washington, D.C. The Federal Trade Commission (or FTC) is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1914 by the Federal Trade Commission Act. ... The United Kingdom is a unitary state and a democratic constitutional monarchy. ...

He is an ex-Muslim, and has stated, "I'm a Christian now, but I practiced Islam for ten years before converting to Christianity. One thing I want the world to know is that the world should be peaceful. It's not good for Muslims and Christians to fight against each other - we are one people. There's no need for people to kill each other. I pray for peace for everybody - for Muslim and Christian. For black, white, green, yellow and brown."[3] Apostasy in Islam (Arabic: ارتداد, irtidād or ridda) is commonly defined as the rejection of Islam in word or deed by a person who has been a Muslim. ...

He is married to Clar Weah, an American of Jamaican descent, and is the father of four children: George Jr., Martha, Timothy George, and Jessica, who was adopted from Jamaica.^[1]

George Weah also has French nationality.^[1]

George Weah Jr. once trained with the US U-20 team, with his close friend Freddy Adu ^[3]. Weah Jr. played for A.C. Milan Primavera team in 2005-06 season. Fredua Koranteng Freddy Adu (born 2 June 1989 in Tema, Ghana) is a Ghanaian-American footballer playing as a striker and an attacking midfielder. ... Associazione Calcio Milan is an Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy. ... Campionato Nazionale Primavera - Trofeo Giacinto Facchetti (or simply Campionato Primavera) is an Italian football competition played for by youth teams (under 20) of all Serie A, all Serie B and 11 Serie C clubs. ...

Football career

At club level, Weah started his career in his native Liberia, where he represented four clubs (Young Survivors, Bongrange Company, Mighty Barolle Monrovia and Invincible Eleven) before moving to Tonnerre Yaoundé in Cameroon, where he won the 1988 Cameroonian championship.^[4] He moved to Europe later in 1988 when he was signed by Arsène Wenger,^[5] the manager of Monaco, who Weah credits as an important influence on his career.^[6] At Monaco, Weah was a member of the team that won the French Cup in 1991. In the 1990s Weah subsequently played for Paris Saint Germain (1992 - 95), with whom he won the French league in 1994; and AC Milan (1995 - 1999), with whom he won the Italian league in 1996 and 1999. In 1995 he was named European Footballer of the Year and FIFA World Player of the Year. After leaving Milan in August 1999 Weah moved to Chelsea, Manchester City and Olympique Marseille in quick succession, before leaving Marseille in May 2001 for Al Jazira FC, in the United Arab Emirates. I.E. is a football (soccer) club from Liberia based in Monrovia. ... Tonnerre Yaoundé are a football (soccer) club based in Yaoundé, Cameroon. ... Arsène Wenger OBE (born October 22, 1949 in Strasbourg) is a French football manager. ... F.C. Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) are a French football club based in Paris. ... Associazione Calcio Milan is an Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy. ... The Ballon dOr trophy, as awarded to Zinedine Zidane in 1998. ... The FIFA World Player of the Year is a football award given annually to the male and female player who are thought to be the best in the world, based on votes by coaches and captains of international teams. ... Chelsea Football Club (also known as The Blues or previously The Pensioners) are an English professional football club based in west London. ... Manchester City Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Manchester. ... Olympique de Marseille is a football team that plays in Ligue 1, the top level of the French Football League, based in Marseille. ... Al Jazeera Club (also spelled Al Jazira Club, Arabic: الجزيرة) is a sporting club in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. ...

As successful as he was at club level, Weah was not able to bring over that success to the Liberian national team. He has done everything with the squad from playing to coaching to financing it, but Liberia failed to make a single World Cup, falling just a point short in qualifying for the 2002 tournament. This has all led to Weah being known as one of the best footballers never to have played in a World Cup. First international Liberia 2 - 1 Chad (Senegal; 11 April 1963) Biggest win Liberia 4 - 0 Gambia (Accra, Ghana; 1 June 1996) Liberia 4 - 0 Mauritius (Monrovia, Liberia; 3 September 2000) Liberia 5 - 1 Congo (Monrovia, Liberia; 14 January 2001) Biggest defeat Ghana 6 - 0 Liberia (Ghana; 6 April 1975) African... The FIFA World Cup, sometimes called the Football World Cup or the Soccer World Cup, but usually referred to simply as the World Cup, is an international football competition contested by the mens national football teams of the member nations of Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA... Listed below are the dates and results for the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for the African zone (CAF). ... Qualifying countries The 2002 FIFA World Cup, the 17th staging of the World Cup, was held in South Korea and Japan from May 31 to June 30. ...

World Best Player 1995

Weah was name world best for 1995 becoming the only African player to win the award. He was the fith recipient of the very prestigious award. The Silver trophy was won by Paolo Maldini, and the Bronze by Jurgen Klinsmann. The other four recipients were: Lothar Matthaus 91, Marco Van Basten 92, Roberto Baggio 93, and Romario in 94. Weah also won the silver trophy the following year which was won by Brazilian striker Ronaldo

African Player of the Year 1989,1994, & 1995

Weah won the African player of the year in 1989 when he was with AS Monaco and 1995 with AC Milan, the year he won almost every award a footballer could win. When he won the award in 1989, it was his first major award and he took it back home for the entire country to celebrate, similar to what he did when he won the world best title and the Onze Mondial title

European Player of the Year 1995

Weah won the very prestigious European Player of the Year in 1995, becoming the only African to win the award. Sports writers from all over Europe voted and awarded Weah as the best player in Europe for the year.

Onze Mondial 1995

• The French Magazine name Weah as the top player in Europe for 1995
• Fifa Fair Play Award 1996

African Player of the Century

Weah was voted the African player of the Century by sport journalist from all around the world. This award puts Weah in the company of some of the greatest player to ever played the game. Pele won the same award as the South American player of the Century and Franz Beckenbauer as the European player of the century. Franz Anton Beckenbauer (born September 11, 1945) is a German football coach, manager, and former player, nicknamed der Kaiser (the emperor) because of his elegant style, his leadership qualities, his first name Franz (reminiscent of the Austrian emperors), and his dominance on the football pitch. ...

Humanitarianism

Weah is a devoted humanitarian for his war-torn country. At the 2004 ESPY Awards, he won the Arthur Ashe Courage Award for his efforts. Weah was named by Pelé as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers in March 2004. He has also been named a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, a role which he has suspended while he pursues a political career. Humanitarianism is the view that all people should be treated with the respect and dignity they deserve as human beings, and that advancing the well-being of humanity is a noble goal. ... The 10th Anniversary ESPY Award. ... The Arthur Ashe Courage Award is an award that is part of the ESPY Awards. ... Edson Arantes do Nascimento, KBE (born October 23rd 1940 in Três Corações, Brazil), best known by his nickname Pelé, is a former Brazilian football player and widely considered as the greatest in history. ... Pelé The FIFA 100 is a list of the world-renowned Brazilian striker Pelés choice of the greatest living footballers. Unveiled on March 4, 2004 at a gala ceremony in London, the FIFA 100 marked part of the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the F... This is a list of UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors. ...

Football and children

Weah has tried to use football as a way to bring happiness and promote education for children in Liberia. In 1998, Weah launched a CD called Lively Up Africa featuring the singer Frisbie Omo Isibor and eight other African football stars. The proceeds from this CD went to children's programmes in the countries of origin of the athletes involved.

Weah is President of the Junior Professionals, a football team he founded in Monrovia in 1994. As a way to encourage young people to remain in school, the club's only requirement for membership is school attendance. Many of the young people, recruited from all over Liberia, have gone on to play for the Liberian national team. Monrovia in the 1800s. ...

In 1998 a documentary about Weah footballing career at AC Milan was made broadcast on The A - Force BBCTV, it was made by Pogus Caesar a British award winning producer and director. AC Milan is an Italian football club. ... It has been suggested that Pogus Caesar Interview (The Voice) 1989 be merged into this article or section. ...

Political career

Although he had denied interest in politics during his football career, in mid-November 2004, Weah announced his intention to stand in the October 2005 presidential election, having previously been the subject of a petition urging him to run; he received a hero's welcome upon his arrival in Monrovia in late November and was widely considered a favorite in the election. His eligibility was initially questioned due to debates over his citizenship (Weah having allegedly adopted French citizenship whilst at PSG; he has also lived in Staten Island, New York for many years now) but he was officially confirmed on 13 August 2005 as the candidate for the Congress for Democratic Change when the election commission published its final list. He won the most votes of any candidate in the first ballot on 11 October, but did not secure the required overall majority. A run-off vote took place on 8 November, pitting Weah against former World Bank employee and finance minister, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, who won the vote and is now the first elected female president in Africa. Weah disputed the electoral process, but on 21 December 2005 he dropped his legal challenge. [4] Presidential and parliamentary elections are scheduled to be held in Liberia on October 11, 2005. ... Monrovia in the 1800s. ... Staten Island (IPA: ) is one of the five boroughs of New York City. ... “NY” redirects here. ... is the 225th day of the year (226th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) is a Liberian political party formed by supporters of George Weahs 2005 presidential candidacy. ... is the 284th day of the year (285th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 312th day of the year (313th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf (born October 29, 1938) is the current president of Liberia and Africas first elected female head of state. ... December 21 is the 355th day of the year (356th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Much of Weah's politics are influenced by the recent Second Liberian Civil War. Starting in 1999, the conflict came to a conclusion in 2003 when the United States stationed a Marine Expeditionary Unit with 2300 Marines offshore while Nigeria sent in peacekeepers as part of an Economic Community of West African States force, forcing President Charles Taylor to resign on August 11, 2003 and flee into exile in Nigeria. As a result, all of the candidates pushed for the politics of peace. During his campaign Weah repeatedly emphasized the need for UN's peace mission in his country, known as UNMIL, to stay at least through the end of what would have been his first presidential term of office. Combatants Armed Forces of Liberia Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy Movement for Democracy in Liberia Commanders Charles Taylor Sekou Conneh Thomas Nimely Casualties 150,000 people killed The Second Liberian Civil War began in 1999 when a rebel group backed by the government of neighbouring Guinea, the Liberians United... A Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) is the smallest Marine Air-Ground Task Force in the United States Marine Corps. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is a regional group of fifteen countries, founded on May 28, 1975 when fifteen West African countries signed the Treaty of Lagos. ... For other persons named Charles Taylor, see Charles Taylor (disambiguation). ... is the 223rd day of the year (224th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ...

Weah's lack of experience and of a prestigious college degree weighed heavily against him during the campaign. Opponents believed that Weah could have been manipulated if elected. One positive aspect of Weah's lack of experience is the fact that he was not involved in Liberia's conflicts. Also, some saw little risk in Weah becoming corrupt, as the football star is already quite wealthy.

Weah had also promised to bring low cost housing, electricity, running water, and better education to the countryside, where he himself lived for some time in the 1970s. He also called for the president's term in office to be reduced to four years from six.

Family

George Weah's son, Cham Weah plays for Switzerland team and is declared to play for Liberia, not Italy.^{[citation needed]}

Hristo Stoichkov alternatively spelt Stoitchkov (Bulgarian: ) (born February 8, 1966, in Plovdiv, Bulgaria) is a football manager and former striker who was a member of the Bulgaria national team that finished fourth at the 1994 FIFA World Cup. ... The Ballon dOr trophy, as awarded to Zinedine Zidane in 1998. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Romário de Souza Faria (born January 29, 1966), better known simply as Romário, is a Brazilian legendary football center forward who helped the Brazil national team win the 1994 FIFA World Cup and has been one of the most prolific strikers in the world since the 1990s, having... The FIFA World Player of the Year is a football award given annually to the male and female player who are thought to be the best in the world, based on votes by coaches and captains of international teams. ... Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima (b. ...

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} FIFA Magazine - An idol for African footballers. FIFA. Retrieved on 2006-12-06.
2. ^ Weah selected for Arthur Ashe Courage Award. ESPN.com. Retrieved on 2007-04-25.
3. ^ [1][2]
4. ^ George Weah: Unassuming Evan at the Pinnacle of Success. FIFA Magazine. Retrieved on December 9, 2006.
5. ^ George Weah in focus. bbc.co.uk. Retrieved on December 9, 2006.
6. ^ On The Spot: George Weah. Daily Telegraph. Retrieved on December 9, 2006.

Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... December 6 is the 340th day of the year (341st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... ESPN.com is the official website of ESPN and a division of ESPN Inc. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 115th day of the year (116th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 343rd day of the year (344th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 343rd day of the year (344th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 343rd day of the year (344th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Player profile and statistics - www.liberiansoccer.com
• Criticism of Weah's campaign for presidency
• Biography on UNICEF's homepage