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{{Football player infobox
| playername = George Weah
| image = <!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Weah.jpg]] -->
| fullname = George Tawlon Oppong Ousman Weah
| dateofbirth = {{birth date and age|1966|10|1}}
| cityofbirth = [[Monrovia]]
| countryofbirth = [[Liberia]]
| height = {{height|m=1.84}}
| currentclub  =
| position = [[Striker|Forward]]
| years = 1981&ndash;1984<br> 1984&ndash;1985<br> 1985&ndash;1986<br> 1986&ndash;1987<br> 1987&ndash;1987<br> 1987&ndash;1988<br> 1988&ndash;1992<br> 1992&ndash;1995<br> 1995&ndash;2000<br> 2000<br> 2000<br> 2000&ndash;2001<br> 2001&ndash;2003
| clubs = Young Survivors Clareton<br> Bongrange Company<br> [[Mighty Barolle]]<br> [[Invincible Eleven]]<br> [[Africa Sports National|Africa Sports]]<br> [[Tonnerre Yaoundé]]<br> [[AS Monaco FC|AS Monaco]]<br> [[Paris Saint-Germain]]<br> [[A.C. Milan]]<br> [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]]<br> [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]<br> [[Olympique de Marseille|Olympique Marseille]]<br> [[Al-Jazeera Club|Al-Jazira]]
| caps(goals) =  {{0}}{{0}}0 {{0}}(0)<br> {{0}}{{0}}2 {{0}}(1)<br> {{0}}10 {{0}}(7)<br> {{0}}23 (24)<br> {{0}}0 (0)<br>{{0}}18 (15)<br> 102 (47)<br> 96 (32)<br> 114 (46)<br> {{0}}11 {{0}}(4)<br> {{0}}{{0}}7 {{0}}(1)<br> {{0}}19 {{0}}(5)<br> {{0}}{{0}}8 (13)
| nationalyears = 1988&ndash;2002
| nationalteam = [[Liberia national football team|Liberia]]
| nationalcaps(goals) = {{0}}60 (22)
| pcupdate = 13:42, 08 Dicember 2007 (UTC)
| ntupdate = 
}}

'''George Weah''' (born October 1, 1966 in [[Monrovia]]<ref name = "fifamag">{{cite web |url= http://www.fifa.com/fifa/pub/magazine/fm2-96.2.html|title= FIFA Magazine - An idol for African footballers|accessdate= 2006-12-06|publisher = FIFA}}</ref>) is a [[Liberia]]n [[politics|politician]] and former [[football (soccer)|football]] [[striker|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]]. Weah has since become a humanitarian and politician in Liberia, and ran unsuccessfully in the [[Liberian elections, 2005|2005 Liberian presidential election]], losing to [[Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf]] in the second round of voting. It is notable that Weah is the only FIFA World Player of the Year who failed to qualify for [[FIFA World Cup]] with his national team.

== Personal life ==
George Weah was born and raised in the Clara Town [[slum]] of [[Monrovia]]. He is a member of the [[Kru]] ethnic group<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4403120.stm BBC News, "Profile: George Weah"]</ref>, 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 operator|switchboard technician]].

George Weah converted from [[Christianity]] to [[Islam]] but later reverted back after having spent ten years as a Muslim.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/sports_talk/forum/1550731.stm You quizzed George Weah] - BBC.com</ref>

He is married to Clar Weah, a Jamaican who resides in America, and is the father of four children: George Jr., Martha, Timothy George, and Jessica, who was adopted from [[Jamaica]]. His son, [[George Weah, Jr.|George Weah Jr.]] once played for the [[United States U-20 men's national soccer team|US U-20 team]], with his close friend [[Freddy Adu]]. He is also good friends with Joshua Smith. Weah Jr. played for the [[AC Milan]] [[Campionato Nazionale Primavera|Primavera team]] in the 2005-06 season. He was given a trial at [[SK Slavia Praha|Slavia Prague]], but the club decided not to sign him.<ref>[http://prague.tv/czech-football/?paged=2 SLAVIA OPT NOT TO SIGN GEORGE WEAH, JR.], Czech Football Daily [[2007-10-19]]. Retrieved on [[2007-10-31]].</ref>

==Football career==
At the pinnacle of success, Weah moved to Europe in 1988 when he was signed by [[Arsène Wenger]],<ref>{{cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/1434214.stml | title=George Weah in focus| work=bbc.co.uk | accessdate=December 9  | accessyear=2006}}</ref> then manager of [[AS Monaco FC|Monaco]], who Weah credits as an important influence on his career.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/htmlContent.jhtml?html=/archive/2000/01/22/sfnwin22.html | title=On The Spot: George Weah| work=Daily Telegraph | accessdate=December 9 | accessyear=2006}}</ref> 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 [[A.C. Milan|AC Milan]] (1995 - 1999), with whom he won the Italian league in 1996 and 1999, and became the top scorer of the [[UEFA Champions League 1994–95]]. In 1995 he was named [[European Footballer of the Year]] and [[FIFA World Player of the Year]]. After leaving Milan in January 2000 Weah moved to [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]], [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] and [[Olympique Marseille]] in quick succession, before leaving Marseille in May 2001 for [[Al-Jazeera Club|Al Jazira FC]], in the [[United Arab Emirates]].

As successful as he was at club level, Weah was not able to bring over that success to the [[Liberia national football team|Liberian national team]]. He has done everything with the squad from playing to coaching to financing it, but failed to qualify for a single [[FIFA World Cup|World Cup]], falling just a point short in [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF)|qualifying]] for the [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002 tournament]]. This has all led to Weah being known as one of the best footballers never to have played in a World Cup.

===World Best Player 1995===
Weah was named world best for 1995, becoming the only African player to win the award. He was the fifth recipient of the award. The Silver trophy was won by [[Paolo Maldini]], and the Bronze by [[Jürgen 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]]. [[Alan Shearer]] was awarded the Bronze.

===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 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 journalists from all around the world. This award puts Weah in the company of some of the greatest player to ever played the game. Pelé won the same award as the South American player of the Century and [[Johan Cruijff]] as the European player of the century.

===Controversy===
Weah was banned from six European matches for breaking the nose of the Portuguese defender [[Jorge Costa]] on [[November 20]] [[1996]] in the players' tunnel after AC Milan's draw at [[FC Porto]]. Weah said he exploded in frustration after putting up with racist tauntings from Costa during both of the teams' matches that autumn in the Champions League. Costa, who underwent facial surgery and was sidelined for three weeks, has avoided punishment by the [[UEFA]].
Despite the incident Weah still received the [[FIFA]] Fair Play Award in 1996.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/1996/12/18/weah.t_0.php |title=Weah's Ban Puts Soccer's Fairness Rule On the Line |accessdate=2008-06-19 |publisher=[[IHT.com]] }}</ref>

== 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://espn.go.com/espy2004/s/04asheaward.html |title=Weah selected for Arthur Ashe Courage Award |accessdate=2007-04-25 |publisher=[[ESPN.com]] }}</ref> Weah was named by [[Pelé]] as one of the [[FIFA 100|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.

=== 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. 

In 1998 a documentary about Weah's footballing career at [[AC Milan]] was made broadcast on  [[The A - Force]] [[BBC-TV]], it was made by [[Pogus Caesar]] a British award winning producer and director.

== 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  [[Liberia elections, 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.

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 2,300 Marines offshore while [[Nigeria]] sent in [[Department of Peacekeeping Operations|peacekeepers]] as part of an [[Economic Community of West African States]] force, forcing President [[Charles G. Taylor|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.

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 [[Political corruption|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.

==Career statistics==
{{Football player statistics 1|YY}}
{{Football player statistics 2|FRA|YY}}
|-
|[[French football Division 1 1988-89|1988-89]]||rowspan="4"|[[AS Monaco FC|Monaco]]||rowspan="4"|[[Ligue 1|Division 1]]||24||14||||||||||||||||
|-
|[[French football Division 1 1989-90|1989-90]]||16||5||||||||||||||||
|-
|[[French football Division 1 1990-91|1990-91]]||28||10||||||||||||||||
|-
|[[French football Division 1 1991-92|1991-92]]||34||18||||||||||||||||
|-
|[[French football Division 1 1992-93|1992-93]]||rowspan="3"|[[Paris Saint-Germain FC|Paris Saint-Germain]]||rowspan="3"|[[Ligue 1|Division 1]]||30||14||||||||||||||||
|-
|[[Division 1 season 1993-94|1993-94]]||32||11||||||||||||||||
|-
|[[Division 1 season 1994-95|1994-95]]||34||7||||||||||||||||
{{Football player statistics 2|ITA|YY}}
|-
|[[Serie A 1995-96|1995-96]]||rowspan="5"|[[A.C. Milan|Milan]]||rowspan="5"|[[Serie A]]||26||11||||||||||||||||
|-
|[[Serie A 1996-97|1996-97]]||28||12||||||||||||||||
|-
|[[Serie A 1997-98|1997-98]]||24||12||||||||||||||||
|-
|[[Serie A 1998-99|1998-99]]||28||8||||||||||||||||
|-
|[[Serie A 1999-00|1999-00]]||8||3||||||||||||||||
{{Football player statistics 2|ENG|YY}}
|-
|[[FA Premier League 1999-00|1999-00]]||[[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]]||[[Premier League]]||11||4||||||||||||||||
|-
|[[FA Premier League 2000-01|2000-01]]||[[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]||[[Premier League]]||7||1||||||||||||||||
{{Football player statistics 2|FRA|YY}}
|-
|[[Division 1 season 2000-01|2000-01]]||[[Olympique de Marseille|Olympique Marseille]]||[[Ligue 1|Division 1]]||15||5||||||||||||||||
{{Football player statistics 3|3|FRA}}213||84||||||||||||||||
{{Football player statistics 4|ITA}}114||46||||||||||||||||
{{Football player statistics 4|ENG}}18||5||||||||||||||||
{{Football player statistics 5}}345||135||||||||||||||||
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.liberiansoccer.com/George%20Weah.htm Player profile and statistics] - www.liberiansoccer.com
* [http://www.theperspective.org/articles/1008200502.html Criticism of Weah's campaign for presidency]
* [http://www.unicef.org/people/people_george_weah.html Biography on UNICEF's homepage]
* [http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1996/gennaio/10/vie_Weah_sono_infinite_co_0_9601104443.shtml italian profile]

{{African Footballer of the Year}}
{{Ballon d'Or recipients}}
{{FIFA World Player of the Year winners}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Weah, George}}
[[Category:Liberian footballers]]
[[Category:Liberia international footballers]]
[[Category:Liberian Christians]]
[[Category:Liberian politicians]]
[[Category:FIFA World Players of the Year]]
[[Category:European Footballers of the Year]]
[[Category:FIFA 100]]
[[Category:Serie A players]]
[[Category:Premier League players]]
[[Category:A.C. Milan players]]
[[Category:Chelsea F.C. players]]
[[Category:Manchester City F.C. players]]
[[Category:Olympique de Marseille players]]
[[Category:Paris Saint-Germain players]]
[[Category:Expatriate footballers in England]] 
[[Category:Expatriate footballers in France]]
[[Category:AS Monaco FC players]]
[[Category:Al-Jazira club players]]
[[Category:Converts from Islam to Christianity]]
[[Category:Former Muslims]]
[[Category:Presidential candidates]]
[[Category:1966 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:African Footballers of the Year]]
[[Category:Athlete-politicians]]
[[Category:Ligue 1 players]]
[[Category:People from Monrovia]]

[[ar:جورج ويا]]
[[bn:জর্জ উইয়াহ]]
[[be-x-old:Джордж Вэа]]
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