George Weah

===Club career===
====Early career in Liberia, Cameroon, Monaco and France====
Weah began to play football for Young Survivors, a club based in Clara Town, in 1981 at the age of 15.<ref name="Chimurenga">{{cite news |url=https://chimurengachronic.co.za/a-secret-history-of-mr-george-weah/ |title=A Secret History of Mr. George Weah |first=Kangsen |last=Wakai |website=Chimurenga |date=23 January 2018 |access-date=5 November 2023}}</ref> [[Jason Burke]], writing for ''[[The Observer]]'', described how Weah scored "two spectacular goals" on his debut, "one hit from such a tight angle that it went in-off having struck both posts".<ref name="GuardianBurke">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/aug/06/newsstory.sport15 |title=In the court of King George |first=Jason |last=Burke |newspaper=The Observer |location=London |date=6 August 2000 |access-date=5 November 2023}}</ref> In his three years with Young Survivors, the club earned two [[Promotion (sports)|promotions]], from the fourth level of football in Liberia to the second.<ref name="GuardianBurke"/> He signed for [[Liberian Premier League]] club Bong Range United in 1984, where he played for one season, before joining [[Mighty Barrolle]], one of the biggest clubs in Liberia.<ref name="Chimurenga"/> Weah was not a regular starter for Mighty Barrolle despite scoring regularly, which prompted a move to their rivals, [[Invincible Eleven]], in 1986.<ref name="Chimurenga"/> He helped the club win the [[1987 Liberian Premier League]] title,<ref name="1987League">{{cite news |url=https://www.theindependent.com.lr/2023/03/28/us100000-bonus-for-lone-star-if/ |title=US$100,000 Bonus For Lone Star, If... |first=Varney |last=Dukuly |website=The Independent |date=28 March 2023 |access-date=5 November 2023}}</ref> was the league's top scorer, and was named as the league's player of the season.<ref name="DW">{{cite news |url=https://www.dw.com/en/remembering-george-weahs-early-football-days/a-42201293 |title=Remembering George Weah's early football days |first=Moki |last=Kindzeka |publisher=Deutsche Welle |date=20 January 2018 |access-date=5 November 2023}}</ref> Before his football career allowed him to move abroad, Weah worked for the Liberia Telecommunications Corporation as a [[switchboard operator]].<ref name="Mba"/> He signed for [[Cameroonian Premier League]] club [[Tonnerre Yaoundé]] in 1987 after impressing during a match against them, and scored twice on his debut against [[Canon Yaoundé]].<ref name="DW"/>

Weah's abilities were noticed by the [[Cameroon national football team|Cameroon national team]] manager, [[Claude Le Roy]], who recommended him to [[Arsène Wenger]], the manager of French [[Division 1 (French football)|Division 1]] club [[AS Monaco FC|Monaco]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-45257301 |title=Arsène Wenger to get honour from Liberia's George Weah |website=BBC News |date=21 August 2018 |access-date=5 November 2023}}</ref> Weah signed for Monaco 1988 for a [[transfer fee]] of £12,000,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/1434214.stm |title=George Weah in focus |website=BBC Sport |date=25 July 2001 |access-date=5 November 2023}}</ref><ref name="Lawrence"/> after Wenger had flown to Africa prior to the signing to see him play.<ref name="KN">{{cite book |first=Kenneth |last=Nkemnacho |title=Be An Icon: Discover how ordinary people became extraordinary |date=2016 |publisher=eBook Versions |isbn=978-1-8439-6385-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DhkvDwAAQBAJ&q=george+weah+born+1958&pg=PT15}}</ref> Weah has credited Wenger as an important influence on his career.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/htmlContent.jhtml?html=/archive/2000/01/22/sfnwin22.html |title=On The Spot: George Weah |work=The Daily Telegraph | access-date=9 December 2006 |location=London | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014032208/http://telegraph.co.uk/htmlContent.jhtml?html=%2Farchive%2F2000%2F01%2F22%2Fsfnwin22.html | archive-date=14 October 2007 | url-status=dead }}</ref> During his time with Monaco, Weah was named the [[African Footballer of the Year]] for the first time in 1989.<ref name="FIFA"/> This was his first major award and he took it back home for the entire country to celebrate.<ref name="FIFA"/> Weah won the [[1990–91 Coupe de France]], playing in the [[1991 Coupe de France final|final]] on 8 June in which Monaco beat [[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]] 1–0 at the [[Parc des Princes]].<ref name="1991CoupeDeFranceFinal">{{cite web |url=https://www.asmonaco.com/histoire/palmares1/1991-coupe-de-france/ |title=Coupe de France 1991: La revanche contre l'OM |trans-title=Coupe de France 1991: Revenge against OM |publisher=AS Monaco FC |date=25 November 2019 |access-date=5 November 2023 |language=fr}}</ref> He helped Monaco reach the final of the [[1991–92 European Cup Winners' Cup]], scoring four goals in nine cup appearances.{{citation needed|date=November 2023}}

[[File:Coppa UEFA 1992-93 - Napoli vs PSG - George Weah.jpg|thumb|175px|left|Weah's celebrating his goal during the match between [[Paris Saint-Germain F.C.|PSG]] and [[S.S.C. Napoli|Napoli]] in the second round of [[1992–93 UEFA Cup]]]]

Weah subsequently played for [[Paris Saint-Germain F.C.|Paris Saint-Germain]] (1992–1995), with whom he won the [[Coupe de France]] in [[1992–93 Coupe de France|1993]] and [[1994–95 Coupe de France|1995]], Division 1 in [[1993–94 French Division 1|1994]], and the [[1994–95 Coupe de la Ligue|Coupe de la Ligue in 1995]] during a highly prolific and successful period; he also became the top scorer of the [[1994–95 UEFA Champions League]], with seven goals, after reaching the semi-finals with the club, one of which was a skilful individual "wonder-goal" against [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]] in the group stage, on 23 November 1994.<ref name="FIFA"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uefa.com/60-years/videoid=2114867.html |title=UEFA 60 Great goals: Weah |publisher=UEFA|access-date=15 December 2014}}</ref> During his time at the club, he also managed to reach the semi-finals of the [[1992–93 UEFA Cup]], and the semi-finals of the [[1993–94 European Cup Winners' Cup]]; in total, he scored 16 goals in 25 European games.<ref name="FIFA"/> In 1994, he won the African Footballer of the Year Award for the second time in his career.<ref name="FIFA"/>

====AC Milan and individual success====
Weah joined [[AC Milan]] in 1995, winning the Italian league in [[1995–96 Serie A|1996]] under [[Fabio Capello]]. He played alongside [[Roberto Baggio]] and [[Dejan Savićević]] in Milan's attack, as well as [[Marco Simone]] on occasion, and finishing the season as Milan's top goalscorer. He won the Serie A title once again in [[1998–99 Serie A|1999]]. During his time with the club, he also reached the [[1997–98 Coppa Italia|1998 Coppa Italia final]], and finished as runner-up in the [[Supercoppa Italiana]] on two occasions, in [[1996 Supercoppa Italiana|1996]] and [[1999 Supercoppa Italiana|1999]].{{citation needed|date=November 2023}} Despite their European dominance in the early 1990s, Milan were less successful in Europe during this time, however, with their best result being a quarter-final finish in the [[1995–96 UEFA Cup]].{{citation needed|date=November 2023}}

Exhibiting skill, athleticism and goalscoring prowess, Weah became famous at Milan for scoring several notable goals, in particular a solo goal against [[Hellas Verona FC|Hellas Verona]] at the [[San Siro]] which saw him deftly control the ball from Verona's corner kick just outside his own penalty area, before he set off.<ref name="Boban"/> With all his teammates back defending the corner Weah made a beeline for goal, leaving his own teammates in his wake.<ref name="Boban"/> His teammate [[Zvonimir Boban]] stated, "It was an incredible run. We were thinking, 'When's he going to stop? When's he going to stop? He's not going to stop! He's never going to stop!'".<ref name="Boban">{{cite news |title=The Joy of Six: Goals from corners |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2011/jun/17/joy-of-six-goals-corner-kicks |access-date=16 October 2018 |newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref> Weah finished by rifling the ball into the bottom left corner before an exuberant [[goal celebration]].<ref name="FIFA">[https://web.archive.org/web/20131020073045/http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/players/player=2187/ "Iconic Weah a true great"]. FIFA. Retrieved 17 November 2013</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=A forensic analysis of George Weah's wonderful solo goal against Verona |url=https://www.planetfootball.com/nostalgia/forensic-analysis-george-weahs-solo-goal-verona-21-years/ |access-date=16 October 2018 |agency=Planetfootball.com.}}</ref>

Due to his performances with both Paris Saint-Germain and Milan, in 1995 Weah was the recipient of several individual awards: he won the [[Ballon d'Or]], the [[Onze d'Or]], and was named [[FIFA World Player of the Year]], becoming the first and, currently, only African player (by FIFA nationality) to win these awards, and second African-born player to do so after [[Eusébio]]. Weah dedicated his FIFA World Player of the Year victory to his former manager, Arsène Wenger, stating that it was thanks to him that he was able to develop into a world class player.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/world-match-centre/news/newsid/274/782/7/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310024357/http://www.fifa.com/world-match-centre/news/newsid/274/782/7/|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 March 2016 |title=Weah: Ballon d'Or put me and Liberia on the map |publisher=FIFA |date=27 December 2015|access-date=9 March 2016}}</ref> That year, Weah also won the African Player of the Year Award for the third time in his career, and was named to the ''Onze de Onze'' by the French football magazine ''[[Onze Mondial]]''.<ref name="FIFA"/> In 1996, Weah finished second in the [[1996 FIFA World Player of the Year|FIFA World Player of the Year]] ranking; he was also the recipient of the [[FIFA Fair Play Award]], and was voted the African Player of the Century by sport journalists from around the world.<ref name="FIFA"/>

Weah was banned from six European matches for breaking the nose of the Portuguese defender [[Jorge Costa]] on 20 November 1996 in the players' tunnel after Milan's draw at [[FC Porto|Porto]] in the Champions League. Weah said he exploded in frustration after putting up with racist tauntings from Costa during both of the teams' Champions League matches that autumn. Costa strenuously denied the accusations of racism and was not charged by [[UEFA]] as no witnesses could verify Weah's allegations, not even his Milan teammates. Weah later attempted to apologise to Costa but this was rebuffed by the Portuguese, who considered the charges of racist insults levelled against him to be defamatory and took Weah to court.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/1194989.stm |title=Court postpones Weah trial |website=BBC Sport |date=28 February 2001 |access-date=28 February 2001 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020910103217/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/1194989.stm |archive-date=10 September 2002}}</ref> The incident led to Costa undergoing facial surgery and he was subsequently sidelined for three weeks. 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 |access-date=19 June 2008 |work=International Herald Tribune}}{{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

====Later career====
Weah signed for English [[Premier League]] club [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] on loan from Milan on 11 January 2000, in a deal which would keep him with the West London club until the end of the [[1999–2000 Chelsea F.C. season|1999–2000 season]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/600616.stm |website=BBC Sport |title=Weah cleared for debut |date=12 January 2000}}</ref> Although past his prime, Weah's time in England was deemed a success, especially at Chelsea where he instantly endeared himself to their fans by scoring the winner against rivals [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] on his debut,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/fa_carling_premiership/601186.stm |title=Winner for Weah on debut |website=BBC Sport |date=12 January 2000 |access-date=5 November 2009}}</ref> and scored further league goals against [[Wimbledon F.C.|Wimbledon]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/feb/13/match.sport7 |title=Olsen's flying circus on downward spiral |newspaper=The Guardian |date=12 February 2000|access-date=5 November 2009 |first=Ian |last=Ridley}}</ref> and Liverpool.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/fa_carling_premiership/730395.stm |title=Weah gives Liverpool the Blues |website=BBC Sport |date=29 April 2000|access-date=5 November 2009}}</ref> He also scored twice in Chelsea's victorious [[1999–2000 FA Cup]] netting crucial goals against [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/jan/30/match.facup |title=Blues see red and yellow |newspaper=The Guardian |date=30 January 2000 |access-date=5 November 2009 |first=Jon |last=Brodkin}}</ref> and [[Gillingham F.C.|Gillingham]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/feb/21/match.sport3 |title=Chelsea bring Gills down to earth |newspaper=The Guardian |date=20 February 2000|access-date=5 November 2009 |first=Martin |last=Thorpe}}</ref> This led to him starting in the [[2000 FA Cup final|final]], which Chelsea won 1–0.<ref name=Malam-report>{{cite news |first=Colin |last=Malam |title=Chelsea 1 Aston Villa 0 |url=http://www.fa-cupfinals.co.uk/2000.htm |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=21 May 2000 |access-date=10 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024025807/http://www.fa-cupfinals.co.uk/2000.htm |archive-date=24 October 2007}}</ref>

Chelsea manager [[Gianluca Vialli]] did not make Weah's move permanent, and, on 1 August 2000, he officially left Milan, and signed for newly promoted Premier League side [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] on a free transfer on a two-year contract worth £30,000 a week,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/weah-joins-royles-revolution-696459.html |work=The Independent |first=Tim |last=Rich |title=Weah joins Royle's revolution |date=2 August 2000}}</ref> declining the offer of a £1&nbsp;million pay-off from Milan owner [[Silvio Berlusconi]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/887070.stm |website=BBC Sport |title=Weah snubs golden handshake |date=19 August 2000}}</ref> He played 11 games in all competitions for City, scoring four times, before leaving on 16 October 2000 after becoming dissatisfied with manager [[Joe Royle]] for selecting him as a substitute too frequently; he had only played the full 90 minutes in three of his 11 games for the [[Maine Road]] club.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/weahs-blue-moon-affair-lasts-11-games-637405.html |work=The Independent |first=Alan |last=Nixon |title=Weah's blue moon affair lasts 11 games |date=17 October 2000}}</ref> At City, he scored once in the league against [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] (as he did at Chelsea),<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/916469.stm |title=Hamann double sees off City |website=BBC Sport |date=9 September 2000|access-date=5 November 2009}}</ref> and three times against Gillingham (again as he had at Chelsea), this time in the [[EFL Cup|League Cup]]; once in the first leg<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/worthington_cup/932316.stm |title=Manchester City 1–1 Gillingham |website=BBC Sport |date=20 September 2000|access-date=5 November 2009}}</ref> and twice in the second.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/worthington_cup/941789.stm |title=Gillingham 2–4 Man City (agg: 3–5) |website=BBC Sport |date=26 September 2000|access-date=5 November 2009}}</ref>

Following his time in England, Weah returned to France and had a spell at Marseille, where he remained until May 2001. He later played with [[Al Jazira Club|Al Jazira]] in the [[UAE Football League]], where he remained until his retirement as a player in 2003, at age 37.<ref name="FIFA"/> He had planned on joining the [[New York/New Jersey MetroStars]] of [[Major League Soccer]] but elected to join Al Jazira on a temporary basis.<ref>{{cite news |last=Yannis |first=Alex |date=7 September 2001 |title=Weah's Moves Wow MetroStars |page=B7 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/07/sports/plus-soccer-weah-s-moves-wow-metrostars.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=10 February 2019}}</ref>