George Oppong Weah

Personalia: Born: 1/10 1966 Birthplace: Monrovia (Liberia) Nationality: Liberia (?/?) Height: 6`1" (185cm) Weight: 12st. 2lb (76kg) Position: Striker League Appearances: Season: Club: Games: Goals: 1986-1987 Invincible 11 1987-1988 Tonnerre de Yaounde 1988-1992 AS Monaco 143 47 1992-1995 Paris SG 96 32 1995-2000 AC Milan 78 34 1999-2000 Chelsea (loan) 14 5 2000-2001 Manchester City 7 1 2000-2001 Marseille Total: 338 134

Voted 1995 FIFA World Player of the Year, European Footballer of the Year and African Football Player of the Year, George Weah is the only player to ever hold these three honors simultaneously.

George Weah was born and raised in Liberia, first playing in the Young Survival and then starring for Invincible Eleven. After a year with Yaound (Cameroon), he went to Munich, Germany where he played four seasons starting in 1988. In 1992, George transferred to Paris Saint-Germain where he won the coveted "African Golden Ball" in 1989 and 1994.

Success has always followed George throughout his career and his personal accomplishments do not come without a long list of championships: Cameroon Champions (1988, Tonnerre de Yaounde), French Champions (1994, Paris SG), French Cup Winners (1991, Monaco), 1993 and 1995 (Paris SG), French League Cup Winners (1995, Paris SG), English FA Cup winners (2000, Chelsea), European Cup Winners' Cup Finalists (1992, Monaco) and 1996 Champions (AC Milan).

After an impressive 5 year spell with AC Milan he went on loan to Chelsea in his last year where he played 14 games and scored 5 goals. AC Milan decided not to renew his contract and Chelsea waved their right to sign the Liberian ace. For a while Weah considered to go into management, and a contact with Fulham was established. That was before Joe Royle and Manchester City entered the field. A short tour at Maine Road was enough to convince the 33 year old that his future was with the blues, in his 5th day without a contract. Weah recieved 4 mill. in sign-on fee and 25,000 pr. week at City, a bargain if he can deliver his goods during his two year contract. After all he was a Bosman player.

As a boy George Weah was a City supporter, when he followed the blues on TV in his home country Liberia. It sounds like the veteran finally has found his muse.

After only 3 months with Manchester City Weah decided to quit the club and left in what first seemed to be an amicable agreement between him and the club. It did not take long however for Weah to blast his former manager and caiming they only wanted him to attract good players, and that he was treated without proper respect by the City officials. This came after a short spell on the bench in which City won two games. Weah went straight from City to Marseille where he agreed terms within 48 hours, much to the disappointment to the fans and management at the club he decided to leave in such a hurry.

Provided by: Svenn A. Hanssen, svenn@hanssen.priv.no