George Weah, The First Real African Superstar
Speaking of the best African footballers of all time, there are certainly many names that emerge. Samuel Eto'o, Didier Drogba, Roger Milla or George Weah. Everything can be true based on certain criteria.
Africa Ranking in 2017, like BeSoccer, places Samuel Eto'o in the top spot. Behind him, then George Weah. However, there is one interesting thing in the discussion about Weah. They call the former Liberian striker Africa's first superstar.
George Weah really never take part in the World Cup. He also never brought the Liberia national team triumphed in the African Cup. However, their work remains special. In 1996 IFFHS even established him as the Best African Footballer of the Century.
Born with the name George Tawlon Manneh Oppong Ousman Weah, this man from Liberia has a career that is somewhat unique. The public has known him as one of the best footballers in the world. Now, he stands in the highest seat as a president.
Fruit of Wenger fad
The story of Weah in Europe cannot be separated from the figure of Arsene Wenger. Without the "fad" the coach nicknamed The Professor, maybe the world would never know George Weah as a powerful striker.
"A friend of mine works in Africa. I asked if he saw a great striker. He recommended George. Then, I told someone to monitor him. We then brought George with 50,000 pounds, "Wenger recalls on the official Arsenal website.
The striker did not necessarily simply appear. Coming to Monaco, he had a difficult start. However, Wenger's remarks became its own tonic. "It took him a while to adapt, but he was very ambitious, talented, and very diligent," said The Professor.
That was recognized by Weah. "One day, I felt quite tired of training and told him (Wenger) that I had a headache. He said to me, ‘George, I know this is hard. However, you need to work hard. I am sure, with your talent, you can become one of the best players in the world. ', "He explained to the Daily Post in 2017.
Wenger's words come true. Slowly but surely, he becomes a phenomenal striker that scares everyone. An observer of homeland football, Prince Siahaan, once called Weah at that time like Lionel Messi at this time.
The First Non-European to Win Ballon d'Or
George Weah is also a history maker. At the Ballon D'Or, he was recorded as the first non-European player to be the best. It was inscribed in 1995, the year he left Paris Saint-Germain to AC Milan.
It is true, the deadly Liberian striker benefited from a system change. That year, for the first time non-European players were included in the election. However, still, without great performance, he would not be able to be above Juergen Klinsmann, Jari Litmanen, and Alessandro Del Piero.
His success at Ballon d'Or is certainly not luck. That's because he was also named Africa's Best Player and FIFA Player of the Year. To date, Weah is the only African player to have won Ballon d'Or and was named FIFA's Best Player.
Weah was transported to Milan in 1995 with only 7 million euros from Paris Saint-Germain. He is projected as a replacement for Marco van Basten who has never recovered from a prolonged knee injury. That season, Van Basten was officially released by the Rossoneri.
Unlike Van Basten, Weah has indeed failed to capture Capocanonniere. During the five seasons costumed I Rossoneri, the most goals scored only 13 pieces. However, his duet with Roberto Baggio managed to bring Milan twice champions of Serie A.
Weah's career began to fade in early 2000 when Milan decided to lend it to Chelsea in the winter transfer window. Together with the London club, Weah spent more time on the bench, until his loan spell at the end of the season.
Milan released him for free to Manchester City in the summer of 2000. Six months later, he was released at no charge to Olympique Marseille, who then released him to Al Jazira at the end of the 2000-01 season.
Success in the Political World
After deciding to retire in 2003, Weah made a breakthrough in his career. He ventured to plunge into politics. No half-hearted, he was eyeing the presidency in the 2005 elections with the support of the party he founded himself, the Congress for Democratic Change.
Actually, that was not in Weah's original plan. When hanging shoes, he claimed to be more eager to become a businessman. Although many people proposed him running for president, he firmly said, "I am not a politician!"
However, the grudge against the situation in Liberia cannot be hidden. That could come out of his mouth when he announced his retirement. "I enjoy being a businessman. I will not return to Liberia again. It will not, until there is a change of government. People currently live in fear! " rebuked him at the time.
So he ran as a presidential candidate in 2005. Liberia's political situation was chaotic after the Civil War for four years. Weah's challenge does not stop there. In the general election, he was confronted by a veteran politician, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
Not many flight hours in politics became one of the reasons he failed to become president at that time. The citizenship controversy also had the chance to stick out to the public, which caused the electability to be not too superior.
Failing at the 2005 general election, Weah did not give up. After treading the political ladder as a Senate in 2014, he again ventured to become president in 2016. This time, his target was met after surpassing his opponent, Joseph Boakai in two rounds of elections and winning more than 60 percent of the vote.
He was listed as the first Liberian President who came from among athletes. He is determined to fight corruption and improve the level of literacy of the people of the country.
"They say I am not fit to be president because of my educational background. In fact, what Liberia needs is someone who has a leadership spirit and knows well the problems of the nation. One thing I will not do is divide my own nation, Liberia. "
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