Ex AC Milan Star and 1995 World Footballer of the Year, Senator George Weah has emerged as the newly elected president of Liberia to succeed Elen Johnson Sirleaf.
He is one of several candidates, including his closest rival the incumbent vice president Joseph Boakai who vied to become leader of his country. Others include longtime opposition figure Charles Brumskine and former Coca-Cola executive Alexander Cummings.
Weah, the 1995 World Footballer of the Year, is already a senator in his home country.
Weah scored five goals in 15 Chelsea games on loan from AC Milan in early 2000. He joined City that summer, but made just nine appearances after falling out with boss Joe Royle.
He previously won a sackful of trophies with AC Milan, Paris Saint-German and Monaco, and played 60 times for Liberia.
“People know what he has done, and see him as the man to change their lives.”
Liberian newspaper editor Othello Garblah added: “Weah is very popular. He promises to fight corruption, improve education and create jobs.
“All the candidates have similar programmes, so voters choose personalities. Weah’s popularity is down to what he did as a player.”
