Former footballer George Weah wins Liberia's presidential election
African nation, Liberia, has a new president. Former 'World Footballer of the Year' George Weah has been elected as Liberia's president. He saw off a strong challenge from Joseph Boakai, by winning more than 60% of the vote. The former footballer succeeds Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa's first woman president as the 25th President of Liberia.
Ballon d'Or winner to President of a country
The 51-year-old former Chelsea, Manchester City and AC Milan striker, became the first non-European player to win the Ballon d'Or in 1995. His prolific 18-year professional football career ended when it called it a day in 2003. Since then, he took a keen interest in his nation's politics and also served as a senator in Liberia's parliament.
Weah wins landmark Presidential polls
Weah, who started his own political party 'Congress for Democratic Change' in 2003, won 13 out of the 15 counties in the country. This is not because of his popularity as a footballer but due to the efforts he had put in when the deadly Ebola Virus ravaged Liberia in 2014. Weah had thrown himself in the forefront of the struggle.
Not the first time he contested Presidential polls
Despite being an popular footballer and an idol, Weah had run unsuccessfully for President twice before. The first time he took a shot at presidency was way back in 2005, but he lost to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, in the second round of voting. The same thing happened again in 2011.
First ever footballer to be elected President
Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, was the man who first brought Weah to Europe during his time at Monaco. Weah scored 47 league goals for the club in four years and then moved to PSG. Weah won the league title in 1994 and topped the scoring charts in the Champions League. He then moved to Milan where he had the best time of his career.
Weah's illustrious football career
At AC Milan, Weah won the Serie A in his maiden season with the club. As his legs began to age, Weah soon fell out of favour with Milan and then decided to move to England and had short spells with Chelsea and Manchester City.
