George Weah’s story is one of resilience, dreams, and the power of football to transform lives and even nations. Born and raised in a shantytown in Monrovia, Liberia, George faced daily struggles in a neighbourhood marked by gang violence and hardship. As a boy, he resisted the pull of the streets, finding his escape in the game that would become his life. Though he idolized European clubs like Juventus and Tottenham Hotspur, it was playing soccer on the rugged fields of Clara Town that grounded his dreams of someday making it to Europe.
From Dreamy Boy to World’s Best and President: The Full Story of George Weah’s Extraordinary Life
A turning point came when a Cameroon scout, Claude Le Roy, spotted George’s raw talent and relayed the news to AS Monaco’s Arsène Wenger. With rare determination, Wenger flew to Liberia to see this young talent for himself. His leap of faith paid off: George joined AS Monaco, launching a career that would one day see him crowned FIFA World Player of the Year in 1995. That honour marked a new chapter, not just for George but for his country, which was enduring the brutal throes of civil war. Inspired by his achievements, George used his influence to unite Liberia, urging an end to the conflict and helping bring peace to his homeland.
Beyond the pitch, George’s life is equally captivating. While in the U.S., he met Clar, the love of his life, during a visit to Chase Bank, where she worked as a customer service officer. The former AC Milan striker and the beautiful Jamaican began a love story that would become a defining part of his life.
Though many know him as the first African to win the Ballon d’Or or as Liberia’s president, George Weah’s journey is much deeper. This is the full story of an African football legend, lovingly called “King George,” whose life transcends the game he mastered.
George Weah Childhood Story – Early Life and Family Background:
To start his biography, football legend George Tawlon Manneh Oppong Ousman Weah was born on October 1, 1966, in Monrovia, Liberia.
After his father’s death, George was raised by his grandmother in West Point, a shantytown known for its gang activity. He belongs to the Kru ethnic group, which originates from Grand Kru County in southeastern Liberia, one of the country’s poorest regions.
The childhood years of George Weah.
The young legend started his education at Muslim Congress for middle school, then went on to Wells Hairston High School. However, he reportedly left school during his final year.
At the age of 15, he joined the Young Survivors youth club, which marked the start of his soccer journey. Over time, he moved to prominent local teams, playing standout roles with Mighty Barrolle and Invincible Eleven, where he made an impressive mark by scoring 24 goals in just 23 matches.
After rising up through their amateurish ranks, a Cameroon scout spotted him and signed him for a top local club, Yaound side FC.
The Cameroon scout, Claude Le Roy, relayed news of Weah’s abilities to former AS Monaco manager Arsène Wenger. Wenger took the rare step of flying to Africa to see Weah play in person, and that decision paid off when he signed him to AS Monaco. Not long after, Wenger’s talent-spotting led him to another future star striker for Monaco—Thierry Henry.
Before embarking on his football career abroad, Weah worked as a switchboard technician for the Liberia Telecommunications Corporation. He went on to become the first—and nearly the only—Liberian to make a lasting impact in European football. The rest, as they say, is history.
Who is Clar Weah? George Weah’s Wife:
Clar Weah is George Weah’s wife. She is a naturalised United States of America citizen with parental roots in Jamaica.
Meet Clar Weah – George Weah’s Wife.
She grew up in Florida, US, where she ran a number of businesses, including a thriving Caribbean restaurant and grocery store.
According to reports, George and Clar met in the US at a Chase Bank branch where Clar worked as a customer service officer.
The former AC Milan striker had reportedly gone to the bank to open an account when his eyes caught the beautiful Jamaican.
Their love story set off in earnest and has continued to grow stronger despite several rumours of infidelity trailing Weah.
Clar, known for her simple style—unusual for many women of Caribbean descent—is admired not only for her strategic brilliance but also for her talent as a natural canvasser. Her warm smile, even in tough times, has a way of breaking down barriers.
Close friends describe her as exceptionally intelligent, with a unique aura. She holds significant influence around her husband, George. Together, they have three children: George Weah Jr., Tita, and Timothy. Below is a glimpse of George Weah’s beautiful family from back in the day.
The George Weah Family.
Timothy Weah, son of 1995 Ballon d’Or winner George Weah, initially signed his first professional contract with Paris Saint-Germain. Currently, as of the latest update, Timothy plays for Juventus.
Tim Weah is the most successful son of George Weah.
The 17-year-old forward follows in the footsteps of his father, who spent three years at the Ligue 1 club before moving to AC Milan. Timothy joined French PSG’s academy in 2014 and has been featured in both the U-15s and U-19s.
George Weah Family Life:
George Weah’s father, William T. Weah Sr., worked as a mechanic, while his mother, Anna Quayeweah, was a seller. He has three brothers: William, Moses, and Wolo.
As one of thirteen siblings, George was largely raised by his devoutly Christian paternal grandmother, Emma Klonjlaleh Brown, after his parents separated.
European Success:
Yes, he was a raw talent with little formal training. Weah appeared overmatched early in his European career. However, the powerful 6’2″ striker soon caught up to the competition and developed into a deadly potent goal scorer.
When Weah joined Paris Saint-Germain, his career took off even further. He played a crucial role in helping the team win the French Cup in 1993, and the following year, he contributed to their victory in the Ligue 1 title.
Virtually unstoppable during the 1994-95 season, he carried PSG to French and Ligue Cup victories and finished as the Champions League’s leading scorer.
After the year, he was named the African, European and FIFA World Player of the Year—an unprecedented achievement.
Biggest Fight of his Career:
On November 20, 1996, Weah faced a six-match ban from European competition after he broke the nose of Portuguese defender Jorge Costa in the players’ tunnel following a Champions League draw between AC Milan and Porto. Weah later explained that his actions stemmed from months of frustration due to racist taunts he claimed to have endured from Costa during both teams’ matches that autumn.
Costa denied the accusations of racism, and UEFA did not charge him since there were no witnesses to corroborate Weah’s claims, not even his Milan teammates. In an attempt to make amends, Weah later reached out to Costa, but the Portuguese defender rejected his apology, considering the racism allegations defamatory and subsequently taking Weah to court.
As a result of the incident, Costa required facial surgery and was out of action for three weeks. Despite the surrounding controversy, Weah was still honored with the FIFA Fair Play Award in 1996.
George Weah Religion:
Weah initially converted from Protestant Christianity to Islam but later returned to his Christian faith. He advocates for peace between Muslims and Christians, expressing the belief that they are “one people.”
In October 2017, Weah was seen at the prominent Nigerian church of the late Pastor T.B. Joshua, alongside Liberian Senator Prince Yormie Johnson. The late T.B. Joshua was reportedly a significant influence in Johnson’s decision to support Weah’s candidacy in the 2017 Liberian elections.
A True Son of Liberia:
Weah became heavily involved in the affairs of his civil war-torn home country. It was during a time when he was still in the midst of his playing career. Understanding the vital role that soccer could play in stabilizing Liberia, Weah invested approximately $2 million of his own money to cover travel costs, equipment, and full salary expenses for the national team, the Lone Stars.
Personality:
Weah has the following attributes to his personality.
Strengths: George Weah is cooperative, diplomatic, gracious, fair-minded, social
Weaknesses: George Weah could be Indecisive and has a self-pity nature. More so, he avoids confrontations and can carry a grudge.
What George Weah likes is harmony, gentleness, sharing with others, and outdoor life.
What George Weah Dislikes: Violence, injustice, loudmouths and conformity.
On a general note, George is peaceful and fair and hates being alone. A partnership is very important for him.
Presidency:
Years ago, Weah ran for Liberia’s presidency as a member of the Congress for Democratic Change in 2005. Sadly, he lost in a run-off to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of the Unity Party.
In 2011, he was again on the CDC ticket, this time as vice president, but Sirleaf remained in office.
George Weah’s political journey: Presidential run in 2005 and vice-presidential bid in 2011, both times challenged by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
Weah’s lack of formal education became a point of contention during his campaign. He has been vocal in criticizing those who question his ability to govern.
Initially, he claimed to hold a BA degree in Sports Management from Parkwood University in London, which is known to be an unaccredited institution that issues diplomas without requiring any coursework. Following this, Weah enrolled in DeVry University in Miami to pursue a degree in business administration.
Despite these political challenges, Weah remains an immensely popular and influential figure in Liberia. In April 2016, he announced his intention to run for President for a second time. Ultimately, the “Football God” achieved his goal and became the President of Liberia in December 2017, defeating Vice President Joseph Boakai in the election.
Appreciation Note:
Thanks for reading Our George Weah Childhood Story and his Biography facts. He is a man who joins the likes of Roger Milla and Abedi Pele (the father of Jordan and Andre Ayew) as Africa’s greatest Football legends.
We strive for content accuracy and fairness in our deliver of stories about African football Legends. Kindly stay tuned for more stories about African football legends. The Stories of Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto’o will excite you.
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