Wenger invited to Weah's inauguration as Liberia's president
Posted January 05, 2018 6:00 am
LONDON (AP) - Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says he has been invited to former footballer George Weah's inauguration as Liberia's president.
But Wenger, who signed Weah when he was Monaco coach in 1988, expects to be too busy to make the trip from London for the Jan. 22 ceremony.
Weah, a former FIFA World Player of the Year, was elected president last week in Liberia's first democratic transfer of power in more than 70 years.
Wenger says "it's down to the fact that one thing that was common in George's attitude is being strong mentally, absolutely unbelievably convinced that he has a mission."
Wenger recalled Weah "crying when war was on in Liberia," and added "this guy is an example for everybody who plays football."
FILE - In this Jan. 7, 1996 file photo, AC Milan's Liberian-born striker George Weah raises the Golden Ball trophy before the start of an Italian league A soccer match between Milan and Sampdoria in Milan, Italy. Raised in a poor neighborhood on the neglected outskirts of the capital Monrovia, Weah was elected president of his country last week, his victory a lesson in how sports fame can help propel figures with humble beginnings to positions of great importance. (AP Photo/Carlo Fumagalli, File)
The Associated Press