George Weah honours Arsene Wenger and Claude LeRoy (Photos)
Liberian President George Weah gave his country’s top honour to Arsene Wenger and Claude LeRoy, the two French coaches who gave his football career an early boost, on Friday.
Wenger was awarded the title of ‘Knight Grand Commander of the Humane Order of African Redemption’ - the highest honour in Liberia and was also inducted into the country’s Order of Distinction by the Liberian President.
Wenger was Weah's first European football coach and brought him to Monaco in 1988.
LeRoy met the young Weah while managing Cameroon.
“He had signed to Tonnerre Yaounde and came to Cameroon national squad training even though he was a Liberian. I was dazzled by his talent and called Arsene,” said LeRoy, who is currently coaching Togo.
Wenger signed Weah for Monaco in 1988.
After four seasons in the principality, he moved to Paris Sain-Germain and then to AC Milan in 1995, the year he became the only African to win FIFA World Player of the Year, and the first international sports star to become president.
Some Liberians say that the honour should not have been given to an individual for what they had done for the president personally, reports the BBC's Jonathan Paye-Layleh from the capital, Monrovia.
Liberia's Information Minister Eugene Nagbe told the BBC the award was not only about Mr Weah's personal connection with Wenger, but was a way to recognize that the Frenchman had "contributed to sports in Africa and has given many Africans opportunities".
See more photos from the ceremony:
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