Weah Awards Arsene Wenger

Arsene Wenger has received Liberia’s highest honor from his ex-player, the footballer-turned-president, George Weah.

The former Arsenal manager was given the award alongside Claude Le Roy, who is a long-term friend of both Weah and Wenger at the ceremony in Monrovia on Friday.

“I have the honor to welcome two of my former coaches to Liberia. Arsene Wenger and Claude Le Roy both played a pivotal role in shaping my soccer career,” President Weah said.

Wenger, 68, received Liberia’s Order of Distinction and was conferred with the Knight Grand Commander of the Humane Order of African Redemption – the highest possible rank, according to Information Ministry, Lenn Eugene Nagbe.

Although Wenger has a close connection with the continent and coached many African players during his time at Arsenal, some Liberians questioned why he received the award.

“No one knows what Wenger did for Liberia to deserve that highest honour,” Twitter user Stanley Kenani wrote.

“President George Weah decides to award former Arsenal coach Liberia’s highest honour, the Order of Distinction. Wenger will be given the title of Knight Grand Commander of the Humane Order of African Redemption. No one knows what Wenger did for Liberia to deserve that highest honour,” another Praise Obialo asked.

“What’s the basis for awarding Wenger Liberia’s highest award. Weah should give his family’s highest award because he is the one that benefited directly from Wenger. Or he should employ Wenger and if he wins the African Nations Cup then he can give him his country’s highest award,” he added.

Personal connection

Some commentators have observed that it may be an inappropriate use of the country’s highest honor, which was established in 1879.

Writer Martin Kollie wrote that the honor should be awarded to people who have made a direct contribution to the country and not based on personal connections and friendships.

The former Arsenal manager arrived in the country on Wednesday to a hero’s welcome as excited fans mobbed him at the airport.

Weah said during an interview that Wenger told him: “I believe that with your talent, you can become one of the best players in the world.”

The French manager has spoken fondly of his respect for Weah’s talent and growth. “I remember when I saw him the first time at Monaco, coming in a bit lost, not knowing anybody, not being rated by anybody as a player and becoming the best player in the world in 1995 and today becoming the president of his country,” Wenger said in an interview with Goal.com.

Weah is a former FIFA World Player of the Year and won Ballon d’Or in 1995. He remains the only African player to have won these awards.

Father and son

Wenger first met Weah in the late 1980s when he was a manager of Monaco in 1988.

Claude Le Roy, who was then Cameroon National Team coach, had first noticed a young Weah at the local club Tonnerre Yaounde.

On Le Roy’s suggestion, Wenger signed Weah for £12,000 as manager of Monaco in 1988.

The striker won the African Footballer of the Year award in 1989, after his first year at the club.

After a prolific career that saw him turn out for PSG, Milan, Chelsea and Manchester City, Weah retired in 2003 and pursued a career in politics and became the first international sportsman to become president source: CNN.