George Weah: Footballer turned diplomat

George Weah: Africa's first football superstar

George Weah is a hero across the African continent and particularly in his own country, Liberia, where he is cheered and mobbed by crowds wherever he goes.

He became the first African to become a truly global football star, and at the peak of his powers as a striker in 1995 was named World, African and European footballer of the year.

Born in 1966, his career is now winding down at Manchester City - but he has also been carving out a life for himself after football.

Much travelled player

Liberia (1982-87)

Cameroon (1988)

France (1988-95)

Italy (1995-2000)

UK (2000)

He has friends in high places and is known to be on good terms with the Liberian President Charles Taylor.

If he requests a meeting with him while back playing for the national side, any snub from the president would not be well received by Weah's legions of fans.

UN ambassador

He is a UN goodwill ambassador.

President Taylor: On good terms with Weah

He has subsidised the costs of the Liberian national side, and was appointed their technical director by presidential decree.

Indeed, the squad stays in his hotel in Monrovia before national games.

His football in Europe has made him a millionaire. The trappings of his wealth include a Porsche kept back home in Liberia with the number plate "4 ME ONLY".

However, he is praised wherever he has gone as a perfect role model - polite and disciplined.

After establishing himself as a star in Liberia, he moved to Cameroon where current Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger signed him for French club Monaco AC.

He then played for Paris St Germain before moving to top Italian side AC Milan.

Much awarded player

African Player of the Year (1989,94,95)

World Player of the Year (1995)

European Player of the Year (1995)

Fifa Fair Play Award (1996)

African Footballer of the Century (1999)

He terrorised defences in the Italian leagues and in European competitions for several years before moving on to the English Premier League last year with Chelsea.

This summer he signed a two-year contract with Manchester City.

His offer to help secure the release of the four foreign journalists charged with spying and languishing in a Liberian jail probably has more chance than those of other emissaries at succeeding.

A spokesman for the British Foreign Office has wished Weah well.

But whether he can persuade President Taylor to release the Channel 4 film crew remains to be seen.

If he is successful it would suggest he could have a political career as brilliant as anything he has achieved on the pitch after he hangs up his boots.