Retired English Premier League manager, Arsene Wenger, has met and carried a baby named after him on arrival in Monrovia, the Liberian capital ahead of his national honour by the nation's president.
Arsene Wenger holds his baby namesake on arrival in Liberia (Photo credit: Getty Images)
Former Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, on Thursday, met a huge surprise on
arrival in Liberia ahead of his planned induction into the country’s Order of Distinction in a ceremony in Monrovia.
According to a UK Telegraph report, the Frenchman was handed the baby named after him as soon as he arrived in Monrovia.
The former Arsenal boss will be honoured by President George Weah, who played under Wenger in 1988 during his spell as Monaco coach.
The country’s president, Weah, who was elected president of Liberia last year, will honour the football tactician and another veteran French soccer manager, Claude Le Roy, at a state function on Friday after the pair played important roles in his life.
The 68-year-old Wenger was earlier welcomed at Liberia’s international airport in Harbel by hundreds of fans in Arsenal shirts, alongside the country’s minister of youth and sports, Zoegar Wilson.
However, they were opposition politicians who faulted Weah’s plans to hand Wenger Liberia's highest award on Wednesday.
Liberian sports minister, Wilson noted that Wenger will still be given the Humane Order of African Redemption with the rank of Knight Grand Commander.