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Fullname: Timothy Tarpeh Weah
aka: Tim Weah, Timothy Weah, Timo Weah
Born: 22 Feb 2000
Birthplace: New York City, USA
Signed: 7 Jan 2019 (6mth loan from PSG)
Left: 10 May 2019 (loan ended early)
Position: Midfielder, Forward
Debut: Celtic 3-0 Airdrie, Scottish Cup, 19 Jan 2019
Squad No.: 21
Internationals: USA
International Caps: ? [complete at end of career]
International Goals: ? [complete at end of career]
Biog
| “I still have a lot of growing up to do in my game.” Timo Weah |
Son of the legendary African footballer, George Weah, his father had become the 25th President of Liberia on the back of his popularity. Timo Weah himself was born in the US and represented the land of his birth, but was playing now for his father’s old club in France, PSG. As some measure of his talent, Timo Weah made the #NxGn 2019 list of the top young talents in the world. A great achievement, and all this despite having had little gametime. His parent club were heavily bloated financially with many world class players like Neymar, Cavani and Mbappe, so the young Timo Weah was sent out on loan to Celtic to gain some experience.
Celtic were eager to appease the fans’ concerns after a recent defeat to Sevco that unexpectedly put the league race back on, and Timo Weah seemed like an interesting choice. It also started up a wave of puns on his name (‘Show me the Weah to go home‘, ‘Weah are sailing‘ etc).
One thing was clear, he had been trained heavily for years by PR & spin doctors, as with his strong American accent, he was the most polished speaker you will ever listen to at a post-match player interview.
Interesting challenge in 2019, whether it was Sevco or Celtic who had brought in the better loan players. Celtic had Weah & Burke, who were young, whilst Sevco had brought in expensive loan signings Davis & Jermaine Dafoe.
Timo Weah had a great start coming on as a sub v Airdrie in January 2019 in a Scottish Cup match for his debut, and helped showed his skills to all. He proved it again soon after by coming on the pitch with only around 15mins left v St Johnstone in February 2019 with a man of the match performance to set up a goal and score in a 2-0 victory. It was Superbowl Sunday on the same day so quite fitting, but Timo Weah was the only American footballer the Celtic support were interested in.
It was clear from his games that he was a burst of positivity at a junction of the season when Celtic needed it the most, as despite Celtic being just in front in the league race, Sevco had some momentum being boosted by a victory over Celtic in December 2018 and key loan signings in January 2019. Timo Weah and Burke though were to be a big understated difference.
His mother (the First Lady of Liberia (i.e. President’s wife)) even turned up to watch her son v Kilmarnock at Rugby Park in an incredible late win, 1-0 90th minute winner, in Feb 2019. Quite a feat, and interesting to know her reaction after seeing her son being yellow carded straight after the final whistle for an altercation. It was to be one of his most celebrated moments after that heated 1-0 victory v in-form Kilmarnock, when he ended up in a confrontation with opposition players angry with him trying to stir him up. He stood his ground and all were impressed.
Back at his parent club, PSG had been humiliatingly knocked out by Man Utd in the Round of 16 in the European Cup despite a 2-0 away first leg lead in March 2019. This was a time when Man Utd were the poor relations amongst the big guns in the English Premiership, finishing sixth in their league. So going back to PSG was going to be a big situation, especially after reports that their owners were looking to reduce their previous profligate spending plans.
In time Celtic, went on to win the league as Sevco imploded, but it can be argued both ways the difference that Timo Weah made. Granted he was mostly used from off the bench, but in total he scored just four goals in his spell. Celtic only lost in one match he played in, a 2-0 defeat at home in the UEFA Cup to Valencia, and his performances were mostly adequate. You could see the effort, and you could see the talent which paid off on occasion, but once settled in, he had still a lot to develop in.
Once Lennon came in as interim manager after Brendan Rodgers left abruptly, Timo Weah was more out of the picture. His performances seemed to tail off, and despite a general popularity amongst the support, he was rarely called upon by the manager for matches. He didn’t even get to play against Sevco in his short spell at Celtic.
However, Timo Weah was beginning to seem to be surplus to requirements, and reports were that he & Lennon had an issue. He was young and developing, but he did prove it hard to show that he could hold down a starting position despite his excellent start.
He was to leave Celtic prematurely, when he was put on the spot in a situation he couldn’t win. Celtic were heading for the treble-treble, having won the league and to face Sevco on the Sunday coming in the league and Hearts in the Scottish Cup final a few weeks later. However, the USA was to play in the U20 World Cup which would clash with the Scottish Cup final, and as there was no reasonable resolution Timo Weah had a choice. He picked the national side, but Lennon decided best then he just move on early.
A sorry way for the popular Timo Weah to leave Celtic. Would have been good for him to have the chance to lift the league trophy with the players and then play in the Scottish Cup final. Timo Weah spoilt it in part with what was mostly a fine going away message, but added what seemed to be a dig at Lennon which was uncalled for and best left behind closed doors. Timo Weah could have tried to buckle down more and prove himself, but it was local boy Ryan Christie who was the young standout star at Celtic, and not Timo Weah despite the familial heritage.
Some were to use this as an example of Lennon’s occasional poor man management, but there are two sides to every story. His last few appearances at Celtic showed a mostly out of sorts Weah, which didn’t support his case.
He had shown that he was a rough diamond with the talent to prove himself and make a name for himself. He was still developing, but the loan system could be double edged, and many other young players from the mega clubs had seen their careers killed stone dead by the loan system (e.g. Islam Feruz). The Celtic support really wished it wouldn’t be the case with him.
We wished him the best.
Post-Celtic
On his return to PSG, he was immediately put on the transfer list and sold to Lille, which was good news as got him off the potentially ruinous repeat-loan out system.
As if it were fated to happen, he ended up facing Celtic in December 2020 in both of the matches for Lille v Celtic in the UEFA Cup group stage. In the second match (a dead rubber affair for a then poorly-performing Celtic), he scored but his side still lost in a 3-2 defeat. Celtic had been on a poor streak, and this was the first win after six matches. He also didn’t over-celebrate his goal, and spoke very well of Celtic in the post-match stating that he was showing his respect to Celtic after his time at the club which all were very glad to hear.
However, he was having a tough start at Lille (in part due to long layoffs due to injuries), and this match happened to be his first start and goal at his new club. The covid restrictions weren’t helping either. He was a battler though, and over time he worked hard to become a deserved regular in the side helping them to the French Ligue 1 title ahead of the moneyed PSG.
[… scored in the World Cup in Qatar 2022 for the US v Wales, and helped them to a commendable no-score draw with England. ]
[…]
Quotes
“My father’s considered one of the best strikers that have ever played the game. Having that on my back – it’s a load to carry, but I’m willing to carry it.”
Timothy Weah (2019)
“That’s one of the best experiences I’ve ever had and have ever played in. The Celtic fans, when I scored, it was like something out of a dream. Even when Scott scored, you could feel the fans, how they really are, and I’m really honoured and blessed to be here.”
Timothy Weah following his debut (Jan 2019)
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES (subs) |
LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 2019 | 4(9) | 0(3) | 0 | (1) | 4 (13) |
| Goals | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Honours with Celtic
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Articles
French football expert Robin Bairner gives his verdict on Timothy Weah
By Robin Bairner
Robin Bairner is a French football expert with more than 10 years’ experience writing about European football
From <https://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/17339439.french-football-expert-robin-bairner-gives-his-verdict-on-timothy-weah/>
Regan Hendry of Celtic (left) in action against Timothy Weah of PSG
Celtic have responded to Rangers’ signing of Jermain Defoe by snapping up Paris Saint-Germain’s deadliest striker on a loan deal.
Of course, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe remain out of reach for the Parkhead side, but neither the Brazilian superstar nor the French wonderkid can match the efficiency with which Timothy Weah has found the net for PSG’s first team this season.
Scoring a goal on average every 71.5 minutes he has been on the pitch in all competitions, the USA international eclipses both in that regard. The sample size for the forward is, admittedly, small. He has played only 143 minutes spread over three matches, all in August, but has left little doubt what he is capable of.
Since, he has been reduced to training with the first team, a trio of outings for PSG’s ‘B’ team, with whom he has netted twice in the regionalised French fourth tier, and five international games.
Weah’s lack of playing time at the Parc des Princes is no slight on his ability, however. As well as Neymar and Mbappe, he faces competition from Edinson Cavani for the No.9 role in what is a star-studded squad.
Celtic have already seen at close quarters what he is capable of. When the sides met in Dumbarton in a UEFA Youth League fixture last term, it was Weah who got the winner as PSG edged the match 3-2.
At 18, his lack of experience comes in stark contrast to Rangers signing Defoe, who is exactly twice his age. And while the Englishman joins the Ibrox club with little to prove as he enters the final years of his career, for New York-born Weah, the next stage of his professional life is set to be pivotal.
He is used to scrutiny, though, having seen his young career develop in something of a goldfish bowl due to his father, George, being the greatest African footballer ever and still the only player from the continent to have won the Ballon d’Or.
“I don’t see the name on my back,” he said this summer.
“It’s the fans who see it, so there’s no pressure.”
Despite his illustrious dad, it is not necessarily to the current President of Liberia he turns to for advice. Instead, it is his Jamaican mother Clar who has been the dominant influence on his football, having first taught him the basics of the game and now acts as an advisor.
“She knows a lot because she watched my dad,” Tim explained as a 15-year-old.
Indeed, it was Clar who persuaded her son to remain in Paris for the first half of the season rather than seek a more immediate loan move away.
“My mum, she thought I am still really young and tender. There’s still some stuff to work on,” he said in September. “She thought if I went to a lesser team, there would be so many expectations to carry that team or potentially fight for a league winning spot. I don’t feel that I’m ready for that.”
At Celtic, he is unlikely to have to carry such a burden alone. Odsonne Edouard, another PSG youth product, will offer competition such that Weah is not unduly relied upon, while the volume of fixtures that they face in the early months of 2019 guarantees him the game time that he and his parent club crave.
Edouard, who never managed a first-team appearance in Paris and scored only one Ligue 1 goal in nearly 10 hours of pitch time during a loan spell with Toulouse, offers a useful comparison for what manager Brendan Rodgers can expect from the teenager.
There are similarities in the style of the pair, which is perhaps inevitable given they came through the same academy.
Edouard, however, is the more natural centre forward, given that he is more physically developed and is more comfortable playing with his back to goal.
Weah, on the other hand, is quicker than the 20-year-old, has shown the technical capacity and poise of his father when it comes to drifting away from opponents, but typically moves into wider areas, creating spaces for the midfield to attack. Although wiry, he is stronger than he appears and when taking the ball into feet with his back to goal prefers to offload with one touch rather than holding it into his body.
No doubt he has the tools to establish himself at the highest level, but potential is one thing, exploiting it another entirely.
His arrival at Celtic Park therefore represents a different kind of risk than the one Rangers are taking with Defoe, a player with a history to support the expectation placed upon him south of the Clyde.
In the East End, meanwhile, Celtic are set to get their hands on a youngster largely untested in the senior game but who could have the world at his feet should everything go according to plan.
Celtic boss Neil Lennon gives loan ace Timo Weah boot after Scottish Cup final snub
ALISON McCONNELL
Published: 22:59 Friday 10 May 2019
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/celtic-boss-neil-lennon-gives-loan-ace-timo-weah-boot-after-scottish-cup-final-snub-1-4925347
Timothy Weah was asked to leave Celtic yesterday afternoon because he refused to play in the Scottish Cup final against Hearts.
The 19-year-old’s loan from Paris Saint-Germain was cut short yesterday afternoon, with the striker laying the blame for his premature exit at Neil Lennon as he left the club. Weah used social media platform Instagram to say: “I will be joining my national team to participate in the U20 World Cup in Poland. With this decision, the gaffer told me it is in the best interests of the team that I collect my things and go home rather than be a part of the game on Sunday so I’ll be on my way.”
It is understood, however, that the player was offered the opportunity to play for Celtic in Scottish Cup final at Hampden on 25 May and then rejoin his international colleagues in Poland for the remainder of their World Cup campaign.
The USA had invited Weah to head to a training camp after this weekend’s game against Rangers at Ibrox to start preparations for the World Cup but Tab Ramos, the under-20 manager, was prepared to allow Weah to then return to Lennoxtown the week before the cup final.
The understanding was that Weah would then have ample time with his Celtic colleagues to prepare for the club’s bid to secure a historic treble treble.
The compromise agreed with the club and the USA coaching staff was that Weah would miss their opening game against Ukraine but would return to Poland immediately after the Hampden game against Hearts.
That would have given Weah the remainder of the World Cup campaign with America’s next games on Monday 27 May against Nigeria and Qatar on Thursday 30 May.
It was Weah himself who refused to return to Glasgow for the final game of the season. Caretaker Celtic manager Lennon interpreted that decision as a lack of commitment from the player and felt it best for all parties that he leave the squad.
“I still have a lot of growing up to do in my game,” said Weah. “I am especially thankful to the Celtic family for giving me the opportunity to show you all what I am capable of doing once given the chance. I want to thank my team-mates for supporting me every step of the way. Thanks so much to Celtic FC and to you the fans for accepting me.”