Former footballers who successfully ventured into politics

By Peter Ochieng

“Keep politics out of football,” and “Keep football out of politics,” are common phrases especially in Kenya, where the national football team, Harambee Stars has been suspended severally by FIFA for government interference.

However, globally, politics has been known to provide a level playing field for people from various backgrounds; with teachers, journalists, doctors and lawyers, just to mention but a few, successfully venturing into politics.

This is no different to retired football players who have been elected into political offices with some even serving as presidents. Here we look at some 5 examples:

1. Mikheil Kavelashvili

On December 29, 2024, Mikheil Kavelashvili was installed as the 6th president of Georgia, with his election – by Members of Parliament being boycotted and disputed by the opposition, as well as the international community.

As a professional player, the 53-year-old president played as a striker for English Premier League side, Manchester City and in the Swiss Super League for a range of clubs.

He was capped 46 times by the Georgian national football team, scoring nine goals. He was first elected to parliament in the 2016 election representing the ruling Georgian Dream party.

In 2022, he co-founded People's Power, a satellite party of Georgian Dream, before being nominated as the candidate for the presidency of Georgia in November 2024.

2. George Weah

The only other former footballer to occupy the office of president of a country.

In 2017, Weah became the first ex-footballer to be elected president of Liberia, defeating then-Vice President Joseph Boakai. George Weah, a legendary African player, the only African to land his hands on the prestigious FIFA Ballon d’Or in 1995, had a stellar career with clubs like AC Milan, Chelsea, PSG, and Monaco, enroute to being declared African Footballer of the Year in 1989 and 1995.

Upon retiring in 2003, he joined politics with the Congress for Democratic Change party, losing two presidential bids to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

In 2014, he was elected Senator of Montserrado County and won the 2017 presidential election. He served as president until 2023, when he was ousted from office by Boakai in a rematch.

He graciously conceded defeat to the former Vice President, drawing from his experience as a footballer.

3. Kakha Kaladze

Another Georgian on the list. Kakha Kaladze, former Georgian defender earned 83 caps for his country and played for AC Milan from 2001 to 2010.

He retired from football in 2012 and joined the Georgian Dream Democratic party, before being elected to parliament. He was later appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy.

In July 2017, he resigned from his ministerial role to run for Mayor of Tbilisi, winning the election on October 22. He was re-elected in 2021, and he is currently in office as Mayor.

4. Hakan Sukur

The former Turkey international was elected to the Turkish parliament in 2011, under the ruling Justice and Development Party. He resigned from the party in 2013 but remained an independent MP.

In 2016, he went into exile after being accused of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Twitter, now X. An arrest warrant was later issued against him, followed by the revocation of his medals in July 2017.

He resides in the United States of America (USA).

5. Cuauhtemoc Blanco

One of Mexico’s greatest footballers. After retiring, he joined politics winning the municipal presidency of Cuernavaca under the Social Democratic Party in 2015.

He later joined the Social Encounter Party, and became Governor of Morelos in 2018.