As they say, “Jay Jay was so good that they had to name him twice”. Football season is right around the corner, and names like the legendary Okocha often spring to mind when we pause and reflect on some of the very best of our time. And while you are reflecting, why not click here and lock in a pre-season football bonus to get things started on the right foot? Or should that be left foot in the case of Okocha? He was so good it can get confusing!
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The man was undeniably one of the best Nigerian football players of our time, and some even place him in the same category as some of the best ever. He certainly had some highlights, and we will take a look at some of the best right here.
The Rise and Excellence Of A Nigerian Legend
Born in 1973 in Enugu State, Jay Jay started his career playing football in the streets with no advanced footwear and sometimes not even an actual football.
He and his friends would play with anything that they could find, which stimulated his love and passion for the game.
Fast-forward 17 years, Okocha took a long awaited vacation to West Germany who of course had just won the 1990 FIFA World Cup. It was this trip that would kick start his club career. It was a journey that would see him play for a total of 5 clubs including Eintract Frankfurt, Fenerbahçhe, PSG, Bolton Wanderers and finally Hull City.
The PSG transfer from Fenerbahçhe made him the most expensive African player in history, as the transfer was completed for a substantial £14 million. During his time at PSG, Okocha was accredited with being a personal mentor to Ronaldinho. Perhaps that’s where the famous Ronaldinho dancing style of football came from?
In 1996 Okocha helped Nigeria to claim Gold at the Atlanta Olympics, where the team would go down in history and be hailed ‘The Dream Team’ by fans around the globe. During his international career, Okocha achieved 73 appearances and scored 14 goals.
Okocha ultimately retired from the game of football in 2008, after his club at the time had gained promotion to the Premier League. This was a feat that the club had never achieved in their 104-year history.
Post-career, Okocha is still heavily involved in the game that he loves. In 2015, Okocha became the chairman for the Delta State FA. And his drive to give back to his home country has been seen through his recent activities in trying to become president of the Nigerian Football Federation.
One thing is for certain when it comes to Jay Jay. He was a player with immense talent that entertained his fans across multiple continents. To cement this fact, even the great Pelé has named him one of the top 125 football players still alive today.
