Sports
Happy birthday JayJay Okocha, Nigeria’s Super Eagles legend and one of the greatest football players
Jay-Jay Okocha, is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder.
He played 73 times for the Nigeria national team between 1993 and 2006, scoring 14 times, and was a member of three FIFA World Cup squads. He is regarded as one of the greatest football players from Africa.
He played across multiple leagues, starting his career at Enugu Rangers in the Nigerian Professional Football League before moving to Borussia Neunkirchenin Oberliga Südwest, Germany’s third division in July 1990. He would play in the Bundesliga, Turkish Süper Lig, French Ligue 1, English Premier League, EFL Championship, Qatar Stars League, and the Indian Super League before his retirement in 2012.
Augustine Azuka Okocha popularly known as Jay Jay Okocha was born in Enugu, Enugu State on August 14, 1973.
He hails from Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State Nigeria. According to several interviews including an interview with BBC Sport, Okocha had claimed that he began playing football at a very young age, playing on the streets with makeshift balls which was where he developed some of the skills that made him the renowned footballer he is today.
Okocha’s professional football career began in 1990 when he joined Enugu Rangers.
It was during his time at the club that he produced many of the spectacular displays he is known for today.
His time at the club ended with him scoring only one goal.
JJ Okocha was later signed by 1. Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt in December 1991.
The ex-Super Eagles star continued to amaze the spectators with his spectacular display, dribbling skills and confidence with the ball.
Okocha was also good with goals to the extent that one of his goals was voted Goal of the Season by many soccer magazines.
It was also voted as 1993 Goal of the Year by viewers of Sportschau (a German TV sports programme).
Okocha later moved to Turkish club Fenerbahce for a transfer fee of E1 million.
His performance for the club was his best till date as he amassed 30 goals in 62 matches.
He also earned Turkish citizenship as Muhammet Yavuz during his time at the club.
Okocha became the most expensive player in 1998 when French club Paris Saint-Germain paid about E14 million to sign up the footballer.
He spent four years at the club scoring 12 goals in 84 appearances.
Okocha was signed by Bolton Wanderers in 2002. JJ Okocha was able to perform quite well at the club by providing the necessary goals needed to steer the team away from relegation.
He was later given the Captain’s armband and led the team to their first Football League cup final in nine years.
However, they finished runners-up to Middlesbrough FC.
The ex-Nigerian international lastly played for English side Hull City before his retirement.
During his time at the club, Hull City was able to succeed in winning promotion to the Premier League for the first time in 104 years.
However, Okocha was unable to score any goals for the club in 18 appearances.
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