Back and Next - Back and NextSTAR PROFILE Okocha - Nigeria’s soccer icon
Friday, May 30, 2008
Jay Jay Okocha - so good they named him twice. This was the attitude of Bolton fans towards the gifted Nigerian after the skilful midfielder played the lead role in securing the Trotters Barclaycard Premiership status in his debut season at the club.
After a slow start to his Bolton career Okocha came into his own in the second half of the season, thrilling crowds with his tricks and pleasing Sam Allardyce with his match winning performances.
Bolton's Player of the Season had many memorable moments throughout the 2002/03 campaign, but his most important contribution was the winning goal against relegation rival's West Ham at the Reebok.
He looked set to become a cult hero amongst the fans, and if he wasn't then he most certainly is now. The Nigerian helped Bolton to one of their most successful seasons ever during the 2003/04 campaign and captained Nigeria to the semi-final of the African Nations Cup - missing a large and important chunk of the Trotters' season to do so.
Allardyce pulled off a considerable coup during summer 2002 when he convinced Paris St Germain midfielder and Nigeria World Cup star, Okocha, to drop his excessive wage demands and join Bolton Wanderers to fulfil his dream of playing in the Barclaycard Premiership.
Okocha brings the sort of exciting, international creative force that Reebok stadium crowds first saw towards the end of the 2001/02 season with Youri Djorkaef, and big things are expected of him from Allardyce and the rest of the coaching staff.
Okocha was playing football at the age of just 16 for his first club, Rangers international of Enugu, before a chance encounter whilst on holiday in Germany launched his international career. Okocha tried out for fourth division club Borussia Neunkirchen and they snapped him up.
In 1992 Okocha began his ascent in the German league, joining first division club Eintracht Frankfurt and signing professional terms. It was at Frankfurt that he first began to excite German crowds with his dazzling dribbling skills and drew the attention of European agents.
A £1million move to Turkish outfit Fenerbahce was the result in 1996 and Okocha helped his new side to the league title in his first season, but just two seasons later he was on the move again in a staggering £10million switch to Paris St. Germain, making him the most expensive Nigerian footballer ever.
After seeing out his contract with the French giants Okocha was available on a free transfer - hence the rumoured £3.3million-a-year wages he was rumoured to be demanding. It is testament to Allardyce's negotiation skills that he was able to convince the midfielder to drop his high demands and join the Barclaycard Premiership outfit.
In the 2004/05 season - his third for the Trotters - he made 33 appearances and scored 7 goals, including two in the first game of the season - a 4-1 victory against Charlton.
As if to prove his talent, Okocha was honoured with the BBC's African Player of the Year award (for the second successive year).
However, Okocha himself was critical of his form, which he called inconsistent in a season where he did not feature for Nigeria. He will want to prove to himself, more than anyone else, that he still has the talent to steer his team to success as the Wanderers embark upon a UEFA cup season in 2005/06.
Biograpgy
Augustine Azuka "Jay-Jay" Okocha (born August 14, 1973 in Enugu) is a Nigerian football midfielder, currently playing for Hull City. He was well known for being one of the best dribblers in the world at his prime.
Career
Before signing with the English Premier League club Bolton Wanderers (where fans wore t-shirts that bore the legend "Jay Jay. So Good They Named Him Twice"), Okocha played for Paris Saint-Germain, Fenerbahçe, and Eintracht Frankfurt.
During his time at Bolton, he managed to help them avoid relegation in the 2002-03 season, where after a 2-1 victory over Middlesbrough, he and Sam Allardyce famously danced on the pitch celebrating their survival in the top-flight of English football. In 2002 he was offered to Everton, however manager Walter Smith decided to sign David Ginola instead, as his salary would be heavily subsidised by Aston Villa.
He was regularly selected for the Nigeria national football team from 1993 until 2006. He was also captain of the Super Eagles when he retired from international football at the 2006 African Cup of Nations.
In 1993, while playing for Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany, he scored one of the most memorable goals in Bundesliga History. In a match against Karlsruhe, he dribbled through the entire defence of the team (beating some players twice) before scoring against goalkeeper Oliver Kahn. The goal was eventually voted 1993 Goal of the Year.
Okocha has played at the 1994, 1998 (where he was named in the official team of the tournament), and 2002 FIFA World Cup finals and many African Nations Cup tournaments. He was also a member of the Nigerian team that won the golden medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. He is the only member of the 1994 national team that is still an active professional.
In 2004 he released a DVD called "Superskills with Jay-Jay Okocha" where he teaches children at a football school the most difficult tricks in football.
Okocha signed for Hull City on a one-year deal on 4th September 2007. He claims that God told him to sign for Hull. He stated that Hull City will be his last club, causing speculation that he will retire at the end of the 2007-08 season, bringing an end to his illustrious career. Hull manager Phil Brown is currently trying to persuade him to stay on for another year: "That's Jay-Jay's decision but if I can persuade him otherwise, and if I feel it's right to, then I'll have that conversation with him." Following Hull City's promotion to the Premiership, Okocha has stated that he would like to stay on for another season.
Personal life
His Igbo name, Azuka, means "Your backers are your strength". Okocha is married to Nkechi, who is also a Nigerian, and they have two children together - Daniella and AJ. He also holds Turkish citizenship, his Turkish name being Muhammad Yavuz. A few years ago Okocha invested a great deal of money in a Nigerian bank, the defunct Societe Generale Bank which ended in bankruptcy.
Honours
He is a member of the FIFA 100, a list of the 125 greatest living footballers selected by Pelé in conjunction with FIFA's centenary celebrations. He was also the BBC African footballer of the year (2003 and 2004).
Personal information
Full name: Augustine Azuka Okocha
Date of birth: August 14, 1973 (age 34)
Place of birth: Enugu, Nigeria
Height: 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing position: Attacking midfielder
Current club: Hull City
Number: 44
Youth clubs: Enugu Rangers
Senior clubs1
Years Club
1990–1992
1992–1996
1996–1998
1998–2002
2002–2006
2006–2007
2007– Borussia Neunkirchen
Eintracht Frankfurt
Fenerbahçe
Paris Saint-Germain
Bolton Wanderers
Qatar SC
Hull City
National team:
1993–2006 Nigeria
After a slow start to his Bolton career Okocha came into his own in the second half of the season, thrilling crowds with his tricks and pleasing Sam Allardyce with his match winning performances.
Bolton's Player of the Season had many memorable moments throughout the 2002/03 campaign, but his most important contribution was the winning goal against relegation rival's West Ham at the Reebok.
He looked set to become a cult hero amongst the fans, and if he wasn't then he most certainly is now. The Nigerian helped Bolton to one of their most successful seasons ever during the 2003/04 campaign and captained Nigeria to the semi-final of the African Nations Cup - missing a large and important chunk of the Trotters' season to do so.
Allardyce pulled off a considerable coup during summer 2002 when he convinced Paris St Germain midfielder and Nigeria World Cup star, Okocha, to drop his excessive wage demands and join Bolton Wanderers to fulfil his dream of playing in the Barclaycard Premiership.
Okocha brings the sort of exciting, international creative force that Reebok stadium crowds first saw towards the end of the 2001/02 season with Youri Djorkaef, and big things are expected of him from Allardyce and the rest of the coaching staff.
Okocha was playing football at the age of just 16 for his first club, Rangers international of Enugu, before a chance encounter whilst on holiday in Germany launched his international career. Okocha tried out for fourth division club Borussia Neunkirchen and they snapped him up.
In 1992 Okocha began his ascent in the German league, joining first division club Eintracht Frankfurt and signing professional terms. It was at Frankfurt that he first began to excite German crowds with his dazzling dribbling skills and drew the attention of European agents.
A £1million move to Turkish outfit Fenerbahce was the result in 1996 and Okocha helped his new side to the league title in his first season, but just two seasons later he was on the move again in a staggering £10million switch to Paris St. Germain, making him the most expensive Nigerian footballer ever.
After seeing out his contract with the French giants Okocha was available on a free transfer - hence the rumoured £3.3million-a-year wages he was rumoured to be demanding. It is testament to Allardyce's negotiation skills that he was able to convince the midfielder to drop his high demands and join the Barclaycard Premiership outfit.
In the 2004/05 season - his third for the Trotters - he made 33 appearances and scored 7 goals, including two in the first game of the season - a 4-1 victory against Charlton.
As if to prove his talent, Okocha was honoured with the BBC's African Player of the Year award (for the second successive year).
However, Okocha himself was critical of his form, which he called inconsistent in a season where he did not feature for Nigeria. He will want to prove to himself, more than anyone else, that he still has the talent to steer his team to success as the Wanderers embark upon a UEFA cup season in 2005/06.
Biograpgy
Augustine Azuka "Jay-Jay" Okocha (born August 14, 1973 in Enugu) is a Nigerian football midfielder, currently playing for Hull City. He was well known for being one of the best dribblers in the world at his prime.
Career
Before signing with the English Premier League club Bolton Wanderers (where fans wore t-shirts that bore the legend "Jay Jay. So Good They Named Him Twice"), Okocha played for Paris Saint-Germain, Fenerbahçe, and Eintracht Frankfurt.
During his time at Bolton, he managed to help them avoid relegation in the 2002-03 season, where after a 2-1 victory over Middlesbrough, he and Sam Allardyce famously danced on the pitch celebrating their survival in the top-flight of English football. In 2002 he was offered to Everton, however manager Walter Smith decided to sign David Ginola instead, as his salary would be heavily subsidised by Aston Villa.
He was regularly selected for the Nigeria national football team from 1993 until 2006. He was also captain of the Super Eagles when he retired from international football at the 2006 African Cup of Nations.
In 1993, while playing for Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany, he scored one of the most memorable goals in Bundesliga History. In a match against Karlsruhe, he dribbled through the entire defence of the team (beating some players twice) before scoring against goalkeeper Oliver Kahn. The goal was eventually voted 1993 Goal of the Year.
Okocha has played at the 1994, 1998 (where he was named in the official team of the tournament), and 2002 FIFA World Cup finals and many African Nations Cup tournaments. He was also a member of the Nigerian team that won the golden medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. He is the only member of the 1994 national team that is still an active professional.
In 2004 he released a DVD called "Superskills with Jay-Jay Okocha" where he teaches children at a football school the most difficult tricks in football.
Okocha signed for Hull City on a one-year deal on 4th September 2007. He claims that God told him to sign for Hull. He stated that Hull City will be his last club, causing speculation that he will retire at the end of the 2007-08 season, bringing an end to his illustrious career. Hull manager Phil Brown is currently trying to persuade him to stay on for another year: "That's Jay-Jay's decision but if I can persuade him otherwise, and if I feel it's right to, then I'll have that conversation with him." Following Hull City's promotion to the Premiership, Okocha has stated that he would like to stay on for another season.
Personal life
His Igbo name, Azuka, means "Your backers are your strength". Okocha is married to Nkechi, who is also a Nigerian, and they have two children together - Daniella and AJ. He also holds Turkish citizenship, his Turkish name being Muhammad Yavuz. A few years ago Okocha invested a great deal of money in a Nigerian bank, the defunct Societe Generale Bank which ended in bankruptcy.
Honours
He is a member of the FIFA 100, a list of the 125 greatest living footballers selected by Pelé in conjunction with FIFA's centenary celebrations. He was also the BBC African footballer of the year (2003 and 2004).
Personal information
Full name: Augustine Azuka Okocha
Date of birth: August 14, 1973 (age 34)
Place of birth: Enugu, Nigeria
Height: 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing position: Attacking midfielder
Current club: Hull City
Number: 44
Youth clubs: Enugu Rangers
Senior clubs1
Years Club
1990–1992
1992–1996
1996–1998
1998–2002
2002–2006
2006–2007
2007– Borussia Neunkirchen
Eintracht Frankfurt
Fenerbahçe
Paris Saint-Germain
Bolton Wanderers
Qatar SC
Hull City
National team:
1993–2006 Nigeria
Author: DO
See Also - See Also