Augustine Azuka ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha

by Tom Davis ( @tomdavis212)

Born: 14/08/1973, Enugu, Nigeria

Clubs: Enugu Rangers, Borussia Neunkirchen, Eintracht Frankfurt, Fenerbahçe,

Paris Saint-Germain, Bolton Wanderers, Qatar SC, Hull City

International: Nigeria (73 caps, 14 goals)

Jay Jay ‘so good they named him twice’ Okocha’s arrival in European football was

a romanticised affair that is becoming rarer in the modern world of superstar

pre-teens pre-contracts. Already playing for his local club Enugu Rangers in

Nigeria, he travelled to visit a friend playing for Borussia Neunkirchen in the

German third division. Invited to join in a training session, he impressed and was

snapped up.

A skilful, creative attacking midfielder with dazzling footwork, Okocha adapted

to German football fast, scoring 7 goals in his 35 games for the club, and soon

enough Eintracht Frankfurt came in for the young player.

Okocha linked up alongside fellow flair icon Tony Yeboah at Frankfurt, and

he soon became well known for his audacious skills, including a particular

slaloming run capped by a cool finish past Oliver Kahn, then of Karlsruher SC.

After a reported fall-out with manager Jupp Heynckes, Okocha moved on to

Fenerbahçe as Frankfurt were relegated to the German second division.

During his two year stint by the Bosphorus, Okocha took up Turkish citizenship,

and was part of the team who recorded a memorable 1-0 victory over

Manchester United at Old Trafford. In 1996 he represented Nigeria at the

summer Olympics, scoring against Japan in the group stages and again in the

quarters against Mexico, with Nigeria going on to win the tournament.

His jinking runs and spectacular free kicks alerted Paris Saint-Germain, who

parted with a fee in the region of £17 million for his services, making him the

most expensive African player ever at the time.

His time in the French capital was equally successful, and he netted 12 goals in

84 games. However, after again falling out with his manager, Okocha chose to

leave the club on a free transfer at the end of his contract.

His next move is what makes Okocha, for me at least a true flair icon. Moving to much unfancied Bolton,

he teamed up with a number of other fading geniuses such as Youri Djorkaeff and

Ivan Campo. He took his place in one of the most fondly remembered squads

in the last decade, and brought pinpoint long passing, incredible skills and a

general sense of excitement to a team with a reputation for playing unnatractive,

direct football. He didn’t care that he was playing for Bolton, and showed little

respect towards his supposedly superior opponents (brilliantly encapsulated

in his rainbow flick over a bemused Ray Parlour). As an aspiring but atrocious

young midfielder, he inspired me and undoubtedly many others to try running

past players instead of listening the dull pleas of our school P.E. teachers, and I

even once owned a pair of his Reebok ‘laceless’ boots (although unfortunately mine cost a tenner and were from Sports Direct, which is definitely the reason I never made the team).

He finished his first season in England as Bolton’s joint top scorer and won the goal of the season award with an incredible effort against West Ham, a goal which went on to be voted as Bolton’s best goal during their time in England’s top division in 2008. Another three seasons as Bolton’s captain followed, and his popularity and hard work ensured his place as a club legend.

In 2006 he moved to Qatar SC, where he played 41 games for the club, scoring

6 goals. In 2006 he set a world precedent, claiming that god had told him to

move to Hull. Beset by injury and fitness problems he managed only 18 games

in the northeast, but nonetheless contributed to Hull’s historic promotion to the

Premier League. He departed at the end of the season, focussing on charity work

amongst other things.

Recently however, the footballing world was dealt a miraculous second coming,

as it was announced that Okocha will be one of the players auctioned off

between the six clubs of the brand new Indian Premier League. Alongside Fabio

Cannavaro, Fernando Morientes, Robbie Fowler, Robert Pires and several others,

Okocha will return to the field and hopefully inject the same excitement he

bought to the Premier League to the much hyped league.

Okocha never played for a top club in Europe, but his bewitching skills, runs

and passing (demonstrated in numerous Youtube videos) made him one of the

most enjoyable players to watch over the past two decades, and his calm, smiley

demeanour endeared him to countless fans.