| Player Profile | |
|---|---|
| Name | Jay Jay Okocha |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Date of Birth | 14th August 1973 |
| Club | Borussia Neunkirchen, Eintracht Frankfurt, Fenerbahce, PSG, Bolton Wanderers, Qatar SC, Hull City |
| Position | Attacking Midfielder |
📜 History of Jay Jay Okocha
Jay Jay Okocha was born in Enugu in southeastern Nigeria in 1973 and started playing football with other children in the streets. After playing for a local youth team, he went on holiday to watch football in what was then called West Germany.
One day he accompanied a friend to training at his club Borussia Neunkirchen. He asked to join in and impressed the coach so much that he went back to sign his first professional contract the very next day. He then went on to have a very successful career for a number of clubs in Europe, winning plenty of personal and team awards and trophies over the next 18 years.
In June 2008, the Ogwashi-Uku Stadium in Aniocha South, Nigeria was renamed the ‘Jay Jay Okocha Stadium’ after the legendary football player. It is the current home stadium of Delta Force F.C and is used for most football games.
Jay Jay Okocha Club Career
Jay Jay Okocha is fondly remembered by the fans of all the clubs he played for over the years, due to his dribbling skills and trophies.
Eintracht Frankfurt
After just a year in the third tier of German football, he was signed by Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt. A highlight was the incredible goal he scored against Karlsruher, finishing past legendary keeper Oliver Kahn. It was voted goal of the season and his dribbling skills became a major part of his game.
Fenerbahce
With Frankfurt relegated to the second tier, Okocha moved to Turkey where he signed for Fenerbahce. His excellence at free kicks came to the fore here and many of his 34 goals in the two seasons he played in Istanbul were from set pieces.
Paris Saint-Germain
The next stop for Jay Jay Okocha skills was PSG. Okocha became the most expensive African footballer at the time and stayed in the French capital for four years. Before he left Paris Saint-Germain, he forged a strong bond with the emerging Ronaldinho, becoming something of a mentor to the Brazilian player.
Bolton Wanderers
After shining in Paris, Jay Jay Okocha made the move to the EPL and Bolton Wanderers. There, he became a firm fans’ favourite again and was even made captain in his second season. His trademark spectacular goals followed him to England as he, once again, scored a goal of the season in his first campaign.
In his time with Bolton, he also led the club to its first cup final in nine years, where they lost to Middlesbrough in the League Cup.
Hull City
After a brief stay in Qatar, Okocha returned to England when he signed for Hull City. Although he was hampered by injuries, he was able to help the club navigate to the Premier League – the first time they had reached the top tier in English football in their 104-year career.
🌐 Jay Jay Okocha International Career
Okocha made his Nigeria debut in 1993 in a World Cup qualifier against Ivory Coast. But it was in his second game against Algeria where he won over the fans, using his immense skill to score and help the Super Eagles qualify for their first-ever World Cup.
He went on to play in the World Cup in the US, as well as in the 1994 African Cup of Nations that Nigeria ended up winning. He followed up that success by being a part of the Nigeria team that won Olympic gold in 1996. Although the Super Eagles were disappointing in the 1998 World Cup, his dribbling skills earned him a place in the team of the tournament.
He went on to play 73 times for his country and scored 14 goals overall. In addition to Olympic and African Cup of Nations success, Okocha also won an Afro-Asian Cup of Nations final in 1995, finished runner up in the African Cup of Nations in 2000, and third place in 2002, 2004 and 2006.
Jay Jay Okocha Teams, Appearances, and Goals
| Date | Team | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990-92 | Borussia Neunkirchen | 35 | 7 |
| 1992-96 | Eintracht Frankfurt | 90 | 16 |
| 1996-98 | Fenerbahce | 62 | 34 |
| 1998-02 | Paris Saint-Germain | 84 | 12 |
| 2002-06 | Bolton Wanderers | 124 | 14 |
| 2006-07 | Qatar SC | 41 | 6 |
| 2007-08 | Hull City | 18 | 0 |
| 1993-06 | Nigeria | 73 | 14 |
Where Can I Bet on the Matches Jay Jay Okocha Will Take Part In?
Okocha retired from football in 2008 but you can still bet on games involving the clubs he starred for over the years. Here is a list of some of the online sports betting sites you can use in Nigeria.
| Bookmaker | Welcome Bonus | Bonus Code |
|---|---|---|
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N1bet Promo Code | 300% bonus up to ₦500 000 | Go to N1bet |
Parimatch Promo Code | 100% first deposit bonus, up to ₦150,000 | Go to Parimatch |
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Yangasport Promo Code | Get a 500% Bonus on first 4 deposits! | BONUSMAX |
❔ Frequently Asked Questions About Jay Jay Okocha
Learn more about this retired footballer in our answers to commonly asked questions.
Okocha is a former footballer who played for a number of clubs in Germany, France, and England as well as for the Nigeria national team.
Okocha was born in Enugu in Nigeria.
Okocha is now retired and last played for Hull City in 2008.
Okocha left EPL club Bolton Wanderers in 2006.
Although Okocha never played professionally in Nigeria, he did play as a youth for local side Enugu Rangers.
Okocha was so gifted that it’s difficult to say whether he was left or right-footed as he was equally adept with both.
Jay Jay Okocha is represented by MN2S.
Jay Jay Okocha trophies in his career consist of nine accolades, including the African Cup of Nations in 1994.
Okocha won many individual awards including BBC African Footballer of the Year, Bolton Wanderers Player of the Year, and African Cup of Nations Top Goalscorer.
After retiring from football, Okocha returned to Nigeria and has chosen to get involved in various business interests.
