29 Facts About Jay-Jay Okocha

Jay-Jay Okocha had 73 caps for the Nigeria national team between 1993 and 2006, scoring 14 goals, and was a member of three FIFA World Cup squads.

Jay-Jay Okocha is regarded as one of the greatest football players from Africa.

Jay-Jay Okocha played across multiple leagues, starting his career at Enugu Rangers in the Nigerian Professional Football League before moving to Borussia Neunkirchen in the Oberliga Sudwest, Germany's third division, in July 1990.

Jay-Jay Okocha played in the Bundesliga, Super Lig, Ligue 1, Premier League, EFL Championship, and Qatar Stars League before his retirement in 2008.

Jay-Jay Okocha began playing football on the streets just like many other football stars, usually with a makeshift ball.

Jay-Jay Okocha joined Eintracht Frankfurt in December 1991, where he linked up with many well-known players including Ghanaian international striker Tony Yeboah and later Thomas Doll.

Jay-Jay Okocha continued to shine for the German side, one highlight being a goal he scored against Karlsruher SC, dribbling in the penalty box, even going past some players twice, and slotting the ball past goalkeeper Oliver Kahn.

Yeboah and Gaudino later left for England, while Jay-Jay Okocha stayed until the end of the season when Eintracht were relegated to the 2.

Jay-Jay Okocha acquired Turkish citizenship during his time at the club and chose the name Muhammed Yavuz while playing.

Jay-Jay Okocha served as a mentor for young Brazilian footballer and future Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldinho during his time in Paris.

On 18 June Jay-Jay Okocha joined Bolton Wanderers on a free transfer after leaving PSG in the summer of 2002 following the FIFA World Cup.

Jay-Jay Okocha steered the team away from relegation with seven goals, including one later voted the team's Goal of the Season in the vital league win against West Ham United.

Jay-Jay Okocha was however unable to contribute greatly to Hull's promotion campaign due to fitness and constant injury problems, playing only 18 games and scoring no goals.

Jay-Jay Okocha again joined the Super Eagles in the 2000 African Cup of Nations, which Nigeria co-hosted with Ghana.

Jay-Jay Okocha scored three goals in the tournament, two in the opening game against Tunisia, and was given a standing ovation by the nearly 60,000 in attendance when he left the field.

Jay-Jay Okocha then captained the Super Eagles to the following 2002,2004 and 2006, consecutively finishing all three tournaments in third place.

Jay-Jay Okocha made a return to the Super Eagles for a testimonial against an African select side in Warri.

Jay-Jay Okocha was known for his confidence and clever trickery with the ball, technique, creativity, flair, close control, and smooth dribbling skills, as well as his turn of pace and his use of feints, in particular his version of the stepover and his trademark turns.

Jay-Jay Okocha is still remembered by Fenerbahce fans as one of the legends of the club and the Turkish football league.

Jay-Jay Okocha became known as the "African Maradona" in the media, due to his skill and decisive performances for his country.

In late 2014 Jay-Jay Okocha was added to the FIFA football game series as a "Legend" which honours his years as a great footballer.

Jay-Jay Okocha was elected as the Chair of the Delta State Football Association on 21 February 2015.

In June 2019, it was reported that Jay-Jay Okocha had been charged with alleged money laundering in Scotland.

Jay-Jay Okocha has served as a football pundit for African sports broadcaster, Supersports since 2019, providing analysis for major tournaments, including the African Cup of Nations and the European championships.

On 14 November 2021, Jay-Jay Okocha played in a charity match as part of a team of Bolton Wanderers Legends against the current Bolton first team, with the match helping to raise money for the mother of Bolton player Gethin Jones, after she was diagnosed with motor neuron disease.

Jay-Jay Okocha told them that the money they offer him was like he was doing them a favor.

Jay-Jay Okocha is a member of the Anioma community, a sub-group of the Igbo people.

Jay-Jay Okocha's older brother Emmanuel is a former footballer who played for the Nigerian national team.

Jay-Jay Okocha has a nephew, Alex Iwobi, who plays for Fulham and Nigeria.