attacking midfielder with lot of tricks. Okocha was a member of gold
medal winning Nigerian football team in 1996 Atlanta Olympics. FIFA
named him in thelift of best living footballers in 2004.Okocha isa
master in taking free kicks. In Ogwasi-Uku, there is a football
stadium named "Jay Jay Okocha Stadium."
Agustine Azuka "Jay-Jay" Okocha was born on 14th August 1973 at Enugu
in Nigeria. Okocha started his football journey with the youth team of
Enugu Rangers. He played impressively for Enugu. Luck came in his
way,when he went to Germany to meet his friend,but ended up joining
Borussia Neunkirchen, after impressing in trials in 1990.Neunkirchen
was then in the third tier of German football. He played 35 matches
for Nuenkirchen and scored seven goals.
In 1992, Okocha signed up for German Bundesliga side Eintracht
Frankfurt. He was impressive for Frankfurt. He scored a stunning goal
against Karlsruhe after dribbling inside the penalty box and beating
Oliver Kahn. Some football magazines in Germany voted it as goal of
the season.
Following a tussle with Frankfurt manager Jupp Heynckes, Okocha left
Frankfurt in 1996.Frankfurt went down to second tier following a
relegation. Okocha scored 16 goals for Frankfurt in 90 matches.
Okocha moved to Turkey to resurrect his career. He signed up for
Fenerbahce. Okocha became prolific in scoring goals while playingfor
Fenerbahce. He scored 30 goals for them in sixty matches. In 1997/1998
season, he helped Fenerbahce to stun Manchester United at their home
Old Trafford, in a UEFA Champions League match. He got Turkish citizen
ship during his stint with Fenerbahce.
French Ligue 1 club Paris Saint Germain bought Okocha for $ 24
million, which was a record price for an African player. During his
4-year stint with PSG, he played 84 matches and scored 12 goals.
Okocha moved to England and signed up for Bolton Wanderers.He became a
cult hero among Bolton faithful. He along with Djorkaeff produced some
stunning performances to steer Bolton to safety in premier league,
from relegation Zone. He scored seven vital goals during that season.
He became captain of Bolton following his heroics in 1993. Okocha led
Bolton to League cup final. Okocha played 124 league matches for
Bolton and scored 13goals.
He moved to Qatar and joined Qatar SC in 2006.He scored six goals for
them in 41 matches. He moved back to England and joined Championship
side Hull city, in 2007.Hull city achieved promotion to premier league
after winning play-off. However, Okocha played only 18 matches for
them during that campaign.
Okocha played his first International match for Nigeria against Ivory
Coast. He helped Nigeria to qualify for 1994 world cup. He won African
cup of nations with Nigeria in 1994.Nigeria exited from 1994 world cup
at knockout stage. In 1998 world cup also they exited the tournament
in round of 16.However, his performances yielded him place in Team of
the tournament. Okocha played in 2000 and 2002 African cup of nations
in which Nigeria finished second andthird respectively. He became
Captain of Nigeria in 2002.He scored 1000th goal of African cup of
nations. He scored four goals during 2004 African cup of nations. He
retired from International football after the third place match in
African Cup of nations in 2006, which Nigeria won. Okocha played 75
matches for Nigeria and scored 14 goals. He is one of the top football
team players to emerge from Africa.
No comments:
Post a Comment