Augustine Azuka Okocha widely known as Jayjay Okocha added another year yesterday being Aug,14 is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder.
The 43 year old ex footballer was known for his confidence, technique, creativity, and dribbling skills, as well as his use of feints, in particular the stepover.
He is a dual Nigerian-Turkish citizen, having acquired Turkish citizenship as “Muhammet Yavuz” while playing for Süper Lig team Fenerbahçe.
Early Life
Okocha was born in Enugu, Enugu State.His parents were from Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State, Nigeria. The name Jay-Jay was actually passed down from his elder brother James, who started playing football first. His immediate elder brother, Emmanuel was also called Emma Jay-jay, but the name stuck with Okocha instead. He began playing football on the streets just like many other football stars, usually with a makeshift ball.
Career
In 1990, he joined Enugu Rangers. In his time at the club he produced many spectacular displays including one where he rounded off and scored a goal, against experienced Nigerian goalkeeper William Okpara in a match against BCC Lions. Later that year, he went on holiday to West Germany, the country that had just won the 1990 FIFA World Cup, so he could watch German league football. His friend Binebi Numa was playing in the Third Division for Borussia Neunkirchen, and one morning Okocha accompanied Numa to training, where he asked to join in. The Neunkirchen coach was impressed with Okocha’s skills and invited him back the next day before offering him a contract.A year later, he joined FC Saarbrücken, but stayed only a few months with the Bundesliga side before a move to the Bundesliga withEintracht Frankfurt.
Honours
Club Honours
Borussia Neunkirchen
- Saarland Cup: 1990, 1992
- Oberliga Südwest: 1991
Fenerbahçe
- Chancellor Cup: 1998
- Atatürk Cup: 1998
Paris Saint-Germain
- Trophée des Champions: 1998
- UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2001
Bolton Wanderers
- Football League Cup: Runner-Up 2004
Hull City
- Football League Championship play-off: 2008
Nigeria National team
- African Cup of Nations: 1994
- Afro-Asian Cup of Nations: 1995
- Olympic Games: 1996
Individual honours
Okocha never won the African Player of Year award, becoming arguably the best player never to win the award despite coming second twice in 1998. He did however win the inaugural BBC African Footballer of the Year and the successive one, becoming the only player to retain the award and win it more than once. In 2004 he was listed in football legend Pelé’s FIFA 100 (a list of the greatest 125 living players of all time). In 2007 he was voted number 12 on the greatest African footballers of the past 50 years list, on a poll conducted by CAF to coincide with their 50th anniversary.
- 1995, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 Nigerian footballer of the year
- 1996 Nigerian footballer of the year runner up
- 1998 African Footballer of the Year runner up
- 1998 FIFA World Cup All-Star Team (Reserve)
- 2003, 2004 BBC African Footballer of the Year
- April 2003 Goal of the Month (England)
- November 2003 Premier League Player of the Month
- 2005 Bolton Wanderers footballer of the year
- FIFA 100
Personal Life/Marriage
His older brother Emmanuel was also a former international for the Nigerian team. Okocha is also a member of the Anioma, a subgroup of Igboethnic derivative.His nephew is international footballer Alex Iwobi.
He got married to Nkechi Okocha in 1997 and they have two kids together- Daniella Okocha and A-Jay Okocha.
Okocha & Family
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