So good they named him twice. Augustine “Jay-Jay” Okocha dazzled crowds in Germany, Turkey, France and England with skills that made him one of Africa’s most entertaining footballers ever.
Quick facts
| Full name | Augustine Azuka Okocha |
|---|---|
| Born | 14 August 1973, Enugu |
| Position | Attacking midfielder |
| Major clubs | Enugu Rangers, Borussia Neunkirchen, Eintracht Frankfurt, Fenerbahçe, Paris Saint-Germain, Bolton Wanderers, Hull City |
| Big honours | AFCON (1994); Olympic gold (1996); BBC African Footballer of the Year (2003, 2004) |
Street football to Germany
Okocha learned his tricks on the streets of Enugu, playing with whatever ball he could find. He moved to Germany as a teenager and joined Eintracht Frankfurt, where in 1993 he scored one of the most famous goals in Bundesliga history — dribbling past goalkeeper Oliver Kahn and defenders again and again before scoring.
Turkey, Paris and Bolton
- Fenerbahçe — scored freely and became a fan hero in Istanbul.
- Paris Saint-Germain (1998–2002) — joined in a big-money transfer and played alongside a young Ronaldinho.
- Bolton Wanderers (2002–2006) — captained the club, kept them in the Premier League and led them into Europe for the first time.
- Hull City (2007–2008) — helped them win promotion to the Premier League in his final season.
