Nigerian · Enugu, Nigeria · Born 14 August 1973So good they named him twice — PSG's Nigerian wizard whose skill and flair made him one of football's most entertaining players.
Augustine Azuka "Jay-Jay" Okocha was born on 14 August 1973 in Enugu, Nigeria, and grew up playing street football with makeshift balls, later recalling that finding an actual ball to play with was considered a bonus. A holiday trip to West Germany following the 1990 World Cup led to an impromptu training-ground trial with third-division club Borussia Neunkirchen, where his dazzling close control and dribbling ability immediately impressed the coaching staff, resulting in a professional contract before he had even planned to pursue a European career. Okocha moved to Eintracht Frankfurt in 1992, becoming one of the Bundesliga's most entertaining and unpredictable attacking players, before spells at Fenerbahçe in Turkey and Paris Saint-Germain in France, where he mentored a young Ronaldinho and continued to build a reputation as one of the finest dribblers world football has produced. Bolton Wanderers fans, delighted by his flair, famously chanted that he was "so good they named him twice." Okocha helped Nigeria reach its first-ever World Cup in 1994, and was part of the Nigerian squad that won gold at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, upsetting football powerhouses Brazil and Argentina along the way. He earned 73 caps for Nigeria across three World Cup appearances, scoring 14 international goals, and captained his country for much of his later international career. Renowned for his flamboyant step-overs, backheels, and general showmanship on the ball, Okocha is widely regarded as one of the greatest African footballers of all time and one of the most influential dribblers in the modern game, an entertainer whose style continues to be referenced by fans and pundits discussing the art of flair football.
Incredible dribbling skills and magical ball control
His nickname — "so good they named him twice" — came from his extraordinary skill, which Nigerian commentators felt deserved the double emphasis.
Did You Know?How They Played
Creative attacking midfielder with exceptional dribbling, close control and flair
Lasting Impact
One of Africa's greatest ever players and a master of football artistry
Career Honours
- African Player of Year 1998
- 73 Nigeria caps
- AFCON runner-up
- Turkish Cup 1996
- Turkish League 1996
| Club | Period | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Borussia Neunkirchen | 1990–1992 | 35 | 7 |
| Eintracht Frankfurt | 1992–1996 | 90 | 18 |
| Fenerbahçe | 1996–1998 | 62 | 30 |
| Paris Saint-Germain | 1998–2002 | 84 | 12 |
| Bolton Wanderers | 2002–2006 | 124 | 14 |
| Qatar SC | 2006–2007 | 41 | 6 |
| Hull City | 2007–2008 | 18 | 0 |
| Durgapur Vox Champions | 2012–2012 | 0 | 0 |
 Nigeria | — | 73 | 14 |
Nigerian Athletes