How Super Eagles legend dazzled after joining top English club 19 years ago

How Super Eagles legend dazzled after joining top English club 19 years ago

Oluwatomiwa Babalola
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:48 PM
  • Austin Okocha nearly guided Bolton Wanderers to EFL Cup glory in 2004 but lost to Middlesbrough in the final
  • The Nigerian star joined the Wanderers as a free agent 19 years ago and he was named their captain barely one year after
  • Bolton gave him an initial two year deal but ended up spending four years over his incredible display during his reign with them

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Former Super Eagles captain Austin Jay Jay Okocha made his mark playing in the English Premier League for about four seasons despite not winning any title during the time.

The 47-year-old attacker joined Bolton Wanderers on a free transfer in the summer of 2002 from Paris Saint Germain on a free transfer.

This came after an impressive World Cup appearance for Nigeria at the FIFA World Cup the same year and he even made more impact for them during his stay.

Revealed: How Super Eagles legend dazzled after joining top English club 19 years ago
Austin Okocha showing off his skills during the 1998 FIFA World Cup between Nigeria and Bulgaria. Photo by Christian Liewig/TempSport/Corbis
Source: Getty Images

Okocha signed an initial two-year deal with The Wanderers but after an unbeatable performance from the midfielder, his reign was extended until 2006.

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He scored 18 goals and three assists in 145 appearances for the Trotters and was also named captain of the team just one year into his arrival at the club - succeeding Gudni Bergsson.

The Former Nigerian star was so unlucky not to have won the EFL Cup with Bolton at the end of the 2003-04 season after losing the final 2-1 to Middlesbrough at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff.

Okocha won the Premier League player of the month award in November 2003 and also went on to win the BBC goal of the month in April 2003.

The former PSG star was also voted as the BBC African Footballer of the Year in 2003 and 2004, beating other contestants to the prize two consecutive years. He eventually left Bolton for Qatar SC in 2006 before finally hanging his boots six years later.

Kelechi Iheanacho includes Okocha, Drogba in ultimate African team

Legit.ng earlier reported that Kelechi Iheanacho is the playing the best game in his career at the moment and the Leicester City forward said that he wishes to poses certain attributes of six African players.

The Super Eagles star who has already scored 20 goals in all competitions for the Foxes admits that he wishes to have the shooting qualities of Chelsea legend Didier Drogba. In an interview with Premier League’s YouTube channel.

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Oluwatomiwa Babalola
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Nigeria