Only three players currently active remind Super Eagles legend Jay Jay Okocha of himself
Nigerian football legend Jay Jay Okocha has identified a handful of players currently active who remind him of himself during his heydays.
Okocha reminisces about playing days
Okocha put together an impressive career from the early 90s to the late 2000s, playing for clubs all over Europe, including Eintracht Frankfurt, Fenerbahce, Paris Saint-Germain, and most famously Bolton Wanderers in the English Premier League.
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The maverick midfielder also etched his name into the Nigerian national team’s history, marking one of the most successful spells for the Super Eagles with his flamboyant displays of skill in a 13-year international career.
Okocha will best be remembered for his passionate displays on the pitch, leaving viewers, pundits, and even opponents in awe with an array of incredible tricks and flicks, but the Nigerian wonder, says there are not many in today’s game that can be tagged in the same category as him during his playing career.
Okocha identifies heirs to his style
Speaking in an interview with Liverscore, the former Super Eagles captain explained why, saying, “Well, I think things have changed. It’s difficult really for players now to express themselves.
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“I had the luxury to have my identity and to try and show what I can do with the ball. But now they are all limited.”
The AFCON champion and Olympic Gold medalist was however able to point out a few players who are going against the current stereotype, and who he believed were most similar to himself.
Okocha said, “You can say that maybe [Kylian] Mbappe looks exciting, as well as [Kevin] De Bruyne, [Rafael] Leao from AC Milan as well.
“Apart from that, it’s hard for me to pick out one that really has that freedom to express himself.
“It’s now about finding the right moment to do it for the team. Not just for the heck of it!”
Okocha is revered as one of the best and most entertaining players to ever grace the beautiful game, and we can only hope that more players emulate his style of play to bring smiles to the faces of teeming supporters.
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