Jay-Jay Okocha Net Worth, Biography, Cars, and Lifestyle

One of most skilful players in world football ever, let’s dive into Jay-Jay Okocha net worth and lifestyle. Born August 14, 1973, Football Legend Jay-Jay Okocha is a former Nigerian professional player that operated as an attacking midfielder. A former BBC African Footballer of the Year, he was a quick and skilful playmaker that started his career in Enugu Rangers, a club located in Enugu State, Nigeria.

He’s regarded as Nigeria’s best and one of Africa’s best footballers of all time. Okocha was a member of the Nigerian football team that won a gold medal for this country at the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996. He also boasts many other honours and individual awards.

The prominent player was known for his confidence with the ball, creativity, technique. Other major highlights of his style included dribbling skills and the use of feints, especially the stepover. 

In this post, we will be discussing Jay-Jay Okocha net worth, biography, cars, and lifestyle.

Jay-Jay Okocha Net Worth

Jay-Jay is a renowned footballer that played the round leather game at the highest level. When his career reached its apogee, he was highly paid and could amass a great fortune over the years, in a journey that spanned almost 20 years.

That enabled the 46-year-old midfielder to invest in other sectors. He established Jay Jay Okocha Group West Africa Ltd., a conglomerate that has over 250 employees and includes different businesses, such as bars, restaurants, importation of cars and wine, a currency exchange office.

The company, which is headed by Austin Okocha, also deals with sales of electronics, supply of security equipment and staff, property development, football players’ management, and road construction.

In 2015, he was reported to have a net worth of $150 million. However, according to some reports in 2017, this had plummeted to only $15 million. Currently, the player’s net worth is estimated to lie in the region, $12M—$15M.

Jay-Jay Okocha’s Biography

Augustine Azuka Jay-Jay Okocha hails from Delta State but was born in Enugu State on August 14, 1973 to Mr. and Mrs. Azuka Okocha. Both parents are indigenes of Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State, Nigeria.

Jay-Jay was not originally his name as it was passed down from James, his elder brother that started playing football a few years before Okocha did. Even though Emmanuel, his immediate elder brother, was also referred to as Emma Jay-Jay, the name stuck with the former Bolton midfielder instead.

Jay-Jay Okocha started his journey as a footballer on the streets, much the same way several other popular players did, typically with a makeshift ball.

He joined Enugu Rangers in 1990, and during his short stint at the club, he produced a series of dazzling displays, contributing to his rise to limelight soon after leaving the club.

In that same year — 1990 — the player visited West Germany on holiday. West Germany had just won the 1990 FIFA World Cup then, and Okocha was able to enjoy watching German league football.

Binebi Numa, his friend, was a player in Borussia Neunkirchen, a Third Division side in the league.

Okocha accompanied his friend to training and was asked to join the session. The Neunkirchen coach found Okocha’s skills impressive. He invited the talented player back the next day before he offered him a contract. In this club, he made 35 appearances, scoring seven goals.

He left the outfit after a year and moved to 1. FC Saarbrücken, where he had a short stay (for just a couple of months). In December 1991, the former midfielder signed a contract with Eintracht Frankfurt.

In the side, he established a connection with several well-known players, which include Ghanaian international striker Tony Yeboah and, later on, Thomas Doll.

He kept on putting up a stunning display in the German club. In one of such dazzling performances, he scored against Karlsruher SC, after dribbling past some players twice in the penalty box and then slotting the ball past Oliver Kahn, who manned the opponent’s goal-post.

In 1996, after Eintracht Frankfurt relegated to the 2. Bundesliga, he left the outfit, recording 90 appearances, netting 16 times.

Jay-Jay then reached an agreement with Turkish side Fenerbahçe in a deal, approximately worth £1 million. He spent two seasons at the side and amassed 30 goals in 62 appearances.

Several of those goals come from direct free-kicks; this became a sort of trademark for him at Fenerbahçe.

Paris Saint-Germain in French Ligue 1 spent about £14 million to acquire Okocha’s signature in 1998. That deal made him the most expensive footballer of African origin at the time. His spell in this club lasted four years, where he featured in 84 matches and netted 12 times.

During his time in Paris, he also served as a mentor for young Brazilian player Ronaldinho.

He left PSG in the summer of 2002 when the FIFA World Cup came to and signed for Bolton Wanderers on a free transfer. In his 1st season at the club, despite being plagued by injuries, he stole the hearts of Bolton fans. His team even printed shirts showing the inscription, “Jay-Jay – so good they named him twice”.

The leadership mantle fell on Okocha following Guðni Bergsson’s retirement. As captain, Jay-Jay led Bolton to their 1st cup final in nine years, when they finished runners-up to Middlesbrough F.C. in the 2004 Football League Cup.

At the end of the 2006 season, JJ declined a one-year contract extension and instead joined Qatar SC. After just a season in the Qatari side, in 2007, Football League Championship side Hull City outfit secured his service on a free transfer.

His club career spanned about 18 years, retiring in 2008. Okocha is currently regarded as the best Bolton Wanderers player ever.

As regards his international career, in May 1993, Okocha made his official debut for Nigeria in their 1994 FIFA World Cup Qualifier away match against Ivory Coast, which the Super Eagles lost 2–1 loss.

When he retired from international football in 2006, he had won a number of titles with the team: Africa Cup of Nations (1994); AFCON runner up (2000); AFCON third place (2002, 2004, 2006); Afro-Asian Cup of Nations (1995); and Summer Olympic Games (1996).

On February 21 2015, Austin Jay Jay Okocha got elected as the Chairman of the Delta State Football Association. Moreover, in April 2015, he declared his interest to contest for the Nigeria Football Federation president.

Here are all his individual honours:

• Goal of the Year (Germany, 1993)
• Nigerian Footballer of the Year Award winner (1995, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005) and runner-up (1996)
• African Footballer of the Year runner-up (1998)
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team (Reserve, 1998)
• BBC African Player of the Year (2003, 2004)
• BBC Goal of the Month: April 2003
• Premier League Player of the Month (November 2003)
• African Cup of Nations Golden Boot (2004)
• African Cup of Nations Best Player (2004)
• Named among the top 125 living football players by Pelé (March 2004)
• Bolton Wanderers Player of the Year (2004–05)
• Bolton’s best Premier League goal (fans vote, 2008)

Jay Jay Okocha’s Cars and Houses

As a successful ex-player turned business tycoon, Okocha has amassed a considerable fortune. There are rumours he owns many houses across this country, but the football legend doesn’t reveal much information about them.

He, however, loves posting pictures of his vehicles. On his wife’s 40th birthday, Jay-Jay gifted her with a car, reportedly worth about ₦28 million.

Jay Jay Okocha’s Lifestyle

Augustine Azuka Jay-Jay Okocha hails from Anioma, which is a sub-group of Igbo ethnic derivative. Emmanuel, his older brother, is a former footballer who also played for the Super Eagles.

Okocha has a nephew, Alex Iwobi, a former Arsenal forward, who now plies his trade with Everton and Nigeria.

Okocha got married in 1997 to Nkechi Okocha, and the loving couple has been together ever since. They’ve been known to be among the best couples in Nigeria’s football industry.

They are blessed with two children, Daniella Okocha and Ajay Okocha.

That’s all we have for you on Jay-Jay Okocha’s net worth, biography, cars, and lifestyle. Okocha was a talented footballer that had various stunning skills in his locker: He had sublime dribbling skills, was a quick playmaker, and a great free-kick taker.

Okocha was a vital member of the Super Eagles.

Now that Mikel Obi has retired, who tried to fill the void created by the former PSG player’s absence in the national team; which player(s) in the current crop of footballers with Nigerian root can fill Okocha’s shoes in the Super Eagles?

We would love to have your take on this issue. Images: BWFC/IG – official_JJ10/Dannie_okocha

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