Soccer
Nigeria international Alex Iwobi has revealed that Super Eagles legend Jay-Jay Okocha remains his greatest footballer of all time, Soccernet.ng reports.
Iwobi, who currently plays for Fulham, has often spoken about his admiration for Okocha, who is also his uncle.
The former Arsenal and Everton midfielder grew up watching Okocha dominate African and European football with his dribbling skills, and he credits him as a major influence on his career.
Iwobi’s Admiration for Okocha
Speaking in a recent interview on Is this seat taken podcast, Iwobi expressed his deep respect for Okocha, who he endorses as his greatest of all time.
“In the sports? Forever my uncle, Jay Jay Okocha. I have to shout him out all the time. On and off the field.” he said.
Widely regarded as one of Africa’s most gifted players, Okocha was known for his extraordinary dribbling ability, and vision on the pitch.
His performances for the Super Eagles of Nigeria and clubs like Paris Saint-Germain and Bolton Wanderers is one of those days fans cannot forget easily.
Okocha’s Influence on Iwobi
Growing up in a footballing family, Iwobi had the privilege of learning from Okocha, who was a key figure in Nigeria’s 1994 AFCON-winning squad and played a crucial role in the Super Eagles’ run at the 1996 Olympics.
Iwobi has once again credited the 51-year-old for inspiring his playing style which has influenced his career as a player.
“I used to go watch his matches and training sessions. He his the one that really taught me how to express myself.
“And off the pitch he is always advising me on how to be professional, manage my money, how to move, stay humble and grounded. So he will always be my idol” added the former Arsenal player.
Iwobi’s Career So Far
Iwobi started his professional career at Arsenal before moving to Everton in 2019. He later joined Fulham in 2023, where he has continued to impress as a player under the management of Marco Silva.
He has also been a key player for the Super Eagles since making his debut in 2015, earning over 80 caps and scoring 10 goals.
Ayomide Oguntimehin
Ayomide Oguntimehin is a CAF-accredited sports journalist and Editor at Soccernet.ng, with a proven track record in conducting interviews with Super Eagles stars such as William Troost-Ekong, Taiwo Awoniyi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Ademola Lookman, and many others. He has also made a significant impact in breaking transfer news stories.
Grounded in video editing, video journalism, social media management, and content strategy, Ayomide brings a wealth of expertise to his work.
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