Why Jay Jay Okocha did not play for top Premier League club? Alladyce explains

Former England manager Sam Allardyce believes Jay-Jay Okocha, one of Nigeria’s greatest footballers, could have played for top Premier League clubs like Manchester United or Arsenal.

Okocha made a lasting impact at Bolton Wanderers, where he played from 2002 to 2006. However, according to Allardyce, who brought the Nigerian to Bolton, Okocha’s talent was not fully recognised in England.

In a recent interview, Allardyce expressed his admiration for Okocha, saying, “He was never appreciated in this country because he played for Bolton. He could have played for any of the top clubs.”

Allardyce was surprised that bigger clubs didn’t sign Okocha, especially on a free transfer, mentioning, “To this day, I am massively surprised that the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, or Liverpool didn’t come in for him.”

Despite his flair and creativity, Allardyce praised Okocha for knowing when to use his skills, adding, “Jay-Jay mastered the fact that when the trick came, it was the right time to do it, in the right place.”

Okocha joined Bolton during a difficult time for the club, which was fighting relegation from the Premier League. After struggling with injuries, he made a strong recovery and scored vital goals, including a stunning winner against West Ham in a crucial relegation match and another key goal at the end of the 2002/03 season to help Bolton stay in the Premier League.

Throughout his four years at Bolton, Okocha enchanted fans with his brilliant tricks and long-range shots, earning the Premier League Player of the Month award in November 2003.

Okocha, who started his career in Enugu, Nigeria, will always be remembered as a legend by Bolton fans, even though his brilliance wasn’t fully recognised by the wider football world while he was in England.