Why I Didn’t Play For Big Clubs In Europe – Jay Jay Okocha
Augustine Azuka Okocha, better known as Jay Jay Okocha, a former Super Eagles captain, has explained why he did not play for major clubs during his career.
The midfielder said that the bigger teams didn’t extend him lucrative contracts.
This information was disclosed by Okocha in a meeting with Arise TV.
Additionally, he acknowledged that his selection of clubs might have prevented him from winning the African Footballer of the Year award.
Before retiring at the age of 34 in 2008, Okocha played for Frankfurt, Fenerbahce, Paris Saint-Germain, Bolton Wanderers, Qatar SC, and Hull City.
In 1998, he came in second place for African Footballer of the Year, while in 2003 and 2004, he came in third.
“Because major clubs don’t provide significant salaries, it was difficult for an African player to play for them.
“The amount of money they offer you in a contract is low because they consider it a favor.
“For this reason, I chose teams that were willing to pay me more. Due of my wage situation, I had to decline some offers from prestigious clubs. However, as Africans and Nigerians secure larger contracts abroad, things have changed.