Werder Bremen defender, Felix Agu has revealed that Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha is his idol and he also believes the former Nigerian international helped to change football in Germany.
Okocha joined Bundesliga 2 side, 1. FC Saarbrücken in 1991 but stayed only a few months with them before a move to the Bundesliga with Eintracht Frankfurt in December of that year.
He shone at Frankfurt, one highlight being a goal he scored against Karlsruher SC, dribbling in the penalty box and slotting the ball past goalkeeper Oliver Kahn even going past some players twice.
That very goal was voted as the Goal of the Season by many football magazines and also voted as the 1993 Goal of the Year by viewers of Sportschau, an ARD German TV sports programme.
The retired Super Eagles midfield dazzler who is also a former skipper of the Nigerian national team scored 16 goals in 90 appearances in all competitions before leaving Frankfurt in 1996.
Agu who was born in Germany but is of Nigerian descent with his father from the West African country during an interview with Bremen’s official website revealed his admiration for Okocha.
When asked by WERDER.DE who is footballing hero was as a child, the 21-year-old said: “I think that Jay-Jay Okocha really helped to change and shape football here in Germany with his incredible skill and dribbling.
“I really enjoyed watching him and he is also Nigerian like my father, so I felt a certain connection to him. He was something of an idol for me. Later on, I also looked up to David Alaba.”