“I felt at home” – Super Eagles icon Jay Jay Okocha reveals his favourite leagues

Jay Jay Okocha who played across six leagues during his playing days has revealed the two leagues he prefered

Super Eagles legend, Austin Jay Jay Okocha, has shared insights into his favorite football leagues during his illustrious career, Soccernet.ng reports.

Okocha, who recently celebrated his 50th birthday, had a remarkable career that spanned across various European leagues, including the Bundesliga, Süper Lig, Ligue 1, Premier League, EFL Championship, and Qatar Stars League, before retiring in 2008.

In a recent statement quoted by livescores, the former Nigerian international disclosed that his time in Germany and England made him feel most at home.

However, it’s worth noting that Okocha recently criticized the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) for its management during an event in Kenya.

He further elaborated on his preferences, highlighting the Bundesliga’s attractive style of play, emphasizing good football and high-scoring matches, as well as the Premier League’s relentless intensity.

“The German League, it’s a bit more complete. They play good football and score a lot of goals.

“The thing I find most attractive is that they encourage young players. They give you the time to build and time to mature.

“In the Premier League, it’s all about the result. The demand is so high that you don’t have time to settle, and you have to start getting results immediately.

“The pressure is enormous, and that makes the Premier League more demanding,” he explained.

Throughout his career, Okocha played for clubs like Borussia VfB Neunkirchen and Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany, as well as Bolton Wanderers and Hull City in England.

He expressed that these leagues made him feel at home and contributed significantly to his career success.

He added: “I felt at home in both leagues, but I think the Bundesliga gave me the experience that I needed as a young player to understand what it takes to become a proper professional.

“I think that was what helped me throughout my career.”

Okocha’s career began at Enugu Rangers in the Nigerian Professional Football League before he moved to Neunkirchen in the Oberliga Südwest, Germany’s third division, in July 1990.