Okocha most skillful player ever, says Man United legend Ferdinand
By Tosin Omojola
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has described Austin Jay-Jay Okocha as one of the most skillful football players of all time.
Okocha, renowned for his exceptional flair and creativity, dazzled fans during his playing days with Hull City and Bolton Wanderers in the English Premier League. The midfield maestro’s ability to outwit defenders with his breathtaking skills left spectators and opponents in awe.
Ferdinand, captivated by Okocha’s talent, hailed the Super Eagles legend as the best Nigerian footballer ever.
In an interview with Mail Sport, Ferdinand was tasked with creating his ideal footballer. While selecting various attributes from iconic players, he included Okocha in his dream team.
The former Manchester United captain chose the right foot of his former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo and the left foot of Argentine World Cup legend Diego Maradona. He also selected Barcelona’s Xavi for football intelligence and Adebayo Akinfenwa for physical strength.
Although Ferdinand initially leaned toward Neymar’s skillset, he opted for Kylian Mbappé’s pace instead. For the ultimate dose of flair, he finalized his choice by picking Jay-Jay Okocha for his unparalleled skill.
Ferdinand has long been vocal about his admiration for Okocha. Reflecting on the Nigerian’s impact in 2018, Ferdinand said:
“We used to watch Jay-Jay Okocha’s videos, and everyone wanted to play like him. It was great seeing him in the Premier League after he made his name with Eintracht Frankfurt and PSG. Nigerian players of that era—Okocha, Oliseh, Kanu—had a huge influence on black players worldwide.”
Meanwhile, Nigerians have taken to social media to celebrate Okocha as their favorite player of all time, reaffirming his legendary status in the football world.
