Nigerian football legend Jay-Jay Okocha has recalled his amusing first impression of Bolton Wanderers and how the Okocha Bolton transfer unfolded. He admitted he did little research about the club before agreeing to join them.
According to ESPN UK, Okocha shared the story during an appearance on The Obi One Podcast. He explained that Bolton’s proximity to Manchester initially convinced him that the club would offer facilities similar to those of the bigger teams in the area. The Okocha Bolton transfer story still entertains fans today.
Okocha admits skipping research
The former Super Eagles captain said he accepted the opportunity without properly investigating what awaited him at the English club.
“To be honest, I didn’t do my research,” Okocha said, adding that when he learnt Bolton was only about 10 minutes from Manchester, he assumed things would be similar.
When Okocha arrived for negotiations, club officials picked him up from Manchester Airport and took him directly to the stadium, marking an interesting step in the Okocha Bolton transfer.
He recalled being impressed by what he saw, particularly the stadium and hotel. He described both as attractive enough to strengthen his decision to sign.
Training ground kept out of sight
However, Okocha said there was one important place officials did not show him before he completed the move — the training ground. The Okocha Bolton transfer was surrounded by some surprises.
“They didn’t take me to the training ground. They kept that away from me,” he recalled.
It was only after signing and reporting for training that he finally saw the facilities used by the players.
The experience was a sharp contrast to what he had seen during negotiations.
‘What are you doing here?’
Okocha recalled discovering that the changing room was housed in a cabin, while the shower facilities could only accommodate a few players at a time.
He said players sometimes had to queue to use the showers. This left him wondering whether he had made the right decision.
“I said to myself, ‘Oh, Jay-Jay, what are you doing here?’” he recalled.
Despite his initial surprise, Okocha went on to become one of Bolton Wanderers’ most celebrated players. He also became a fan favourite during his spell in English football.
