Former Manchester United and England star Rio Ferdinand has hailed former Super Eagles captain Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha as one of the most skillful footballers in history.
Celebrated for his defensive prowess during his career, Ferdinand faced Okocha multiple times in the Premier League, with Ferdinand playing for Manchester United and Okocha dazzling for Bolton Wanderers. The two also clashed on the international stage.
Widely regarded as one of the most skillful players ever, Okocha built his reputation with incredible dribbling and passing abilities, despite never playing for a traditionally elite football club. He remains a celebrated figure in African and world football.
In an interview with Mail Sport, Ferdinand was asked to create his “perfect footballer.” He named Diego Maradona as the best left-footed player of all time and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo as the best with the right foot.
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He selected Xavi for football IQ, Adebayo Akinfenwa for strength, and Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé for speed, choosing him over Gareth Bale. While initially naming Brazil’s Neymar for skills, Ferdinand switched to Okocha, declaring the Nigerian as the most skillful player he has ever seen.
This isn’t the first time Ferdinand has praised Okocha. During a visit to Nigeria in 2018, he called Okocha one of Africa’s greatest footballers.
“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 making his name with Eintracht Frankfurt and PSG. Nigerian players of that era—Okocha, Oliseh, Kanu—had a huge influence on black players worldwide,” Ferdinand said.
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