By Dorcas Francis Koji
Super Eagles legend Austin ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha has revealed that German giants Bayern Munich tried to sign him in 1991, but the proposed move collapsed because he was not yet old enough to sign a professional contract.
Okocha was just 17 when he caught Bayern’s attention after representing the club’s youth team at a tournament in Switzerland. His performances impressed the German giants, who subsequently expressed an interest in signing the talented Nigerian.
However, Okocha was still months away from turning 18, meaning Bayern could not offer him a professional contract under the regulations in force at the time.
“I got an offer from Bayern Munich. I went with their youth team to a tournament in Switzerland, and after that, they wanted to sign me,” Okocha said on the Obi One Podcast.
“Bayern made me an offer, but it was only verbal because they said, ‘We can’t give you a professional contract until you turn 18.’”
Okocha said he was unwilling to leave Nigeria and rely solely on a verbal promise, particularly because of the uncertainty surrounding his future if he suffered an injury.
“I asked them, ‘Can you put it in writing on paper? Because I can’t come all the way from Nigeria to rely on a verbal contract. What if I get injured and you tell me to go home? I’ll have nothing?’” he recalled.
With the Bayern opportunity unable to materialise immediately, Okocha returned to Germany and joined third-tier side Borussia Neunkirchen.
His performances soon attracted the attention of Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt, who signed him during the winter transfer window.
The move marked the beginning of Okocha’s rise to prominence in German football.
He went on to make 90 appearances and score 18 goals for Frankfurt before leaving Germany for Turkish giants Fenerbahce in 1996.
Looking back on the Bayern opportunity, Okocha admitted that he would have been willing to take the risk of
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