Having inspired an entire generation of Paris Saint-Germain supporters, Jay-Jay Okocha is a bona fide Rouge et Bleu legend. In the space of four seasons, the midfielder wrote his name into the club's history books and left an indelible mark on fans' memories thanks to his frenzied dribbles and his spectacular goals.
Appearing as guests on Paris Saint-Germain's live broadcast for ICP La Maison's opening, JB Toussaint (Tales From The Click) and Paul Deby spoke about their memories of the former Nigeria international, who hasn't forgotten a thing about his time in the French capital. In fact, Okocha's debut remains his most cherished memory of that stint: "My first goal, in my first game at the club against Bordeaux, is still my greatest memory. That period was mentally tough for me. As a new player, you want to hit the ground running and to justify your price tag."
“I will always remember the day when you signed for Paris Saint-Germain. It was one of the best days of my life. It was just after the 1998 World Cup, and it was sensational. My favourite memory of you is a dribble past Marseille’s Patrick Blondeau at the Parc des Princes, just before a pass for Mickaël Madar, who headed just off target.”
The former playmaker's path to greatness was a rather unorthodox one, which is arguably what helped him to develop his unique on-pitch temperament: "I didn't go through an academy; I was just playing on the street with my friends. With no coach, no manager and no pressure, you're allowed to try things, so I was trying things without even knowing that I would later use them in my professional career. When I started playing professionally, I realised that I had to be different, to bring something different and to have an identity if I was going to make it because I couldn't tackle or head. So, I remembered the things that I used to do on the street, and I brought them to the big stage, but then I had to learn when and how to do them for the team and not just to have fun."
When Okocha's name comes up in conversation, one's thoughts immediately turn to his mazy runs with the ball at his feet and to an innocent, unpredictable style of football that seems to belong to a bygone era, as highlighted by Deby: "I feel as though that kind of football belongs to another time; we're seeing fewer long-range shots these days. The game has become more tactical and more technical, and I miss how it used to be." This opinion was shared by the ex-Paris man, who puts it down to previous generations of footballers having "more character" than modern-day players, whose style is now "modelled" by their clubs.
Several other players from Okocha's generation shared his way of seeing the game, including Ronaldinho, Nicolas Anelka, Mikel Arteta and Mauricio Pochettino, who all rubbed shoulders with the Nigerian in Paris. While he regrets not having taken home more titles in his time with Les Rouge et Bleu, the 2001 UEFA Intertoto Cup winner maintained that playing alongside the aforementioned Ronaldinho was one of the highlights of his career.
Since Okocha's departure, the capital club has attracted a whole host of big-name players that have impressed the Enugu native, particularly Neymar, Lionel Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimović. Within the current squad, meanwhile, Okocha finds one player particularly exciting: "The one that I think is very skilful is [Désiré] Doué. I think he's got room to improve, but without any doubt, he's the one that looks [the most] natural."
Rewatch the full live broadcast featuring JB Toussaint, Paul Deby and Jay-Jay Okocha for ICP La Maison Paris (in French and English)
