Former Super Eagles star Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha has revealed that he came close to joining German giants Bayern Munich early in his career, but the move collapsed because he was not yet 18.
Okocha made the revelation while speaking on the ObiOne Podcast, recalling how Bayern became interested in him after he impressed during a youth tournament in Switzerland in 1991.
“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.
The former midfielder explained that German regulations at the time prevented him from signing a professional contract because he turned 18 in August, while the rules required players to have reached that age before July to feature professionally during the season.
He said the regulation also prevented him from playing in the promotion play-offs for the third division side he represented, despite helping the club win its regional league.
According to Okocha, Bayern were willing to have him train with their first-team players and feature for the reserve side until he became eligible for a professional contract.
“Bayern made me an offer, but it was only verbal because they said, ‘Oh, we can’t give you a professional contract until you turn 18.’ Since I turned 18 late in the year, I would have had to wait almost another year,” he recalled.
Okocha said he was prepared to take the risk because Bayern were regarded as Germany’s biggest club, but he requested that the offer be put in writing before committing to the move from Nigeria.
“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 said.
The former Nigeria international said Bayern declined to provide a written agreement, prompting him to return to Germany and sign for third-division club Borussia Neunkirchen.
However, his opportunity to move to a bigger club soon arrived when Eintracht Frankfurt approached him during the winter transfer window.
Okocha said Frankfurt understood the circumstances surrounding his age and offered him a one-year amateur contract, followed by a two-year professional deal.
The move to Frankfurt eventually paved the way for Okocha to establish himself in European football and begin a career that would see him play for several major clubs across Europe.
