I Thought Bolton Was Like Manchester Before Joining Wanderers – Jay-Jay Okocha

Former Super Eagles captain Austin “Jay-Jay” Okocha has revealed that he did not conduct proper research before joining Bolton Wanderers, admitting that he initially believed the club’s location offered the same lifestyle as Manchester.

Okocha made the revelation on the Obi One Podcast, recalling how he was convinced Bolton would be an ideal destination after being told the town was only about 10 to 15 minutes from Manchester.

“To be honest, I didn’t do my research,” Okocha said. “You thought you were joining Bournemouth. I thought, no, you know, when you think that everywhere in England is nice.”

The Nigerian, who had previously visited London and played against Manchester United, said his knowledge of Bolton’s proximity to Manchester influenced his decision to join the club.

“Before then, I’d been to London, I played against my United, you know, with Manchester. So when I heard Bolton is just 10 minutes away or 15 minutes away from Manchester, so I was like, oh, it’s the same level,” he recalled.

Okocha said he was picked up from Manchester Airport when he travelled to England to negotiate his move and was taken directly to Bolton’s stadium.

“So when I came, when I was invited to negotiate, they picked me up at Manchester airport, drove me straight to the stadium,” he said.

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The former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder admitted that his first impression of the club was positive after being given a tour of the stadium and hotel.

“And, you know, the stadium is beautiful, you know. I had a tour with them of the stadium, hotel. This looks nice. Interesting,” Okocha said.

However, the club did not show him the training ground before he signed his contract, something Okocha later joked may have been deliberate.

“They didn’t take me to the training ground. You might change your mind,” he said.

It was only after signing and reporting for training that Okocha discovered the more modest facilities at the club’s training ground.

“So it was after I signed and resumed training. I went to the training ground. The changing room was cabin. The shower was just three people at a time. You know, you have to queue,” he recalled.

The discovery prompted Okocha to question his decision, particularly as he had left his family in Paris before making the move.

“I said, JJ, what are you doing here? So I came first. I left my family in Paris,” he said.

Despite the initial shock, Okocha said his love for football helped him adapt to his new surroundings.

“But, you know, as a football person, I could live anywhere. And the saving grace also was that Manchester,” he added.