‘I still pay royalties to my brother for taking his name’ —Jay Jay Okocha

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Nigerian football legend Austin “Jay-Jay” Okocha has revealed how he got the nickname that became synonymous with his illustrious football career.

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Okocha explained that the name originated from his childhood days playing football in the neighbourhood with his brothers.

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According to the former Super Eagles captain, several boys in their neighbourhood were named Austin, making it difficult to distinguish between them.

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His friends therefore began referring to him as “Austin Jay-Jay’s brother”, a name that eventually stuck.

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“It started in the neighbourhood where we grew up. All of us were footballers; we were just on the street playing, and my two brothers played as well. We had a few Austins then, so to identify which Austin was which, they started calling me Austin Jay-Jay’s brother. From there, Jay-Jay stuck,” he said during an appearance on ObiOne podcast.

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“When I travelled, some people struggled to pronounce my name, Augustine, so Jay-Jay was a lot easier. I decided to adopt the name and put it in my passport. I still pay royalties to my brother.”

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Okocha’s real name is Augustine Azuka Okocha, but the nickname “Jay-Jay” became his identity on the football pitch and eventually gained worldwide recognition.

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The former Paris Saint-Germain, Bolton Wanderers and Fenerbahçe midfielder is widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most gifted footballers, earning praise for his creativity, dribbling ability and flair.

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His famous nickname has remained closely associated with his football legacy long after his retirement from professional football.

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