The Nigerian playmaker turned out to be a beneficiary of an unusual partnership with Sam Allardyce despite initial doubts
The relegation of Wimbledon and Watford in 1999/00, two overly direct teams, seemingly marked the death of route one football in the Premier League, until Sam Allardyce came along with his Bolton Wanderers side in 2001/02.
At the time, Jay-Jay Okocha was still plying his trade for Paris Saint-Germain, the club who made him the most expensive African player in a £14 million deal in 1998.
The Nigerian playmaker joined the Bolton revolution on a free transfer after the 2002 World Cup as PSG didn’t take up the option of renewing his contract.