I Pay Royalties To My Brother” — Jay Jay Okocha Reveals Sh*cking Story Behind His Famous Name

Former Super Eagles captain Austin “Jay-Jay” Okocha has revealed the interesting story behind his famous nickname, disclosing that he adopted “Jay-Jay” from his elder brother and still jokingly pays him royalties for using the name.

Okocha explained that the nickname originated during his childhood when he played football with his brothers in their neighbourhood.

According to the football legend, several boys in the area were named Austin, making it difficult for people to distinguish between them. As a result, neighbours began identifying him as “Austin, Jay-Jay’s brother.”

The former Super Eagles captain made the revelation during an appearance on the ObiOne Podcast.

He recalled that the nickname eventually stuck and became a permanent part of his identity.

“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.”

Okocha said the nickname became even more useful when he travelled abroad, as people often struggled to pronounce his real first name, Augustine.

He explained that “Jay-Jay” was much easier for people to pronounce, prompting him to officially adopt the name by including it in his passport.

“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,” he said.

The football icon’s full name is Augustine Azuka Okocha, but the nickname “Jay-Jay” ultimately became synonymous with his football career and earned worldwide recognition.

Okocha is widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most naturally gifted footballers, having enjoyed successful spells with clubs including Paris Saint-Germain, Bolton Wanderers and Fenerbahçe.