Quotes from Jay-Jay Okocha

When I was in Paris I was at a big club in a major city, but nobody really cared about each other. It didn't have that family feeling, I didn't see any team spirit.

It's a team sport but every player's ego will kick in at a certain point.

The way I learnt to play was to go out there and enjoy myself. I never thought I'd play professionally.

You can come up with whatever tactics you want as a coach but if you don't have the tools to execute you will struggle, and if you don't have willing players that are ready to commit to the cause than you will struggle.

I've trained my whole life to be a winner and if I know two things it's that to be the best takes passion and persistence.

Playing in the German Bundesliga gave me the platform to excel in my football career.

I got to Germany without being scouted, and without any experience of playing for my country. But I was given the chance to excel.

I used to say that I got to Germany as a boy but I left as a man.

I should have got a medal at Neunkirchen, my first club in Germany.

Aboutrika has done well with Egypt, winning the Nations Cup in Ghana, as well as helping Ahly win the Champions League for a record sixth time.

How can you be a giant of the sport when you are not consistent?

I came out of a background of want, but today I give glory to God.

My first World Cup appearance remains fresh in my memory and what made it incredible was that I had made my first appearance for Nigeria just a year before.

I believe an African team will one day win the World Cup, and it could even be in Brazil.

I think I maximised my opportunity at Bolton, changing the mindset of the people from when I arrived till the time I left.

It is always nice to play for the bigger teams, contesting titles and Champions League rather than relegation.

To be honest, I can live anywhere.

There were very few TV sets when I grew up... We could not see matches and did not know too many players. Only Pele was a household name and he was the one most children idolised.

I always ask God if it is his will, and if so, then let it be. Whatever comes out of it I will accept it. That's the message I got and that's why I'm here at Hull.

I can proudly say that I had no scandal throughout my career. And there was no serious injury worries because of what I was taught how to live off the pitch. It was very important.

I believe that it is not worth it to train from Monday to Friday just to have 20 minutes on the pitch or sit on the bench on Saturday.

I was gifted with the ball, and I saw the opportunity of playing in the Bundesliga as the tool I needed to make a name for myself.

Traditionally it's been difficult for Africans to play over here, mainly because the African calendar is very different to that in Europe. Most of the coaches over here can't accept that we have to go back home to play at the Nations' Cup for a month while the season is still on over here. That made people reluctant to sign Africans.

I am grateful to God for that because people can still identify me with something in Germany.