Daniel Amokachi facts for kids
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Daniel Owefin Amokachi | ||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 30 December 1972 | ||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Kaduna, Nigeria | ||||||||||||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||
| 1989–1990 | Ranchers Bees | ||||||||||||
| 1990–1994 | Club Brugge | 81 | (35) | ||||||||||
| 1994–1996 | Everton | 43 | (10) | ||||||||||
| 1996–2000 | Beşiktaş | 77 | (18) | ||||||||||
| Total | 201 | (63) | |||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||
| 1990–1999 | Nigeria | 44 | (13) | ||||||||||
| Managerial career | |||||||||||||
| 2006–2007 | Nasarawa United | ||||||||||||
| 2007 | Nigeria (assistant) | ||||||||||||
| 2008 | Enyimba | ||||||||||||
| 2008–2014 | Nigeria (assistant) | ||||||||||||
| 2014–2015 | Nigeria (interim) | ||||||||||||
| 2015 | Ifeanyi Ubah | ||||||||||||
| 2016–2017 | JS Hercules | ||||||||||||
| 2017–2018 | JS Hercules (technical director) | ||||||||||||
| 2020– | Nigeria (football ambassador) | ||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||||||||||||
Daniel Owefin Amokachi is a famous Nigerian football manager and former player. He was born on December 30, 1972. People often called him "The Bull" because of his strong playing style.
As a player, Daniel Amokachi was a forward, which means he played at the front of the team to score goals. He played for big clubs like Everton in England, where he helped them win the FA Cup in 1995. He also played for Club Brugge in Belgium and Beşiktaş in Turkey. In 1992, he made history by scoring the first goal ever in the new UEFA Champions League format for Club Brugge.
Amokachi was also a key player for the Nigerian national team, known as the Super Eagles. He played 44 games for his country and scored 13 goals. He helped Nigeria win the African Cup of Nations in 1994 and a gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. He also played in the 1994 FIFA World Cup and 1998 FIFA World Cup.
After he stopped playing, Amokachi became a coach. He has managed several clubs in Nigeria and even served as an assistant coach for the Nigerian national team. Since 2020, he has been Nigeria's football ambassador.
Contents
Playing Career Highlights
Daniel Amokachi started his football journey with a team called Ranchers Bees. A coach named Clemens Westerhof noticed his talent. This led Amokachi to play for the Nigerian national team. Soon after, he moved to Europe to play for Club Brugge in Belgium.
Making History in Europe
While playing for Club Brugge, Amokachi achieved something special. In 1992, he scored the very first goal in the new UEFA Champions League competition. This goal helped his team win their opening match against CSKA Moscow. His great performances in Belgium and at the 1994 World Cup caught the eye of English clubs.
Joining Everton F.C.
In 1994, Everton signed Amokachi for about £3 million. He quickly became a fan favorite. One famous moment happened during an FA Cup semi-final match in 1995. While a teammate was getting medical attention, Amokachi decided to substitute himself into the game! He then scored two goals, helping Everton reach the final. Everton went on to win the FA Cup that year, and Amokachi was part of the winning team.
Moving to Turkey
After his time at Everton, Amokachi moved to Beşiktaş in Turkey in 1996. He played there for several years, continuing to show his skills as a forward. He was a strong player who always gave his best on the field.
Challenges with Injuries
After leaving Beşiktaş in 1999, Amokachi faced many challenges due to injuries. He tried to sign with other clubs like 1860 Munich and Tranmere Rovers, but injuries prevented him from passing medical tests. He even joined the American team Colorado Rapids in 2002, but his injuries meant he couldn't play a single game. These injuries made it very difficult for him to continue his playing career.
International Football Achievements
Daniel Amokachi was a very important player for the Nigerian national team. He played in many big international tournaments.
African Cup of Nations Victory
In 1994, Amokachi was part of the Nigerian team that won the 1994 African Cup of Nations. This was a huge achievement for his country.
Olympic Gold Medal
Two years later, in 1996, he helped Nigeria win a gold medal at the Olympic Games in Atlanta. He even scored a goal in the final match against Argentina, which was a thrilling moment.
FIFA World Cup Appearances
Amokachi also represented Nigeria in two FIFA World Cup tournaments: in 1994 and 1998. Playing in the World Cup is a dream for many footballers, and he achieved it twice. Unfortunately, he had a knee injury just before the 1998 World Cup, which affected his performance in the tournament.
Coaching and Ambassador Roles
After his playing career ended, Daniel Amokachi decided to become a football coach. He has held various coaching positions.
Managing Nigerian Clubs
He managed Nigerian clubs such as Nasarawa United and Enyimba. He later managed Ifeanyi Ubah and JS Hercules in Finland.
Coaching the Super Eagles
Amokachi also spent time as an assistant coach for the Nigerian national team, the Super Eagles. He worked alongside head coaches like Shuaibu Amodu and Stephen Keshi. From 2014 to 2015, he even served as the interim manager for the national team.
Football Ambassador
In 2020, Daniel Amokachi was given a special role by the President of Nigeria. He was named Nigeria's football ambassador. In this role, he helps promote football and represents his country in the sport.
Personal Life
Daniel Amokachi is married to a woman from Tunisia. They have twin sons named Kalim and Nazim, who are also interested in football and are part of the Besiktas youth academy. He also has a daughter named Raya.
Career Statistics
Here are some details about Daniel Amokachi's playing career.
Club Appearances and Goals
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Club Brugge | 1990–91 | Belgian First Division | 3 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |||||
| 1991–92 | 26 | 12 | — | 6 | 1 | 32 | 13 | |||||||
| 1992–93 | 23 | 9 | — | 6 | 1 | 29 | 10 | |||||||
| 1993–94 | 28 | 14 | — | — | 28 | 14 | ||||||||
| 1994–95 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||||
| Total | 81 | 35 | — | 12 | 2 | 93 | 37 | |||||||
| Everton | 1994–95 | Premier League | 18 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 22 | 6 | ||
| 1995–96 | 25 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 8 | ||
| Total | 43 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 54 | 14 | ||
| Beşiktaş | 1996–97 | 1. Lig | 30 | 7 | 5 | 1 | — | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 10 | |
| 1997–98 | 27 | 7 | 7 | 2 | — | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 42 | 11 | |||
| 1998–99 | 20 | 4 | 5 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 4 | |||
| Total | 77 | 18 | 17 | 3 | — | 17 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 112 | 25 | |||
| Career total | 201 | 63 | 22 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 32 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 259 | 76 | ||
International Appearances and Goals
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | 1990 | 6 | 1 |
| 1991 | 4 | 1 | |
| 1992 | 1 | 1 | |
| 1993 | 5 | 2 | |
| 1994 | 12 | 2 | |
| 1995 | 5 | 2 | |
| 1996 | 1 | 2 | |
| 1997 | 5 | 2 | |
| 1998 | 4 | 0 | |
| 1999 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 44 | 13 | |
- Scores and results list Nigeria's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Amokachi goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18 August 1990 | Lagos, Nigeria |  Togo |
2–0 | 3–0 | 1992 African Cup of Nations qualification |
| 2 | 27 April 1991 | Lagos, Nigeria |  Benin |
3–0 | 3–0 | 1992 African Cup of Nations qualification |
| 3 | 29 August 1992 | Lagos, Nigeria |  Uganda |
1–0 | 2–0 | 1994 African Cup of Nations qualification |
| 4 | 13 July 1993 | Lagos, Nigeria |  Algeria |
4–1 | 4–1 | 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 5 | 25 September 1993 | Lagos, Nigeria |  Ivory Coast |
2–0 | 4–1 | 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 6 | 21 June 1994 | Dallas, United States |  Bulgaria |
2–0 | 3–0 | 1994 FIFA World Cup |
| 7 | 30 June 1994 | Boston, United States |  Greece |
2–0 | 2–0 | 1994 FIFA World Cup |
| 8 | 6 January 1995 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |  Japan |
3–0 | 3–0 | 1995 King Fahd Cup |
| 9 | 13 January 1995 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |  Mexico |
1–1 | 1–1 (aet) | 1995 King Fahd Cup |
| 10 | 9 November 1996 | Lagos, Nigeria |  Burkina Faso |
1–0 | 2–0 | 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 11 | 2–0 | |||||
| 12 | 5 April 1997 | Lagos, Nigeria |  Guinea |
1–0 | 2–1 | 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 13 | 2–0 |
Awards and Honours
Daniel Amokachi won several awards and honours during his career.
Club Trophies
- Everton
- FA Cup: 1994–95
- FA Charity Shield: 1995
- Beşiktaş
- Turkish Cup: 1997–98
- Turkish Super Cup: 1998
International Trophies
- Nigeria
- African Cup of Nations: 1994
- Olympic Games: Gold Medal 1996
Individual Awards
- UEFA Champions League First Goal: 1992
- Belgian Ebony Shoes Award: 1992, 1994 (This award is for the best African player in the Belgian league.)
- West African Club Championship 'The best young footballer' award: 1989
- Pro League 'Most successful foreign player' award: 1992
See also
In Spanish: Daniel Amokachi para niños
