Daniel Amokachi

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Personal information
Daniel Amokachi
Full name	Daniel Owefin Amokachi
Date of birth	December 30, 1972 (age 34)
Place of birth	Kaduna, Nigeria
Height	1.82 m
Nickname	"BULL"
Playing position	Forward
Senior clubs¹
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1989-1990 1990-1995 1994-1996 1996-1999 2005	Ranchers Bees Club Brugge Everton Besiktas Nasarawa United	? (?) 81 (35) 43 (10) 77 (19) ? (?)
National team²
1990–1999	Nigeria	44 (13)
¹ Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15:23, 25 february 2007 (UTC). ² National team caps and goals correct as of February 25, 2007. * Appearances (Goals)

Competitor for Nigeria
Olympic medal record
Men's Football
Gold	1996 Atlanta	Team Competition

Daniel Owefin Amokachi nicknamed "the Black Bull" (born December 30, 1972 in Kaduna) is a former football striker from Nigeria. He played many international matches for Nigeria, and was part of the team that participated in the 1994 FIFA World Cup and 1998 FIFA World Cup and won the 1994 African Nations Cup. He also helped win the Olympic gold medal in 1996.

While playing for Ranchers Bees, Amokachi was discovered by Nigerian national team coach Clemens Westerhof, who brought the talented player to the 1990 African Nations Cup, and soon Amokachi moved to play for Club Brugge in Belgium. Performing well in Belgium and at the 1994 World Cup, Everton F.C. became interested in Amokachi and their manager Mike Walker signed him for a fee of £3,000,000 ($4,700,000). He went on to win the FA Cup with Everton in 1995, famously scoring two goals in the semi-final. He appeared in the final only briefly, late on, as a substitute but is remembered fondly for his beret wearing celebrations.

He stayed at Everton until 1996, never really making the impact hoped, and was sold to Beşiktaş for £1,750,000 .

Amokachi sustained an injury just ahead of the 1998 FIFA World Cup, played one game, but struggled with knee problems thereafter. After leaving Beşiktaş in 1999, his playing career more or less ended. He signed with 1860 Munich, but the contract was cancelled after he failed a medical test. In turn he was rejected by Tranmere Rovers for the same reason. Amokachi trained with French second division side US Créteil, but the deal was hampered by injuries. American MLS team Colorado Rapids signed him in 2002, but seeing as he was not fit enough they released him before a single match was played. He went to play in the United Arab Emirates, but was denied again due to his medical condition.

He is now part of the Nigerian national side's coaching set-up but has plenty of vocational options outside the game if he chooses - the ex-striker is actually a qualified lawyer after graduating from a New York Law school.

[edit] Playing career

1989 Ranchers Bees
1990 Ranchers Bees
1990-91 Club Brugge (3/0)
1991-92 Club Brugge (26/12)
1992-93 Club Brugge (23/9)
1993-94 Club Brugge (28/14)
1994-95 Club Brugge (1/0)
1994-95 Everton (18/4)
1995-96 Everton (25/6)
1996-97 Beşiktaş (30/7)
1997-98 Beşiktaş (27/8)
1998-99 Beşiktaş (20/4)
2005 Nasarawa United F.C. (?/?)

[edit] External references

(English) Nigerian Players
(English) Amokachi just wants a club (BBC Africa)

Preceded by -	Belgian Ebony Shoe 1992	Succeeded by Victor Ikpeba
Preceded by Victor Ikpeba	Belgian Ebony Shoe 1994	Succeeded by Godwin Okpara

	Nigeria squad - 1994 FIFA World Cup
1 Rufai \| 2 Eguavoen \| 3 Iroha \| 4 Keshi \| 5 Okechukwu \| 6 Nwanu \| 7 George \| 8 Oliha \| 9 Yekini \| 10 Okocha \| 11 Amuneke \| 12 Siasia \| 13 Ezeugo \| 14 Amokachi \| 15 Oliseh \| 16 Agu \| 17 Ikpeba \| 18 Ekoku \| 19 Emenalo \| 20 Okafor \| 21 Adepoju \| 22 Agbonavbare \| Coach: Westerhof

	Nigeria squad - 1998 FIFA World Cup
1 Rufai \| 2 Oparaku \| 3 Babayaro \| 4 Kanu \| 5 Okechukwu \| 6 West \| 7 George \| 8 Adepoju \| 9 Yekini \| 10 Okocha \| 11 Lawal \| 12 W. Okpara \| 13 Babangida \| 14 Amokachi \| 15 Oliseh \| 16 Okafor \| 17 Eguavoen \| 18 Oruma \| 19 Iroha \| 20 Ikpeba \| 21 G. Okpara \| 22 Baruwa \| Coach: Milutinović