Okocha: How Fenerbahce love turned me into ‘Muhammed Yavuz’

Nigerian football legend Austin ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha has recalled how his strong relationship with Fenerbahce supporters led to him becoming a Turkish citizen and adopting the name “Muhammed Yavuz”.

Okocha shared the amusing story while appearing on the Obione Podcast, reflecting on his two-year spell with the Istanbul club between 1996 and 1998.

The former Nigeria international said his strong relationship with the club and its supporters contributed to his decision to accept Turkish citizenship.

According to Okocha, the citizenship came with a Turkish name, which he chose as Muhammed Yavuz.

“I enjoyed the love,” Okocha said, recalling his time at Fenerbahce.

According to Okocha, Turkish authorities required him to choose a Turkish name after he decided to become a citizen. He eventually settled on Muhammed Yavuz.

The name has been independently documented in several accounts of Okocha’s time in Turkey. He previously explained that he chose Muhammed because of the importance of the name among Muslims, while Yavuz was taken from a Fenerbahce facility manager whom he liked.

On the podcast, Okocha recalled the confusion that followed when he first travelled using the new passport.

“I sat down in my seat. So they were telling me, welcome, Mr. Yavuz. I didn’t know I was the one they were talking about. I forgot my name.”

The former midfielder said the experience eventually became normal as he got used to hearing his Turkish name.

Okocha’s connection with Fenerbahce was not only about his citizenship. He quickly became one of the club’s most popular players after joining from Eintracht Frankfurt in 1996.

The football legend’s two-year spell at Fenerbahce remains one of the most memorable periods of his club career. He scored 30 goals in 62 league appearances and became a fan favourite in Istanbul.

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His performances also attracted interest from Paris Saint-Germain, but Okocha said Fenerbahce initially resisted the idea of allowing him to leave.

“So, in as much as I enjoyed the love, you know, it became a problem. Because when PSG came, they said, I’m not leaving. I can’t leave. I’m not for sale. You know, so I had to run away. Stop training. Stop going to training.”

Okocha eventually joined PSG in 1998 in a major transfer that reportedly cost the French club €12.4 million.

His move to France marked the beginning of another important chapter in a career that also took him to Bolton Wanderers, Qatar SC and Hull City.

But despite his eventual departure, Okocha has repeatedly spoken warmly about his time in Turkey, describing his Fenerbahce years as among the most important periods of his life.

His Turkish passport and adopted name, meanwhile, remain one of the more unusual and entertaining chapters of his celebrated career.