Daniel Amokachi Biography and Net Worth

Daniel Owefin Amokachi popularly known as Daniel Amokachi is a famous Nigerian professional football player, entrepreneur and former assistant manager of the Nigeria national football team (Super Eagles). He has been a technical director since 2006. He played as a forward striker for Nigeria’s national team (Super Eagles) before retiring from international football.

He was born on 30th December 1972 in the city of Kaduna, Kaduna State in the northern part of Nigeria. He is currently 45 years old. He is originally from Abia State in the south eastern part of Nigeria, but was born and bred in Kaduna State in the northern part of Nigeria.

During his performances at the World Cup, Daniel Amokachi was nominated three times and was placed at third position in the African Footballer of the Year Awards. As a forward striker, Daniel Amokachi was known for his speed, technique and physical strength, which earned him the nicknames Black Bull and Black Train.

Daniel Amokachi who is also very popular and well known in his country, has contributed to Nigeria’s top two tournaments in the FIFA World Cup along with his fellow attack partner Emmanuel Amunike. On 25th November 1992, Daniel Amokachi scored the first goal of the UEFA Champions League with Club Brugge, beating CSKA Moscow 1–0.

Daniel Amokachi was discovered while playing for Ranchers Bees by Nigerian national team coach Clemens Westerhof, who brought him to the 1990 African Nations Cup, after which Daniel Amokachi moved to play for Club Brugge in Belgium. He competed in the new format of the Champions League, and became the first player to score in the competition, after which he scored a goal and secured a 1–0 win for his team Club Brugge in the opening match in the group stage against CSKA Moscow.

After his impressive performance in Club Brugge in Belgium and his amazing performance for the Nigeria’s Super Eagles at the 1994 FIFA World Cup, Everton became interested in him and signed him for a contract fee worth £3,000,000 ($4,700,000).

In 1995, he went on to win the FA Cup with Everton after scoring two goals in the semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur. Daniel Amokachi remained at Everton until the end of the 1995 to 1996 season, when he was later transferred to Besikta of Turkey for a fee of £1.75 million.

In 1995, he spent six weeks in prison during the autumn of 1995 for an offence committed in Scotland 18 months earlier. In 1999, he signed a contract with 1860 Munich, but the contract was cancelled after he failed a medical test. Unfortunately, he was rejected by Tranmere Rovers for the same reason.In 2002, American club Colorado Rapids signed him, but seeing that he wasn’t 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.

Daniel Amokachi has 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. In 1994, he helped his country Nigeria to win the 1994 African Nations Cup. He also helped his country Nigeria to win the Olympic gold medal in 1996.

Daniel Amokachi has worked as the manager of Nigerian club Nasarawa United and later Enyimba of Aba. In April 2007, Daniel Amokachi quit his role as assistant coach of the Nigeria national team (Super Eagles). On 10th April 2008, Daniel Amokachi was re-appointed as the assistant coach of the Nigeria’s national team (Super Eagles). He worked as an assistant to both Shuaibu Amodu and Stephen Keshi.

In 2015, Daniel Amokachi managed Ifeanyi Ubah and later resigned after spending five weeks in the club. In January 2016, Daniel Amokachi was named as manager of JS Hercules, a club which he is currently coaching till date.

Daniel Amokachi is currently married to a Tunisian woman and the marriage is blessed with two twin sons named Kalim and Nazim, who are currently following their father’s footsteps in becoming professional footballers. His two sons are currently in the Besiktas youth academy.