Daniel Owefin Amokachi nicknamed "The Bull" (born December 30, 1972 in Kaduna) is a former football striker from Nigeria.

[edit] Career

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. He competed in the new format of the Champions League, and became the first player to score in the competition, after his goal secured a 1-0 win in the opening match in the group stage against CSKA Moscow. 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 infuriating manager Joe Royle by bringing himself on as a substitute then proceeding to score two goals in the semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur. He appeared in the final only briefly, late on, as a substitute but is remembered fondly for his beret wearing celebrations.

He remained at Everton until the end of the 1995-96 season, when he was transferred to Beşiktaş of Turkey for a fee of £1.75million. He had failed to make the impact at Goodison Park that many fans had been hoping for, and had been unable to win a regular place in the first team, as Paul Rideout and Duncan Ferguson were firmly established as Everton's two strikers at this stage.

[edit] Managerial career

Amokachi manages Nigerian side Nasarawa United F.C. and later Enyimba Aba. In April 2007 he quit his role as assistant coach of the Nigerian national side. Amokachi was on April 10, 2008 re-appointed to Nigeria's national team, the Super Eagles, as assistant coach to Shuaibu Amodu.

[edit] Playing career

• 1986 Kaduna United
• 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] International

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, scoring in the Gold Medal game itself against Argentina.

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.

[edit] Trivia

In March of 2005 Daniel Amokachi was invited as a wildcard to represent Nigeria in the World Monopoly Championship in Zurich, Switzerland. Surprisingly Amokachi won the event and donated the $15,0000 prize money to charity.

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

[edit] External references

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

Nigeria Squads v • d • e 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 v • d • e Nigeria squad – 1996 Olympic Gold Medalists 1 E. Babayaro • 2 C. Babayaro • 3 West • 4 Kanu • 5 Uche • 6 Amuneke • 7 Babangida • 8 Oruma • 9 Fatusi • 10 Okocha • 11 Ikpeba • 12 Obafemi • 13 Lawal • 14 Amokachi • 15 Oliseh • 16 Obiekwu • 17 Oparaku • 18 Joseph • Coach: Bonfrere v • d • e Nigeria squad – 1998 FIFA World Cup 1 Rufai • 2 Oparaku • 3 Babayaro • 4 Kanu • 5 Uche • 6 West • 7 Finidi • 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