'I look up to my uncle' — Iwobi says of Okocha

Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi has named his uncle Jay-Jay Okocha as his idol growing up as a young footballer.

The 26-year-old described the legendary okocha as an entertaining player who displayed dazzling skills to excite football fans, especially the young ones.

Okocha, now 49, is one of the skilful footballers the world has seen. The former Super Eagles captain was one of the fans favourite during his playing days which spanned from 1990 to 2008.

The ex-Nigerian international played for clubs like Eintracht Frankfurt, Fenerbahçe, PSG, and Bolton Wanderers, among others.

Iwobi told the Independent that he wants to imitate his uncle as one of the best dribblers in the world.

“He [Okocha] was an entertaining player to watch, and the skills he used to do were outrageous skills, that you only really see freestylers do," the ex-Arsenal man told the Independent.

"So, yeah, hopefully, the younger viewers will learn a bit more about him and understand why I chuck in some skills too. I mean, that’s what kids want to see, you know – people having fun. He was a fun guy to watch. “Sometimes I feel like I’m just that same kid that wants to express myself and play football but when I do realise that ‘Wow! I have an influence on kids’.

"It’s mad. I just want to put positive things out there for them. It’s nice that kids look up to me and try to imitate me and play like me because I was once that kid who used to look up to my uncle. I find it weird, but I do enjoy it.”

Alex Iwobi has been phenomenal for the Toffees since Frank Lampard took over the club last season.

The Super Eagles star has been the most consistent player in the Everton line-up since the former Chelsea boss took over from Raphael Benitez in January.

WDN