Former Super Eagles midfielder Austin Okocha has disclosed that Bayern Munich wanted to sign him in 1991, but the deal did not happen because he was under 18 years old.

Recall that Okocha played with Bayern Munich’s youth team at a tournament in Switzerland, impressing them enough to prompt an offer.

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Age Rules

However, the Bavarian could only offer a verbal agreement because of the age constraint, which led Okocha to pass on waiting nearly a year without a formal professional contract.

But his standout performances eventually earned him a move to the Bundesliga with Frankfurt, where he famously dazzled fans and scored his legendary goal against Oliver Kahn.

Speaking on the Obi One Podcast, Okocha recalled that his European journey did not begin at Eintracht Frankfurt, as many fans assume, but at third-division Borussia Neunkirchen.

Career Path In Germany

​”I got an offer from Bayern Munich. I went with their youth team to a tournament in Switzerland, and after that, they wanted to sign me,” Okocha said.

​”Because I turned 18 in August, German rules stated that you had to turn 18 before July to play professionally that season. Because of that, I wasn’t even allowed to play in the promotion playoffs for the third division team I was playing for—even though we won our regional league and were aiming for the professional second division.

​”Bayern made me an offer, but it was only verbal because they said, ‘Oh, we can’t give you a professional contract until you turn 18.’ Since I turned 18 late in the year, I would have had to wait almost another year. I would have had to train with the professionals and play with the reserve team, but I was willing to take the risk because they were the biggest club in Germany.

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​”I asked them, ‘Can you put it in writing on paper? Because I can’t come all the way from Nigeria to rely on a verbal contract. What if I get injured and you tell me to go home? I’ll have nothing.’ They replied, ‘Well, if you don’t accept it, we’re sorry.’

​”So I went back and signed with a third-division club, Borussia Neunkirchen, to start the season. By the winter transfer window, Frankfurt came in for me; they understood the structural situation and offered me a one-year amateur contract followed by a two-year professional contract.”