My Father's Investments Helped Me After I Went Bankrupt at 27, Daniel Amokachi

Former Super Eagles star Daniel Amokachi has shared how his father's investments helped him bounce back after going bankrupt at 27.

In an exclusive chat with PREMIUM TIMES, Mr Amokachi looked back at the fame and wealth he enjoyed as a teenager. He also talked about his lavish lifestyle and the financial downturn that followed.

Known as “The Bull,” Mr Amokachi was one of Nigeria’s standout football stars during his peak.

Outside football, he modelled, drove expensive cars, and enjoyed the perks of international fame from a young age. He has said before that he had access to a private jet during his playing days.

When asked how he stayed humble after becoming famous and rich at 17, Mr Amokachi admitted that he did not.

“If I tell you that I was grounded, I’m lying. I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to life in football. I’ve gone bankrupt in my life.

“Grace of God and then, of course, you have a good family and friends around you. And then with that grace, it makes you reflect on life, to know that the path you are taking is not the right path,” he said.

Now 53, he revealed that his financial troubles started at 27, ten years after he began enjoying wealth as a young footballer.

“This is a boy who came off the street. He was living a life. At the age of 17, he was driving a Porsche. The only player in Belgium driving a Porsche at my age.

“At that age, I was modelling and meeting all the superstars in the world. I don’t even know them, but at that age, it’s life. It’s just life that you see.”

His modelling career went hand in hand with his football career and helped build his glamorous public image. In past interviews, Mr Amokachi has said he modelled for several years while playing football and met his wife, Nadia, who is also a model, at a modelling show in Paris.

After his financial collapse at 27, he said his father's investments were a lifeline.

“Why I stayed afloat is because of the investment my dad made for me, not me,” he told the newspaper.

Mr Amokachi explained that his father took some of his earnings while he was playing and invested that money for him.

Those smart choices gave him valuable assets to rely on after he went bankrupt.

“And when that happened, now you have a property that will sell for N500 million. You have this that will sell for [an amount of] money.

“That’s what kept me back. You understand? That’s the grace that I was talking about. Things that I didn’t do, but my dad did,” he said.

Years later, he mentioned that modelling offers still come his way.

When asked if he would consider returning to modelling and how he keeps fit, he joked: “I’m an old man, but I’m a sexy old man.

“But going back to modelling, from time to time they call me to endorse still what they have and wear their brands and all that stuff. But it’s a look that I really did enjoy, and it gives you another angle about life,” he said.

Mr Amokachi said staying fit is still a key part of his life after retiring from professional football.

“I love keeping fit. I try to go to the gym five or six times a week and keep going because they say that training and exercise are the best medicine you can give yourself. So I try as much as possible to do that.”

Reflecting on his past, Mr Amokachi said his experiences with money and fame are lessons he can share with younger athletes.

He added that football still opens doors for him after retirement, including coaching, social work, and partnerships with FIFA and CAF.

The former footballer stressed that retired sports stars need to stay visible to benefit from opportunities after their careers.

“In the modern era of life, you have to be visible. Visibility is key in life. If you are visible, opportunity comes. If you are visible, people see what you are going through, and they help,” he advised.

Despite the bankruptcy and other challenges, Mr Amokachi said he has few regrets.

He noted, “I bless God for his grace in my life. He gave me ten good years of one decade of quality life when it comes to football. Will I regret anything? I think I will probably ask him to bring me back the way I am, but take the injury away. That’s the only thing because he really blessed me and still blesses me.”

The interview became emotional when Mr Amokachi spoke about his bond with former Super Eagles captain and coach Stephen Keshi. He credited Keshi for shaping him as a player and a person.

“If you remember my late boss, Stephen Keshi, he’s more than a brother. He’s a brother, he’s a friend. We worked together as coaches, but it goes beyond that because I was 17 years old when I met him,” he said.

“When I signed for Club Brugge, he was already the first Nigerian that went to Belgium, and he nurtured me, has made me who Daniel Amokachi is, as a player and as a human being and as a coach.”

Mr Amokachi became emotional while discussing his late mentor and shed tears during the interview.

“I haven’t cried for a bit, so it’s good that I did today. I love crying. Crying is healthy. If you don’t do it, cry once in a while, it’s healthy. Especially when you come from a country like Nigeria. It’s very, very healthy,” he said.

Earlier, when asked which Super Eagles players deserve more recognition, Mr Amokachi named Keshi and another former coach, Shuaibu Amodu.

“I have two names. Those two names, I can’t take anything away from them because they gave everything to their country. And unfortunately, we lost them the same week,” he said.

Keshi died on 7 June 2016, while Amodu died three days later. Both men had strong ties with Mr Amokachi during his playing and coaching career.