Former assistant coach of the Super Eagles, Daniel Amokachi, has insisted that he made the right decision to join Everton rather than Juventus in 1994.
Despite incidents of racism at Goodison Park, Amokachi who was 21 at the time, decided to continue his career in England instead of Italy.
Everton eventually splashed out club record £3 million move on him and he became the first African player to win the English FA Cup
“The move to Goodison Park just came out of the blue. My agent and Club Brugge were deep in talks over a move to Juventus,” Amokachi said.
“I was sitting back, continuing to do my training during pre-season. Then I think the deal came through and I got a phone call saying ‘Everton are willing to take you in.
“I said ‘I’d love to be in the Premier League, it’s an experience for me.’
“But they told me ‘ah but it’s Everton and they’re a racist club. You will be the first black player to . for Everton.’
“I said [to my advisers] ‘I don’t think if they were racist they would spend so much on a black man from Africa.
“I ended up putting pen to paper at Goodison and from the moment I came out of the tunnel to be introduced I felt the love of my life.
“That was an experience and I enjoyed my two seasons there. I can’t complain about any second that I was there.”
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