Only the most hardcore Juventus fans will remember the name of Sunday Oliseh. After all, this talented Nigerian midfielder only spent a season in Turin as a Bianconero. And, as you can imagine, he didn’t leave much of a trace – except for the fact that he was the first African player in the history of the Old Lady.
Oliseh ended his only season at Juventus in the 1999/2000 campaign with just eight appearances in Serie A. Coach Carlo Ancelotti preferred to rely on Antonio Conte and Gianluca Pessotto rather than on him at midfield.
The Nigerian had a bit more space in the UEFA Cup, where he collected five caps and managed to score his only goal as a Bianconero. It happened in his very first game on October 21, 1999. Oliseh scored Juventus’ opener in a 3-1 away win against Levski Sofia.
Despite his lackluster stint at Juventus, though, Sunday Oliseh was anything but an anonymous player. Before and after his time in Turin, he would collect much more glory at Ajax and Borussia Dortmund winning one Dutch and one German title.
A Nigeria international, Oliseh was part of the Super Eagles roster that won a sensational gold medal at the Summer Olympics in 1996 and featured in two World Cups. He is mostly remembered for a spectacular goal that he scored to Spain at France 1998.
About his forgettable time at Juventus, he once said:
“It was not one of the best moments in my career, I didn’t feel well in the locker room. I didn’t like how I was treated. In September, after three months, I asked Luciano Moggi [the Juve Sport Director] to be released but he said no (…) It is not anyone’s fault for how it went my experience at Juventus. It was not the right moment for me to transfer there.”
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