The word 'legend' is banded about too often in this world but when it comes to Julius Aghahowa the word is almost too conservative. It's just a shame his brilliance came more in the virtual reality than the actual one.
Football Manager has been the ultimate in football management games for over a decade now with each new edition becoming more and more immersive and difficult from the previous version.
Before FM took over our lives and left us throwing pieces of paper at our laptops because of a last minute equaliser against our side it was Championship Manager that filled our days and 2001/02 was the greatest edition of the game.
Whilst Maxim Tsigalko might have been the best goalscorer in the world in 2001/02 it was another player plying his trade in eastern Europe who took the crown as best all round forward in Julius Aghahowa.
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The Nigerian forward was playing for Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine having joined from Tunisian outfit Espérance in 2000. Given the chance Aghahowa could make his mark anywhere in the world.
I know what you're thinking but the game got his birthday wrong!
His finishing might not have been that great for a striker but as a forward he had as much flair as Ronaldinho in his pomp added the balance, agility, pace, acceleration and work rate and you found yourself with a player of the highest regard.
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He was a difficult player to sign for any English clubs because getting a work permit for him was almost impossible. Of course that was ironic considering his next actual club after Shakhtar was Wigan Athletic.
After seven seasons in Ukraine, scoring 51 goals in 150 appearances for the club, he moved to the Premier League for an undisclosed fee and was in England for a year and a half, making 20 appearances, without ever scoring.
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Of course Aghahowa wasn't the only player impressing at Shakhtar as one of the best players in the world. (Admittedly at this point I've switched between reality and 'Champ Man' so much even I'm forgetting where we're up to.)
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The Ukrainians a los possessed fellow Nigerian Isaac Okoronkwo, one of the best defenders around and Senegalese midfielder Assane N'Diaye but it was Aghahowa who really stole the spotlight.
Aghahowa was known in real life for his back flip celebration when he scored which was best known for his time with the national side. He scored 14 goals for Nigeria, scoring in the World Cup, African Cup of Nations and Olympics.
It might not be reflected in the stats but Julius Aghahowa was one of the best forwards of his generation, it was just in a slightly different reality.
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Happy Birthday Julius!
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Football News, Shakhtar Donetsk