Late Stephen Keshi is arguably one of the most successful African coaches ever and his posthumous birthday was not going to go un-celebrated especially by Google.
To kick the celebration into swing, Google had a doodle of the former Nigeria coach on its search engine and it easily caught on.
“Today we celebrate the life of Nigerian football icon Stephen Keshi. The beautiful game took Keshi all over the world, as a player and coach. Happy Birthday Big Boss. #StephenKeshi #GoogleDoodle,” Google wrote on its ‘Google in Africa’ Twitter account.
Shortly after hundreds of tribute poured in for one of Nigeria’s most celebrated sportsman.
During his playing career, Keshi earned 60 caps for the Nigerian national football team, making him the nation’s second-most capped player at the time of his retirement.
He represented Nigeria at the 1994 FIFA World Cup and the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations, captaining the Super Eagles to victory in the latter.
He also played club football in five countries, most notably Belgium, where he won the Belgian league championship with Anderlecht in 1991.
But it is his coaching career that has caught the eye of the younger generation.
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As a manager, Keshi achieved success by qualifying Togo for the only FIFA World Cup appearance in its history in 2006.
He later coached his native Nigeria, where he became one of only two people, along with Egypt’s Mahmoud El-Gohary, to have won the Africa Cup of Nations as both a player and a coach.
All these and more easily triggered memories of Keshi popularly known as the Big Boss.
On Twitter, many were closed to tears as they rememebered Keshi.
Stephen Keshi on the Google doodle is making me teary. RIP Stephen Keshi. pic.twitter.com/pcbJWJQtS1
— Somi (@SomiEkhasomhi) January 22, 2018
Father✅
Legend✅
Captain✅
Leader✅
The most successful Black African coach of all time👏🏻 #GoogleDoodle.@Google have paid a truly brilliant tribute to Stephen Keshi on what would have been his 56th birthday🎁 🎂 1962-2016 pic.twitter.com/SSkSdsFHdk
— Oluwashina Okeleji (@oluwashina) January 23, 2018
Google celebrates late player and coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Stephen Keshi. He would have been 56 today. #RIPBigBoss #NeverForgotten 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/xwtk81sYaN
— Bolarinwa Olajide (@iambolar) January 23, 2018
Great to see google celebrate late Nigerian football icon, Stephen Keshi.
He would have been 56 today.
Rest In Peace Big Boss 🙏🏽💚🇳🇬 pic.twitter.com/PqyujgxPae
— Emeka Obia (@Emeka_talks) January 23, 2018
Today Nigerian football legend Stephen Keshi would have turned 56.#RIPKeshi pic.twitter.com/GHMNb3vQpN
— #TARSports (@tarsports) January 23, 2018
Stephen Keshi, Happy 56th Posthumous birthday pic.twitter.com/ioNWdwZblf
— Ore of Lagos (@ICONOREOLUWA) January 22, 2018
Rest In Power Stephen Keshi pic.twitter.com/9y5oriTdao
— Osagie Alonge (@OsaGz) January 23, 2018
Gone, but not forgotten. Former Super Eagles player & coach Stephen Keshi would have been 56 today. Rest in peace 'Big Boss'. pic.twitter.com/yO7zePtKFK
— Busy Buddies 🇳🇬™ (@thebusybuddies) January 23, 2018
Today's Google doodle is Stephen Keshi.
He would have been 56 today.
He achieved something that few could ever dream.
He brought us all together.
One Nigeria, United and proud. pic.twitter.com/1izbCmJXSs— Paschal. (@pasyEROSpaschal) January 23, 2018
On what would have been his 56th birthday, former Nigerian Super Eagles captain and coach Stephen Keshi has been honoured by Google with a doodle. pic.twitter.com/fCNVHtav49
— Bhadmus Hakeem (@Bhadoosky) January 23, 2018
