The world's oldest professional footballer has signed a new contract with Yokohoma FC. Kazuyoshi Miura, dubbed ‘King Kazu’ in Japan, celebrates his 54th birthday on February 26 - a day before the new J-League campaign gets underway.
And he will
mark that milestone by preparing for his 36th season as a player after penning
a 12-month extension.
Miura said:
“Last season, I was feeling the joy of playing football at a time when the
world was facing a tough situation because of the new coronavirus.”
This will be
his 17th year at the club having signed for them in 2005.
The ex-Japan
striker last scored against Thespakusatsu Gunma in 2017 in the second tier.
That strike
made him the oldest player to score in a Japanese professional league game at
50 years and 14 days.
Miura started
his career with Santos in Brazil in 1986 and was playing when Barcelona legend
Lionel Messi was born.
He was the
poster boy of his nation’s football boom in the early 90s when the J-League was
launched.
The veteran
fired Verdy Kawasaki to title glory in 93 and 94 before heading to Italy’s
Serie A with Genoa.
He also had
stints in both Croatia and Australia as well as other Japanese sides.
Miura helped
Japan to Asian Cup glory in 1992 but heartbreakingly missed out on representing
them in their first World Cup appearance in 98.
He scored 55
goals in 89 games for his country.
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