Japanese soccer legend Kazuyoshi Miura yesterday said that his passion for playing the game is as strong as ever after signing for a third-division team at the age of 58.
Miura, known as “King Kazu,” is to join Japan’s Fukushima United on loan until June for what would be his 41st season as a professional player.
He turns 59 in February.
Photo: AP
“My passion for football hasn’t changed, no matter how old I get,” the former Japan international said in a statement issued by his new club. “I’m very grateful to be given the opportunity to play in Fukushima, and I will fight hard as a member of Fukushima United. Let’s make history together.”
Miura spent last season with fourth-tier Atletico Suzuka, making seven appearances as the team were relegated to Japan’s regional leagues after finishing second-bottom of the table and losing a playoff.
His move to Fukushima sees him return to the J.League — the top three divisions of Japanese soccer — for the first time in five years.
Miura said that he is ready to “take on a new challenge” with Fukushima, who finished 10th in the 20-team third division last season.
“To all the Fukushima United players, coaching staff, fans, sponsors and people in the local area, I promise that I will play with everything I have to make a contribution,” he said.
Miura made his professional debut in 1986 for Brazilian team Santos, and he has also played for teams in Italy, Croatia, Australia and Portugal.
He helped put soccer in Japan on the map when the professional J.League was launched in 1993.
He made his Japan debut in 1990, but was famously left out of the squad for their first World Cup finals appearance in 1998, despite scoring 55 goals in 89 games for the national side.
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