Japanese football legend Kazuyoshi Miura said his passion for the game is still as strong as ever after signing with a third-division team at 58 on Tuesday.
Kazu Miura, known as “King Kazu”, joins Fukushima United on loan in Japan until June, for what will be his 41st season as a professional footballer.
He will turn 59 in February.
“My passion for football has not changed, regardless of my age”, the former Japanese international said in a statement released by his new club.
“I am very grateful for the opportunity to play in Fukushima and I will give my all as a member of Fukushima United. Let’s make history together!”
Miura played for fourth-series Atletico Suzuka last season, where he played seven games. The team was relegated to the Japanese regional leagues after finishing second to last and missing the play-off round.
His arrival in Fukushima marks a return to the J. League — the three main divisions of Japanese football — for the first time in five years.
Miura said he was ready to “face a new challenge” with Fukushima, who finished 10th in the third division out of 20 teams last season.
“To all the players, coaching staff, fans, sponsors and people in the Fukushima United area, I promise that I will give everything I have to contribute to the team,” he assured.
Miura made his professional debut in 1986 with Santos in Brazil and has also played for clubs in Italy, Croatia, Australia and Portugal.
He helped grow the popularity of soccer in Japan when the professional J. League was created in 1993.
He made his debut for Japan in 1990, but was sensationally left out of the squad for his country’s first World Cup finals appearance in 1998, despite scoring 55 goals in 89 international appearances.
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