TOKYO — Veteran Japanese soccer player Kazuyoshi Miura celebrated his 58th birthday on Wednesday, affectionately dubbed as “King Kazu” by fans worldwide. However, his birthday is not the only reason for celebration. Miura is poised to embark on his remarkable 40th season in professional football, proudly holding the title of the oldest active player in the Japanese Football League.
Currently, Miura represents Suzuka, a fourth-division Japanese team, on loan from Yokohama, a club in the second division. As Suzuka prepares to start training this week, the new season is scheduled to kick off next month. In a news conference last year, as reported by the Japanese news outlet Kyodo, Miura expressed his unwavering passion for the sport, stating, “Retiring isn’t an option. I want to play as many minutes as I can in games.”
Over the decades, Miura’s illustrious career has seen him playing in various countries including Brazil, Italy, Croatia, Australia, and Portugal. He began his professional journey in 1986 with Santos, a Brazilian club synonymous with the legendary Pelé. In 2017, Miura made history at the age of 50 as he became the oldest player to score in a professional match, breaking the long-standing record held by England’s revered Stanley Matthews.
During the 1990s, Miura emerged as one of the leading figures in Japanese soccer, scoring 55 goals in 89 international appearances with the national team. His legacy as a pioneering force in the sport continues to inspire generations.
