Kazuyoshi Miura, 58, signs with new club to extend record-breaking soccer career
The world's oldest professional soccer player is continuing his career into a 41st season.
Japanese forward Kazuyoshi Miura, 58, has extended his record-breaking professional soccer career, signing with third-division J.League team Fukushima United FC.
Miura is the oldest professional soccer player in the world and will turn 59 in February. He is on his fourth loan in four years from his home club, Yokohama FC, about to start what will be his 41st professional season.
“I am pleased to announce my transfer to Fukushima United FC, embarking on a new challenge,” he said, via a statement released by the club.
He’s known as “King Kazu” in Japan and has played 40 professional seasons dating back to the mid-1980s. He started in Brazil’s Serie A, the country’s top division, with Santos in 1986. He has had brief, varying spells abroad over the course of his career, in Australia, Italy, and Croatia, all before 2000, when he returned to Japan for good, firstly with Kyoto Purple Sanga in 1999.
Miura joined Yokohama FC in 2005, where he has been ever since, though he has been out on loan several times. He won the Asian Footballer of the Year in 1992 and the J.League MVP in 1993. He was the league’s top scorer in 1996 and was picked for the J.League Best 11 three times, in 1993, 1995, and 1996.
He’s been selected for the J.League’s 20th anniversary team in 2013 and the 30th anniversary team in 2023 as well. Miura, who has earned 89 caps for the Japanese national team, though none since 2000, has not seen his desire to continue professionally dim, and will continue playing as he inches toward 60 years old.
“My passion for soccer will never change, even as I get older,” Miura said. “I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to play in Fukushima, and I look forward to competing with passion as a member of Fukushima United FC. Let’s build a new history together.”