CNN
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The legend of “King Kazu” took one other flip as Kazuyoshi Miura joined Portuguese second division membership Oliveirense on mortgage from J-League membership Yokohama FC, only a month shy of his 56th birthday.
The previous Japan worldwide will enter his thirty eighth season as knowledgeable soccer participant in his sixth nation, having already performed in Brazil, Japan, Italy, Croatia and Australia.
“I’m going to make an effort so that folks will likely be in a position see me taking part in my sort of soccer, even in new environment,” Miura mentioned in an announcement.
It’s one other chapter in a rare profession that began professionally in 1986, a yr earlier than soccer nice Lionel Messi was born.
Miura began his profession at Brazilian membership Santos as a result of Japan had no skilled league on the time. He spent 4 years in Brazil, taking part in for six golf equipment together with Santos and Palmeiras.
Nonetheless, “King Kazu” would return to his dwelling nation to develop into the face of the J-League when it launched in 1993, happening to steer Verdy Kawasaki to back-to-back titles in 1993 and 1994.
He spent a mortgage spell with Serie A aspect Genoa in 1994, changing into the primary Japanese participant to play within the Italian first division.
He scored 55 objectives throughout 89 caps for the Japan nationwide workforce, making him the second-highest all-time scorer for the Samurai Blue. He retired in 2000 from the nationwide aspect however has continued to play professionally for an additional 20 years, and it appears he isn’t slowing down anytime quickly.
After signing for Yokohama FC in 2005, he has stayed with the membership – or been on mortgage from it – ever since, making this his nineteenth season with the workforce.
Miura spent 2022 at Suzuka Level Getters – a membership managed by his brother – within the fourth tier of Japanese soccer. In his time there, he netted twice in 18 video games.
In 2017, he turned the oldest participant to attain in knowledgeable match when he scored in opposition to Thespakusatsu Gunma in Japan’s second division at 50 years and 14 days. He additionally helped Yokohama safe promotion to Japan’s prime division on the finish of the 2019 season.