Latest news with #KingKazu
News18
5 days ago
- Sport
- News18
World's Oldest Professional Footballer Kazuyoshi Miura Plays At 58
Former international Miura, affectionately called 'King Kazu," is the oldest professional footballer in Japan and likely beyond. He appeared as an 82nd-minute substitute for Atletico Suzuka Club on Sunday, contributing to their 2-1 victory in the Japan Football League. Miura, one of Asia's most renowned footballers in the 1990s, did not score but expressed his satisfaction to reporters, saying he was 'glad I was able to contribute" at 58 years and 109 days old. 'Thanks to help from my teammates and trainers, I've been able to make it this far. Now I want to raise my game even more," he said. Miura returned to Japan last year after spending two seasons with Portuguese second-division team Oliveirense, where he made nine appearances on loan from Yokohama FC. He made his debut in 1986 with Brazilian side Santos and has also played in Italy, Croatia, and Australia. The forward helped elevate football's profile in Japan when the professional J-League was launched in 1993. He debuted for Japan in 1990 but was famously excluded from the squad for their first World Cup finals in 1998, despite scoring 55 goals in 89 games for the national team. With AFP Inputs
Asharq Al-Awsat
5 days ago
- Sport
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Japan's King Kazu Wants More After First Appearance of 40th Season
Japan's Kazuyoshi "King Kazu" Miura made his first appearance of his 40th season as a professional footballer at the weekend and shows no sign of wanting to hang up his boots any time soon. The former international forward, who turned 58 in February, came on as a late substitute in Atletico Suzuka's 2-1 win over YSCC Yokohama in the fourth tier of the Japanese pyramid on Sunday. The popular striker signed an 18-month loan deal with Suzuka last June but a leg injury sustained in January had kept him on the sidelines from the start of this Japan Football League season. "I hope to play again showing my character," Miura told Kyodo news agency after the match. "I managed to play thanks to the support from everyone. I'm looking to stepping up a gear from here." Miura made his first two appearances for Santos in the 1986 Brazilian Championship, having headed alone to South America to pursue his football dream as a 15-year-old. He returned to Japan as an established international to join Verdy Kawasaki and helped them win the first two titles in 1993 and 1994. He scored 55 goals in 89 appearances for Japan, the last of which came in 2000. Miura, whose long club career has also included spells in Italy, Croatia, Australia and Portugal, still has a way to go to match Egyptian Ezzeldin Bahader's record of turning out for a professional team at the age of 74. Given his commitment to the game, however, it might be foolish to write him off. "When I was around 35 or 40, I did start saying to myself, 'I can't keep playing this way'," he told in April. "Rather than giving any thought to quitting, it was more about pushing myself to give more. It's not so much that the word 'retire' isn't in my vocabulary, but more that I've never felt any desire to do it."
Free Malaysia Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- Free Malaysia Today
Japan's King Kazu wants more after first appearance of 40th season
Kazuyoshi Miura signed an 18-month loan deal with Suzuka last June. (AFP pic) TOKYO : Japan's Kazuyoshi 'King Kazu' Miura made his first appearance of his 40th season as a professional footballer at the weekend and shows no sign of wanting to hang up his boots any time soon. The former international forward, who turned 58 in February, came on as a late substitute in Atletico Suzuka's 2-1 win over YSCC Yokohama in the fourth tier of the Japanese pyramid on Sunday. The popular striker signed an 18-month loan deal with Suzuka last June but a leg injury sustained in January had kept him on the sidelines from the start of this Japan Football League season. 'I hope to play again showing my character,' Miura told Kyodo News agency after the match. 'I managed to play thanks to the support from everyone. I'm looking to stepping up a gear from here.' Miura made his first two appearances for Santos in the 1986 Brazilian Championship, having headed alone to South America to pursue his football dream as a 15-year-old. He returned to Japan as an established international to join Verdy Kawasaki and helped them win the first two titles in 1993 and 1994. He scored 55 goals in 89 appearances for Japan, the last of which came in 2000. Miura, whose long club career has also included spells in Italy, Croatia, Australia and Portugal, still has a way to go to match Egyptian Ezzeldin Bahader's record of turning out for a professional team at the age of 74. Given his commitment to the game, however, it might be foolish to write him off. 'When I was around 35 or 40, I did start saying to myself, 'I can't keep playing this way,'' he told in April. 'Rather than giving any thought to quitting, it was more about pushing myself to give more. It's not so much that the word 'retire' isn't in my vocabulary, but more that I've never felt any desire to do it.'
Japan Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- Japan Times
Japan's 'King Kazu' wants more after first appearance of 40th season
Japan's Kazuyoshi "King Kazu" Miura made his first appearance of his 40th season as a professional footballer at the weekend and shows no sign of wanting to hang up his boots any time soon. The former international forward, who turned 58 in February, came on as a late substitute in Atletico Suzuka's 2-1 win over YSCC Yokohama in the fourth tier of the Japanese pyramid on Sunday. The popular striker signed an 18-month loan deal with Suzuka last June but a leg injury sustained in January had kept him on the sidelines from the start of this Japan Football League season. "I hope to play again showing my character," Miura told Kyodo news agency after the match. "I managed to play thanks to the support from everyone. I'm looking to stepping up a gear from here." Miura made his first two appearances for Santos in the 1986 Brazilian Championship, having headed alone to South America to pursue his football dream as a 15-year-old. He returned to Japan as an established international to join Verdy Kawasaki and helped the club win the first two J. League titles in 1993 and 1994. He scored 55 goals in 89 appearances for Japan, the last of which came in 2000. Miura, whose long club career has also included spells in Italy, Croatia, Australia and Portugal, still has a way to go to match Egyptian Ezzeldin Bahader's record of turning out for a professional team at the age of 74. Given his commitment to the game, however, it might be foolish to write him off. "When I was around 35 or 40, I did start saying to myself, 'I can't keep playing this way'," he told in April. "Rather than giving any thought to quitting, it was more about pushing myself to give more. It's not so much that the word 'retire' isn't in my vocabulary, but more that I've never felt any desire to do it."
France 24
5 days ago
- Sport
- France 24
Record-breaking Japan striker 'King Kazu' plays at 58
Former international Miura, fondly known as "King Kazu", is the oldest professional in Japan and almost certainly beyond. He came on as an 82nd-minute substitute for Atletico Suzuka Club on Sunday and helped them seal a 2-1 win in the Japan Football League. Miura, one of Asia's best-known footballers in the 1990s, did not score but told reporters he was "glad I was able to contribute" after his cameo aged 58 years and 109 days. "Thanks to help from my teammates and trainers, I've been able to make it this far. Now I want to raise my game even more," said. Miura returned to Japan last year after two seasons with Portuguese second-division outfit Oliveirense, where he made nine appearances on loan from Yokohama FC. He made his debut in 1986 with Brazilian side Santos and has also played in Italy, Croatia and Australia. The forward helped put football 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.
