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Associated Press

Kyodo

Japanese footballer Kazuyoshi Miura is set to continue playing professional football next season, despite turning 58.
The player known to fans as “King Kazu” – or simply Kazu – is several generations older than his teammates, while his contemporaries retired decades ago.
By comparison, Lionel Messi is 37, and Cristiano Ronaldo is 39 – mere youngsters compared to Miura.
Miura will turn 58 in February, and the Japanese news agency Kyodo reported this week that he intends to play next season for Suzuka in the JFL, the fourth tier of Japanese football.
It will be his 40th season playing in professional football and he is widely listed as the oldest active professional football player.

Miura joined Suzuka on loan from J-League second-division club Yokohama FC in June this year following a stint with Portuguese second-tier side Oliveirense.
Miura scored 55 goals in 89 appearances and was a star with Japan’s national team in the 1990s.
The Shizuoka Prefecture native left Japan at 15 for Brazil, where he made his professional debut in 1986 with Santos, a side made famous by Brazilian star Pele.
He has also played professionally in Brazil, Italy, Croatia, Australia and Portugal.
After returning to Japan in 1990, Miura won the MVP award in the J-League’s inaugural season in 1993 while at Verdy Kawasaki, now Tokyo Verdy.


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Asian Football Confederation (AFC)

Former Japan forward Kazuyoshi Miura playing for second-tier Portuguese club Oliveirense against Academico de Viseu last year. Photo: Kyodo

Ace striker Kazuyoshi Miura (11) scores in Japan’s 5-3 friendly win over Uruguay in 1996. Photo: Reuters

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Neymar of Al Hilal controls the ball during his side’s AFC Champions League Elite match agaisnt Al Ain. Photo: Getty Images

Sanfrecce Hiroshima’s Pieros Sotirou tries a shot on the charge during his side’s 3-2 win over Eastern at Mong Kok Stadium in October. Photo: Elson Li

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The grounded Yu tries to protect the ball during Eastern’s ACL2 game with Sanfrecce Hiroshima. Photo: Elson Li

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Bahrain and Indonesia players clash after the match at the Bahrain National Stadium last week. Photo: Reuters

Referee Ahmed Al-Kaf with police after the match, which Indonesia complained had gone on too long. Photo: Reuters

Qatar’s forward Akram Afif speaks during a press conference after winning the AFC player of the year award. Photo: AFP

Sport

Football

Widely listed as the oldest active professional football player, the former international aims to play for fourth-tier Japanese club Suzuka


Widely listed as the oldest active professional football player, the former international aims to play for fourth-tier Japanese club Suzuka.


Fifa World Cup