Football: King Kazu Still Going At 58, Joins J3 Fukushima United

TOKYO, Dec 30 (Bernama-Kyodo) -- Former Japan forward and 58-year-old Kazuyoshi Miura is joining Fukushima United in the J-League third division on loan until the end of June from J2-bound Yokohama FC, both clubs announced Tuesday, Kyodo News Agency reported.

Affectionately called "King Kazu" after playing a central role in the rise of Japanese football's popularity following the launch of the J-League in 1993, Miura will play his 41st professional season in 2026.

"My passion for football never changes however old I get. I'm deeply grateful to Fukushima for giving me the opportunity to play," Miura said through his new club. "I promise to play to my fullest in order to contribute to the team."

Miura played seven games without a goal this year while on loan at Atletico Suzuka in the fourth-tier Japan Football League. He will be back playing in the J-League for the first time since 2021 when he played one league game for Yokohama FC in the J1.

Turning 59 in February, Miura is second on Japan's all-time scoring list with 55 goals from 89 games for the national team, behind only the late Kunishige Kamamoto's 75 goals in 76 matches.

He left Japan at 15 for Brazil and made his professional debut with Santos in 1986. After returning to Japan in 1990, the Shizuoka Prefecture native won the MVP award in the J-League's inaugural season in 1993 playing for Verdy Kawasaki, now Tokyo Verdy.

The first Japanese to play in Italy's Serie A with Genoa in the 1994-1995 season, he also had spells at Dinamo Zagreb, Kyoto Sanga, Vissel Kobe, Sydney FC and Oliveirense in the Portuguese second-tier, where he was on loan for a season and a half through the summer of 2024.

The J-League will have a special tournament between February and June next year before pushing back its start to August in line with top club competitions in Europe and Asia. Fukushima, 10th in the J3 this past campaign, will play in a competition featuring all J2 and J3 sides.

-- BERNAMA-KYODO