Kazuyoshi Miura promised this Friday (9) to show that he still has what it takes at the age of 58, as the former Japanese national team striker prepares for his 41st season as a professional player.
Miura, known as “King Kazu”, joined third-tier side Fukushima United on a six-month loan before the start of the new season at the start of February.
The striker, who will turn 59 next month, said he wanted to repay his new team’s trust with goals and assists.
“Forwards can score a lot of goals or they can go through dry spells, and you need to keep in mind the image of scoring goals,” he told reporters at his official presentation in Tokyo.
“It’s hard to put a number on it, but I definitely want to score goals and assists.
“I would like to dribble down the left wing and cross the ball,” he added.
Miura debuted professionally in 1986 for Santos, from Brazil, and also played for teams in Italy, Croatia, Australia and Portugal.
He helped popularize Japanese football when the J. League, Japan’s professional league, was launched in 1993.
Last season, he played for Atlético Suzuka, in the fourth division, playing eight games without scoring goals. The team was relegated to Japan’s regional leagues after finishing second to last and missing the playoff.
Wearing an impeccable suit and with his gray hair neatly combed, Miura said he wanted to “contribute” to his new team.
“Wherever I play, the challenge doesn’t change,” he said.
“I am very grateful for the opportunity to take on this challenge.”
Miura’s move to Fukushima marks his return to Japanese football. He returns to the J. League — the three main divisions of Japanese football — for the first time in five years.
He debuted for the Japanese national team in 1990, but became famous for being left out of the squad for the country’s first World Cup in 1998, despite scoring 55 goals in 89 games for the team.
He stated that his goal for next season is the same as always.
“I just want to be on the field, even if it’s for another minute or a second,” he said.
