Veteran Japanese striker Kazuyoshi Miura has joined a new club to continue his long career at the age of 57.
Miura made his professional debut in 1986 for Brazilian giants Santos and has gone on to enjoyed successful spells in Japan, Italy, Croatia, and Australia.
In 2023 he returned to Europe after 24 years to join Portuguese second-division side Oliveirense on a loan from Yokohama FC and the move was extended.
The forward is now back on home soil and has joined fourth-tier side Atletico Suzuka Club in another loan.
Miura said in a press conference in Tokyo: ‘Retiring isn’t an option. I want to play as many minutes as I can in games. I’ll strive with scoring a goal being the target.’
Kazuyoshi Miura has joined a new club at the age of 57 after a short spell in Portugal
Miura made his debut in 1986 for Brazilian giants Santos and has now joined Atletico Suzuka
Miura also revealed he has not been given preferential treatment in training and has even been on the receiving end of stern words from the manager.
‘We trained with a very high intensity, and I was on the receiving end of some critical words and coaching from the manager, too,’ he said. ‘But that kept me young mentally.’
Miura, whose new contract runs until January, is now in his 39th season as a professional and will seek to extend his own record as the oldest player and goalscorer in Japanese football. .
He added: ‘I don’t know if I can really perform and score, but I’ll look to give a sincere effort each day to my fullest.
‘I’m at quite an age, clearly well above other players. But I want to go for one-on-ones, show desire toward the goal and deal with situations on my own rather than playing like an established veteran.’
The striker, who failed to score in nine games for previous club Oliveirense, has in the past stated his intention to keep playing until the age of 60.
Miura’s new contract runs until January amd is now in his 39th season as a professional
Miura is currently the world’s oldest footballer, a record that doesn’t look likely of being broken anytime soon.
Records have become part of Miura’s lengthy career having already established himself oldest scorer in the Japanese game and has enjoyed the longest professional career of any footballer in history.
