World’s oldest professional footballer, Kazu Miura is to continue with his playing career after signing for a new club, Suzuka Point Getters in Japan’s fourth tier.
Miura turns 55 next month, but is showing no signs of hanging up his boots just yet after joining the Point Getters.
The Point Getters didn’t get as many points as they might have hoped last season, finishing 21 points adrift of Iwaki FC in Japan’s fourth division.
But they will now have the services of veteran Miura after he joined them on a loan deal from Yokohama, where he has played since 2005.
Miura only managed a single minute of competitive action last term as Yokohama were relegated from Japan’s top-flight.
He made a cameo appearance against Urawa Reds in March, at age of 54 years and 12 days, which was enough for him to make football history as the world’s oldest active player.
Miura made his debut back in 1986 where he featured for Brazilian clubs Santos and Palmeiras where he elevated to a star status.
He scored 117 goals in 192 appearances for Kawasaki and was named Asian Footballer of the Year in 1992.
Two spells in Europe with Genoa and Dinamo Zagreb didn’t quite work out for Miura, and he returned to Japan again in 1999 with Kyoto Sanga.
His latest move will see him play his 37th season of professional football – and he has plans to continue on until he is 60 in a professional career spanning five decades.
