The oldest professional footballer in the world, Kazuyoshi Miura , signed a new contract with Yokohoma FC.
The player, nicknamed “King Kazu” in Japan, will celebrate his 54 birthday on 26 February , one day before the new J-League campaign starts.
Miura is already preparing for his season number 36 as a player after signing an extension of 12 months.
Kazuyoshi Miura turns 54 years in February. What did you just do? Renew your professional contract with Yokohama FC. The legend continues! pic.twitter.com/QPKg5FaAu7
– SportsCenter (@SC_ESPN) January 11, 2021
This will be his seventeenth year in the club after signing for them in 2005. The former Japan striker last scored against Thespakusatsu Gunma in 2017 in the second division.
That goal was became the oldest player to score in a Japanese professional league game at 50 years and 14 days.
Miura began his career with Santos in Brazil in 1986, was also the protagonist of the football boom in his country at the beginning of the 90 when the J-League was launched.
The veteran also played Italian Serie A with Genoa and had stints in Croatia and Australia, as well as other Japanese teams.
Miura helped Japan to achieve Asian Cup glory in 1992, but sadly missed representing them in their first World Cup appearance in the 98.