The oldest player in the world to continue his career, Japanese Kazuyoshi Miura, turns 52 today.
The forward began his professional career in 1986 at the age of 19. He joined Santos, because he had stayed in Brazil since 1982, playing for CA Juventus junior teams. Another seasons until 1990 he spent in South America, but then he came back to homeland. In the same year he was called up to the national team for the first time.
In Japan he joined Yomiuri and for this team he scored 100 goals. In 1993 he became the first Japanese to receive Asian Player Of The Year title.
A year later he joined Genoa CFC on loan, becoming the first Japanese in Serie A. During one he scored only once, so he came back to Country of Cherry Blossom.
In 1999 he had a second chance to conquer Europe, but for Dinamo Zagreb he played only 12 times. After that episode he decided to continue his career in Japan, where he has been playing until today.
In 2000 he decided to retire from national football after 10 years. In this time in 89 matches he scored 55 goals, becoming the second best goalscorer in history of Japan national team.
In 2005 he joined his current club, Yokohama FC. He was 38. In the same year he decided to sightsee a new continent, joining on loan Sydney FC. In 2017 he broke the record for the oldest still-playing footballer and the oldest goalscorer. It would seem like it is time to retire from football, but he renewed his contract in 2018 and did the same again a month ago.
Happy birthday!
[photo: Aflo/REX]
