Japanese soccer star Kazuyoshi Miura extended his decades-long playing career on Wednesday less than a month before his 56th birthday, joining Portuguese second division side Oliveirense on loan.
Miura, known as “King Kazu” in his native country, made his debut in 1986 for Brazilian side Santos and played 37 seasons as a professional.
His move to Portugal will see him play in a sixth country after spells in Brazil, Japan, Italy, Croatia and Australia.
Last season he played for Japanese fourth division team Suzuka Point Getters, managed by his older brother Yasutoshi on loan from J-League side Yokohama FC.
Yokohama’s parent company acquired a majority stake in Oliveirense in November.
“Even though this is a new place for me, I will work hard to show everyone the kind of game I’m known for,” he said in a statement released by Yokohama.
Miura scored two goals – one from a penalty and one with a header – in 18 appearances last season for Suzuka, who finished ninth in the table.
He will line up at Oliveirense alongside Christian Kendji Wagatsuma Ferreira – a Japanese-born Brazilian who received the nickname ‘Kazu’ as a young player.
Miura turns 56 on February 26 and has said he wants to continue playing until he turns 60.
One of Asia’s best-known footballers of the 1990s, he helped put the game in Japan on the map when the professional J-League was launched in 1993.
He left Japan for Brazil in 1982 and signed a contract with Santos in 1986.
Miura made his Japan debut in 1990 and was left out of his country’s squad for his first World Cup final appearance in 1998, despite scoring 55 goals in 89 appearances for the national team.
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