Kazuyoshi Miura vowed Friday to show he still has what it takes at the age of 58, as the former Japan international striker prepares for his 41st professional season.
Miura, known as ‘King Kazu’, has been loaned out to third division side Fukushima United for six months ahead of the new season starting in early February.
The forward, who turns 59 next month, said he wanted to repay his new team’s faith in him with goals and assists.
«Attackers can score goals in bunches or they can go through dry spells, and you have to have a picture in your mind of scoring goals,» he told reporters at his official unveiling in Tokyo.
“It’s difficult to put a number on it, but I definitely want to score and assist.
READ | Age is just a number: the 58-year-old ‘King Kazu’ of Japan continues to play football
“I would like to dribble down the left flank and make crosses,” he added.
Miura made his professional debut in 1986 for Brazilian side Santos and also played for teams in Italy, Croatia, Australia and Portugal.
He helped put football on the map in Japan when the professional J. League was launched in 1993.
He spent last season at fourth-tier Atletico Suzuka, making eight goalless appearances as the team was relegated to the Japanese regional leagues after finishing second bottom of the table and losing a play-off.
Wearing a crisp suit and his dark gray hair neatly combed, Miura said he wanted to “contribute” to his new team.
“No matter where I play, the challenge doesn’t change,” he said.
“I am very grateful that I have been given the opportunity to take on this challenge.”
Miura’s move to Fukushima sees him return to the J. League, the three top divisions of Japanese football, for the first time in five years.
He made his Japan debut in 1990 but was famously left out of the squad for his first World Cup final in 1998, despite scoring 55 goals in 89 games for the national team.
He said his goal for next season was the same as always.
“I just want to be on the field, even if it’s just a minute or a second longer,” he said.
Published on January 9, 2026
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