japan news
sports
Tokyo – (Jiji Press)– Fukushima United FC announced on Tuesday that it had signed a contract with Japanese football legend Kazuyoshi Miura (58 years old), known as “King Kazuo”, to join its ranks in the third division of the Japanese Professional League (J3 League).
Miura, a former international striker with the longest active professional career in the history of world football, will join the team on loan until June 2026, marking his first return to the J-League since leaving Yokohama FC in 2021.
Miura said in an official statement published by the club: “I am very happy to join Fukushima United. I will take on a new challenge with young colleagues full of energy. My passion for football does not change no matter how old I get, and I will do everything I can to help the team achieve its goals.”
This contract comes after a season that Kazuo spent with Club Atletico Suzuka in the Japanese Football League (JFL), the highest amateur level in the country, where he scored 3 goals in 18 matches despite his advanced age. Fukushima United, located in Fukushima Prefecture affected by the 2011 disaster, is one of the clubs focusing on building a new generation while benefiting from the experience of veteran players.
Miura holds the world record as the oldest professional football player in history, as he began his professional career in 1986 with the Brazilian club Santos, and is still playing today at the age of 58. His arrival is expected to create a sensation in the third league, attracting fans to Tazuka Stadium and inspiring young players with his story of determination and never-ending passion.
(Original text in English, Jiji Press)
