<strong>Together, let's make a legacy'</strong> - Kazuyoshi Miura, fifty-eight, joins new team.

The legendary Japanese striker, who turns 59 in February and is recognized globally as football's most senior pro, has finalized a temporary transfer until June with J3 League club Fukushima United.

This move means Miura might feature in the Japanese professional league - encompassing the highest tiers of football in Japan - for the first time in half a decade.

The ex-international forward, who began his professional journey with the Brazilian club Santos in 1986, did not find the net in just over an hour across seven outings last season while on loan at JFL side Atletico Suzuka.

"My love for the game remains undimmed, no matter how old I get," he said as he prepares for a forty-first campaign as a pro footballer.
"I am truly thankful to be given this opportunity. I promise I will play with everything I have to help the team. Together, we can create a legacy!"

Known as 'King Kazu' in Japan, this will be Miura's fourth temporary move since 2022 from second division club Yokohama FC.

Miura, who has also played club football in Italy, Croatia and Australia, joined the club in 2005 but has remained absent from the pitch for them since 2020.

He scored 55 goals in 89 games in an career for the national team that ended in 2000, two years after his surprising exclusion from the squad for Japan's maiden FIFA World Cup campaign.

The footballer, who has talked of continuing his career into his seventh decade, said he was ready to "embrace a fresh test" after being relegated last season to the country's lower regional divisions.

Fukushima United ended the season in tenth place in the 20-team J3 League last season.

Jordan Bonilla
Jordan Bonilla

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