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Agence France-Presse

Kazuyoshi Miura vowed Friday to show he still has what it takes aged 58 as the former Japan international striker gets set for his 41st professional football season.
Miura, known as “King Kazu”, joined third-division side Fukushima United on a six-month loan from Yokohama FC ahead of the new season starting in early February.
The forward, who will turn 59 next month, said he wanted to repay his new team’s faith in him with goals and assists.
“Strikers can score goals in bunches or they can go through dry spells, and you have to have an image in your mind of scoring goals,” he said at his official unveiling in Tokyo.
“It’s difficult to put a number on it but I definitely want to score and assist.
“I’d like to dribble down the left wing and whip in crosses,” he added.

Miura spent last season on loan with fourth-tier Atletico Suzuka, failing to score in seven appearances as the team were relegated to Japan’s regional leagues after finishing second bottom of the table and losing a playoff.
His move to Fukushima sees him return to the J-League – the top three divisions of Japanese football – for the first time in five years.
Miura made his professional debut in 1986 for Brazilian team Santos and has also played for teams in Italy, Croatia, Australia and Portugal.
He helped put football in Japan on the map when the professional J-League was launched in 1993.
Wearing a crisp suit, with his dark grey hair neatly combed, Miura said he wanted to “make a contribution” to his new team.
“Wherever I play, the challenge doesn’t change,” he said.
“I’m really grateful that I have been given the opportunity to take on this challenge.”
Miura made his Japan debut in 1990 but was famously left out of the squad for their first World Cup finals appearance in 1998, despite scoring 55 goals in 89 games for the national side.
He said his aim for the coming season was the same as always.
“I just want to be on the pitch, even for just one minute or one second longer,” he said.


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Japanese legend Kazuyoshi Miura ready to ‘make a contribution’ to his new J-League team at 58

Kazuyoshi Miura poses with third division J-League team Fukushima United’s football top during a press conference. Photo: AP

Kazuyoshi Miura made his professional debut in 1986 for Brazilian team Santos. Photo: AFP

Age is just a number: Japanese football player Kazuyoshi Miura signs for J-League team at 58

Kazuyoshi Miura (left) playing for U.D Oliveirense against Academico de Viseu FC in Portugal when he was 56 years old. Photo: AP

Kazuyoshi Miura (left) played against Sweden at the Hong Kong Stadium in 1996. Photo: SCMP

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Hong Kong’s Coleman Wong hits a return to Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti at Hong Kong Tennis Open. Photo: AFP

Coleman Wong puts away an overhead during his quarter-final exit. Photo: Elson Li

Lorenzo Musetti hits through a backhand on his way to downing Coleman Wong. Photo: Elson Li

Sport

Football

Miura made his Japan debut in 1990 but was famously left out of the squad for their first World Cup finals appearance in 1998.


Japanese legend Kazuyoshi Miura ready to ‘make a contribution’ to his new J-League team at 58

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Miura made his Japan debut in 1990 but was famously left out of the squad for their first World Cup finals appearance in 1998.

Miura made his Japan debut in 1990 but was famously left out of the squad for their first World Cup finals appearance in 1998.