World’s oldest footballer ‘King Kazu’ signs new deal

The world’s oldest professional footballer, and oldest professional goalscorer, Kazuyoshi Miura commonly known as ‘King Kazu’ has signed a new deal at J-League Yokohama FC meaning he will be 54 years of age the day before next season begins in February.

Miura holds the record of being the oldest goalscorer in any professional league in the world scoring at the age of 50, and similarly is the oldest active footballer in any professional league at the current age of 53.

Miura played four times last season, and mainly features in cup games, but the aging striker has an extensive dynasty in Japan where he played for the national team for 10 years between 1990 and 2000, and has been with Yokohama since 2005.

Miura has been playing professional football since 1986 when he traveled to Brazil to make a name for himself and debuted for Santos, facing off against the likes of Brazilian legend Zico who was still playing for Flamengo.

The record holder plays for a side that features 42-year-old Celtic legend and free-kick wizard Shunsuke Nakamura, while the likes of Andrés Iniesta and Thomas Vermaelen still start for Vissel Kobe, where they were previously joined by Lukas Podolski and David Villa.