Author: Amrit Santlani
The world’s oldest active footballer, 56-year-old Kazuyoshi Miura, recently extended his contract with Portuguese second division club Oliveirense, thus prolonging his tenure as the world’s oldest professional footballer.
While ordinary footballers decide to hang up their boots at the age of 40 and some retire early, Miura has continued well beyond that and should remain for a long time.
The former Japan international had joined Oliveirense on loan from Yokohama in the January transfer window and is expected to extend his stay at his new club for an undisclosed period. The striker played just 28 minutes of soccer after joining Oliveirense, which has the same Japanese owners as Yokohama.
In his three substitute appearances this year, Miura won the man of the match award on the final day of the second division season, after playing 26 minutes in the 4-3 win over Leixões.
The game ended in rather dramatic circumstances and the Leixões coach was not at all pleased, as he considered the Miura he was playing to be “offensive” and accused Oliveirense of turning the game into a “circus”.
The world’s oldest professional footballer began his career with the renowned Brazilian club Santos in 1986. He had brief spells with Palmeiras and Coritiba, before playing for Vissel Kobe and later joining Yokohoma in 2005, where he has remained ever since.
He was initially loaned out to Sydney FC and Suzuka Point Getters before his move to Portugal.
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Coincidentally, Suzuka, a fourth division club, is coached by Miura’s older brother, Yasutoshi, and he ended up scoring two goals for the club during his one-year spell.
With 89 caps for Japan, the striker has a prolific scoring record, having netted 55 goals, although his last international appearance was 23 years ago.
Miura has always said that he would like to continue playing until he is 60.