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The Portuguese second-division club announced today, Tuesday, that former Japan international Kazuyoshi Miura, 56, has extended his loan period to Olivernes, becoming the oldest active professional football player.
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10:57 | Updated at 10:58
Kazuyoshi Miura, 56, extended his contract with Portugal’s D2 Oliveira on Tuesday, becoming the oldest active professional footballer.
The former Japan international arrived in Portugal last February on loan from Yokohama and will stay there for at least one more season. Because Miura is not yet ready to hang up the tapes, and wants to continue playing until he is 60 years old. “There will be times when I am not in the matches, but I want to stay motivated and do my best where I can,” he recently told Nikkan Sports daily.
Known as “King Kazuo” in his country, Miura made his professional debut in 1986 with Brazilian club Santos and has also played in Japan, Italy, Croatia and Australia. He has played with the national team since 1990, but was left out when the “Samurai Blue” made their World Cup debut in 1998, despite scoring 55 goals in 89 matches for the national team.
