TOKYO (Japan): 53-year-old Japanese footballer Kazuyoshi Miura, known as “King Kazu”, proved on Wednesday he was worthy of his crown for his latest record-setting appearance in J-League first-division.
Miura was in the starting line-up for Yokohama FC’s clash against Kawasaki Frontale, and at 53 years, six months and 28 days old easily smashed the record for oldest-ever J-League first division starter set by Masashi Nakayama in 2012.
Nakayama was a comparative spring chicken when he set the record aged just 45.
Kazu has already set records this year, becoming the oldest player in Japan’s league cup competition. He was named in a J-1 squad earlier this month, but stayed on the bench.
“King Kazu once again wrote a new chapter in the history of Japanese football,” the Nikkan Sports daily triumphantly declared.
Sports Nippon said spectators were hard pressed to believe the “valiant performance” was by a 53-year-old.
“Kazu is our pride,” J-League chairman Mitsuru Murai said.
“This great record that will go down in history will be a bright light… for all active players as well as children dreaming of being future players,” he added.
Wednesday’s appearance was Kazu’s first in a J-1 match since 2007 and garnered plenty of attention
“Impressive! Kazu is my hero,” one of his fans tweeted. “Thanks to him, I became a football fan. He’s forever young.” (Source: AFC)
