The Oldest Player In The World Doesn't Want To Retire Yet, Now He Continues His 36-Year Career In Football By Joining a Portuguese Club

The oldest player in the world, Kazu Miura. (Photo: Instagram/@kingkazumiura)

JAKARTA - It seems that Kazu Miura has not thought about retiring from the world of football. The oldest player in the world has reportedly signed a contract with a new club.

The 55-year-old player is continuing a career that has spanned 36 years.

Miura, who is nicknamed "King Kazu", had indeed revealed his plan to continue playing until he was 60 years old, earlier this year.

According to reports from Japanese outlet Nikkan Sport, he will now join Portuguese second-division side Oliveirense.

Miura who played before Lionel Messi was born, was seen at the airport bound for Portugal on Wednesday, December 7, ahead of the move.

The player who spent a decade as a star for the Japanese national team started his professional career in 1986 with the Brazilian club, Santos.

Since then, he has changed clubs 14 times! However, Miura spent 17 years with Yokohama FC before being loaned out to Suzuka Point Getters earlier this year.

The Japanese legend first became a star in the early 90s when he beat England legend Gary Lineker, for the most valuable player award in the J-League. At that time, Lineker defended Grampus Eight.

The striker played 117 goals in 192 appearances for Verdy Kawasaki and was named Asian Footballer of the Year in 1992. He also beat Lineker to the award.

That's what brought him to the Italian club Genoa as a loan player. After that, he moved permanently to Dinamo Zagreb Croatia

Miura then returned to Japan in 1999 by joining the club Kyoto Sanga.

He next played for Vissel Kobe for five seasons, before moving to Yokohama in 2005.

Miura also spent a decade playing for Japan between 1990 and 2000, scoring a sensational 55 goals in 89 appearances.

But he so badly never made it to the World Cup as Japan failed to qualify in 1994 and he was controversially left out of their squad for the 1998 tournament.