01 February 2023 , 18:39
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Japanese icon Kazuyoshi Miura has joined Portuguese side Oliveirense on loan from parent club Yokohama - just weeks before his 56th birthday.
Miura, 55, is in his fifth decade as a professional player after starting his career with Brazilian side Santos in 1986. He has struggled for minutes at Yokohama this season but has no plans to retire and is set for a spell in Portugal's second tier.
Miura, who wants to continue playing until he is 60, has promised Oliveirense fans he will "work hard" in their bid for promotion. It is the veteran's first spell in Portugal after previously showcasing his talents in Brazil, Croatia, Australia and, of course, Japan.
Miura will celebrate his 56th birthday on February 26 - one day after Oliveirense's league game against Moreirense. "Even though this is a new place for me, I'll work hard to show everyone the kind of play I'm known for," said the experienced campaigner.
Yokohama own a majority stake in Oliveirense, thus making the loan move possible. Miura spent last season on loan at Suzuka Point Getters, who compete in the fourth tier of Japanese football and are managed by his older brother Yasutoshi.
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Miura is finding it difficult to play regularly for Yokohama, who won promotion back to the J1 League - the top level of Japanese football - in 2019 after more than a decade in the second tier. He has not played for Yokohama in the J1 League since March 2021.
Kazuyoshi Miura will turn 56 later this month (Getty Images)When do you think Kazuyoshi Miura will retire? Let us know in the comments below!
Known as 'King Kazu', Miura is one of Japan's most popular sporting figures. After playing for a number of clubs in Brazil, the forward joined Tokyo Verdy in 1990 and won 11 trophies during the next eight years - including four Japanese league titles.
Miura was one of the biggest names in the J1 League when it launched in 1992. To put this into perspective, Gary Lineker - who has not played professionally for nearly 30 years - was another one of the league's marque players after signing for Nagoya Grampus.
Miura left Japan for a brief spell with Dinamo Zagreb - winning the Croatian league title - before returning to Japan to play for Kyoto Sanga. He then represented Vissel Kobe before joining Yokohama in 2005. He also had a brief loan spell with Sydney in Australia.
The legendary star also enjoyed a long and successful career at international level. He scored 55 goals in 89 senior games for Japan between 1990 and 2000, with only Kunishige Kamamoto scoring more (80 goals). Miura won the Asian Cup with Japan in 1992.
Miura has broke a number of records. He is the oldest scorer in the Japanese game and has enjoyed the longest professional career of any footballer in history. He is also the oldest active professional footballer, as his career has spanned five decades.
"I think I will [always] be involved in football in one way or another," Miura told FIFA in February 2021. "I don't know how long I'll be playing. It could be tomorrow, it could be two or three years from now."