Ageless Japanese footballer plays beyond 50

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Fifty-five-year-old former Japan striker Kazuyoshi Miura has extended his record as the J-League's oldest player after signing on the dotted line once again with Yokohama FC. The club has announced the contract renewal of the player, who will turn 52 next month.

The second division club said on Friday that the ageless wonder, admiringly nicknamed "King Kazu" for his spirited on-field style, will start his 34th career season this year.

"I thank fans for supporting me all the time," Miura said, issuing a brief statement.

"I want to work out at full stretch every day... and play as many games as possible by making every minute count," the veteran footballer added.

In 2017, Miura eclipsed the game's previous professional longevity record and became the oldest player to score a competitive goal in a professional match.

Kazuyoshi Miura in action during the Japanese League J2 match between Yokohama FC and Kamatamare Sanuki in Yokohama, Japan, August 18, 2018. /VCG Photo

Both records were previously held by English football legend Stanley Matthews.

Last year, Miura played nine games for Yokohama but failed to find the target in any of those games. He left Japan to try playing in Brazil in 1982. He made his professional debut after signing a contract with Brazilian club Santos FC in 1986.

His Japan debut came in 1990 and was part of the team that pushed towards Japan's first World Cup appearance in 1998. However, the ace footballer failed to join the final squad for France despite scoring a whopping 55 goals in 89 games for the Japanese side.

When the J-league was launched in 1993, Miura was one of the stars of the professional J-League before joining Italy's Genoa on loan the following year.

He has been playing for Yokohama since 2005 and has stated that he wants to play until he turns 60. Incidentally, Yokohama lost in the first division playoffs last year and their 2019 season in tier two will kick off on February 24.