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Kazuyoshi Miura (三浦 知良, Miura Kazuyoshi, born on 26 February 1967), often known simply as Kazu (his nicknamed King Kazu), is a Japanese footballer. He played for the Japanese national team and was the first Japanese recipient of the Asian Player of the Year award in 1993, an award presented annually by the Asian Football Confederation. He currently plays for Yokohama FC in the J. League Division 2. Kazu, whose rise to fame in Japan coincided with the launch of the J. League in 1993, was arguably Japan's first superstar in football.
Miura scored fourteen times for Japan during qualification for the 1998 FIFA World Cup, leading the Blue Samurai to their first ever FIFA World Cup finals. He played his last national team match in 2000, and finished with the second-most career goals in Japanese national team history with 55 goals in 200 matches.
Miura holds the records for being the oldest footballer and oldest goalscorer in Japan's professional leagues at aged 49. His elder brother Yasutoshi was also a professional footballer.
Club career
In 1982, Miura left the Shizuoka Gakuen School after less than a year, and travelled alone to Brazil at the age of fifteen to become a professional footballer there. He signed with Clube Atlético Juventus, a youth club in São Paulo, and in 1986, Kazu signed his first professional contract with Santos. He played for several other Brazilian clubs including Palmeiras and Coritiba until his return to Japan in 1990.
His time in Brazil elevated him to star status and on his return to Japan, he joined the Japan Soccer League side Yomiuri FC, which later spun off from its parent company Yomiuri Shinbun and became Verdy Kawasaki with the launch of the J. League in 1993. With Yomiuri/Kawasaki, Kazu won four consecutive league titles playing alongside fellow Japanese national team regulars Ruy Ramos and Tsuyoshi Kitazawa. Yomiuri won the last two JSL titles in 1991 and 1992 and Verdy Kawasaki won the first two J. League titles in 1993 and 1994. He was named the first J. League Most Valuable Player in 1993 and the last unofficial Asian Footballer of the Year in 1993.
Miura then became the first Japanese footballer to play in Italy, joining Genoa C.F.C. in the 1994–95 Serie A season. In his Italian stint, he played 21 times and scored just one goal, during the Genoa derby against Sampdoria. He returned to Verdy Kawasaki for the 1995 season and played with them until the end of the 1998 season. Kazu made another attempt at playing in Europe with Dinamo Zagreb in 1999. He returned to Japan however, following a brief trial with Bournemouth, in the same year, and played with Kyoto Purple Sanga and Vissel Kobe, before eventually signing for Yokohama F.C. in 2005.
He played with Sydney FC of the A-League on a two-month loan in late 2005, appearing in league matches and the 2005 FIFA World Club Championship held in Japan. Kazu scored two goals in his second A-League match, a 3–2 defeat at league leaders Adelaide United.
He is known for his trade mark Kazu Feint and his famous Kazu dance when he scores great goals or great plays. In 2007, Kazuyoshi Miura was selected for the 2007 JOMO All Stars match for J-East and played exceptionally well.
In November 2015, Miura signed a new one-year contract with Yokohama FC at the age of 48. In January 2017, Miura signed another new one-year contract with Yokohoma, taking his professional career into his 50s.
Career statistics
Club statistics
Updated to 11 January 2017.
| Club | Season | League | Emperor's Cup | J. League Cup | Other1 | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Yokohama FC | 2006 | 39 | 6 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 39 | 6 | ||
| 2007 | 24 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | – | 30 | 3 | ||
| 2008 | 30 | 1 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 32 | 1 | |||
| 2009 | 30 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 30 | 1 | |||
| 2010 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 10 | 3 | |||
| 2011 | 30 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 31 | 0 | |||
| 2012 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 14 | 1 | |||
| 2013 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 18 | 2 | |||
| 2014 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 2 | 0 | |||
| 2015 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 16 | 3 | |||
| 2016 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 20 | 2 | |||
| 2017 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 0 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 233 | 22 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | – | 242 | 22 | ||
1Includes Japanese Super Cup.
National team statistics
| Japan national team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 1990 | 3 | 0 |
| 1991 | 2 | 0 |
| 1992 | 11 | 2 |
| 1993 | 16 | 16 |
| 1994 | 8 | 5 |
| 1995 | 12 | 6 |
| 1996 | 12 | 6 |
| 1997 | 19 | 18 |
| 1998 | 1 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 | 5 | 2 |
| Total | 89 | 55 |
International goals
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | August 26, 1992 | Beijing, China |  North Korea | 4-1 | Won | 1992 Dynasty Cup |
| 2. | November 3, 1992 | Hiroshima, Japan |  Iran | 1-0 | Won | 1992 AFC Asian Cup Group Stage |
| 3. | March 14, 1993 | Tokyo, Japan |  United States | 3-1 | Won | Friendly |
| 4. | March 14, 1993 | Tokyo, Japan | United States | 3-1 | Won | Friendly |
| 5. | April 8, 1993 | Kobe, Japan |  Thailand | 1-0 | Won | 1994 FIFA World Cup Qualification |
| 6. | April 11, 1993 | Tokyo, Japan |  Bangladesh | 8-0 | Won | 1994 FIFA World Cup Qualification |
| 7. | April 11, 1993 | Tokyo, Japan | Bangladesh | 8-0 | Won | 1994 FIFA World Cup Qualification |
| 8. | April 11, 1993 | Tokyo, Japan | Bangladesh | 8-0 | Won | 1994 FIFA World Cup Qualification |
| 9. | April 11, 1993 | Tokyo, Japan | Bangladesh | 8-0 | Won | 1994 FIFA World Cup Qualification |
| 10. | April 15, 1993 | Tokyo, Japan |  Sri Lanka | 5-0 | Won | 1994 FIFA World Cup Qualification |
| 11. | April 15, 1993 | Tokyo, Japan | Sri Lanka | 5-0 | Won | 1994 FIFA World Cup Qualification |
| 12. | April 30, 1993 | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | Bangladesh | 4-1 | Won | 1994 FIFA World Cup Qualification |
| 13. | May 5, 1993 | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | Sri Lanka | 6-0 | Won | 1994 FIFA World Cup Qualification |
| 14. | October 4, 1993 | Tokyo, Japan |  Ivory Coast | 1-0 | Won | Afro-Asian Cup of Nations |
| 15. | October 21, 1993 | Doha, Qatar | North Korea | 3-0 | Won | 1994 FIFA World Cup Qualification |
| 16. | October 21, 1993 | Doha, Qatar | North Korea | 3-0 | Won | 1994 FIFA World Cup Qualification |
| 17. | October 25, 1993 | Doha, Qatar |  South Korea | 1-0 | Won | 1994 FIFA World Cup Qualification |
| 18. | October 28, 1993 | Doha, Qatar |  Iraq | 2-2 | Drew | 1994 FIFA World Cup Qualification |
| 19. | July 8, 1994 | Nagoya, Japan |  Ghana | 3-2 | Won | Friendly |
| 20. | July 8, 1994 | Nagoya, Japan | Ghana | 3-2 | Won | Friendly |
| 21. | July 14, 1994 | Kobe, Japan | Ghana | 2-1 | Won | Friendly |
| 22. | October 3, 1994 | Hiroshima, Japan |  United Arab Emirates | 1-1 | Drew | 1994 Asian Games Group Stage |
| 23. | October 11, 1994 | Hiroshima, Japan | South Korea | 2-3 | Lost | 1994 Asian Games Quarter-Finals |
| 24. | January 8, 1995 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |  Argentina | 1-5 | Lost | 1995 King Fahd Cup Group Stage |
| 25. | May 28, 1995 | Tokyo, Japan |  Ecuador | 3-0 | Won | Friendly |
| 26. | May 28, 1995 | Tokyo, Japan | Ecuador | 3-0 | Won | Friendly |
| 27. | September 20, 1995 | Tokyo, Japan |  Paraguay | 1-2 | Lost | Friendly |
| 28. | October 24, 1995 | Tokyo, Japan |  Saudi Arabia | 2-1 | Won | Friendly |
| 29. | October 28, 1995 | Tokyo, Japan | Saudi Arabia | 2-1 | Won | Friendly |
| 30. | February 19, 1996 | Hong Kong, China |  Poland | 5-0 | Won | Friendly |
| 31. | May 26, 1996 | Tokyo, Japan |  Yugoslavia | 1-0 | Won | Friendly |
| 32. | May 29, 1996 | Fukuoka, Japan |  Mexico | 3-2 | Won | Friendly |
| 33. | August 25, 1996 | Osaka, Japan |  Uruguay | 5-3 | Won | Friendly |
| 34. | August 25, 1996 | Osaka, Japan | Uruguay | 5-3 | Won | Friendly |
| 35. | December 9, 1996 | Al Ain, United Arab Emirates |  Uzbekistan | 4-0 | Won | 1996 AFC Asian Cup Group Stage |
| 36. | March 15, 1997 | Bangkok, Thailand | Thailand | 1-3 | Lost | Friendly |
| 37. | March 15, 1997 | Muscat, Oman |  Macau | 10-0 | Won | 1998 FIFA World Cup Qualification |
| 38. | March 15, 1997 | Muscat, Oman | Macau | 10-0 | Won | 1998 FIFA World Cup Qualification |
| 39. | May 21, 1997 | Tokyo, Japan | South Korea | 1-1 | Drew | Friendly |
| 40. | June 8, 1997 | Tokyo, Japan |  Croatia | 4-3 | Won | Friendly |
| 41. | June 8, 1997 | Tokyo, Japan | Croatia | 4-3 | Won | Friendly |
| 42. | June 22, 1997 | Tokyo, Japan | Macau | 10-0 | Won | 1998 FIFA World Cup Qualification |
| 43. | June 22, 1997 | Tokyo, Japan | Macau | 10-0 | Won | 1998 FIFA World Cup Qualification |
| 44. | June 22, 1997 | Tokyo, Japan | Macau | 10-0 | Won | 1998 FIFA World Cup Qualification |
| 45. | June 22, 1997 | Tokyo, Japan | Macau | 10-0 | Won | 1998 FIFA World Cup Qualification |
| 46. | June 22, 1997 | Tokyo, Japan | Macau | 10-0 | Won | 1998 FIFA World Cup Qualification |
| 47. | June 22, 1997 | Tokyo, Japan | Macau | 10-0 | Won | 1998 FIFA World Cup Qualification |
| 48. | June 25, 1997 | Tokyo, Japan |  Nepal | 3-0 | Won | 1998 FIFA World Cup Qualification |
| 49. | June 25, 1997 | Tokyo, Japan | Nepal | 3-0 | Won | 1998 FIFA World Cup Qualification |
| 50. | September 7, 1997 | Tokyo, Japan | Uzbekistan | 6-3 | Won | 1998 FIFA World Cup Qualification |
| 51. | September 7, 1997 | Tokyo, Japan | Uzbekistan | 6-3 | Won | 1998 FIFA World Cup Qualification |
| 52. | September 7, 1997 | Tokyo, Japan | Uzbekistan | 6-3 | Won | 1998 FIFA World Cup Qualification |
| 53. | September 7, 1997 | Tokyo, Japan | Uzbekistan | 6-3 | Won | 1998 FIFA World Cup Qualification |
| 54. | February 16, 2000 | Macau, China |  Brunei | 9-0 | Won | 2000 AFC Asian Cup Qualification |
| 55. | June 6, 2000 | Casablanca, Morocco |  Jamaica | 4-0 | Won | Friendly |