Miura, known as “King Kazu”, joined third-division side Fukushima United on a six-month loan ahead of the new season starting in early February. The forward, who will turn 59 next month, said he wanted to repay his new team’s faith in him with goals and assists.
“Strikers can score goals in bunches or they can go through dry spells, and you have to have an image in your mind of scoring goals,” he told reporters at his official unveiling in Tokyo. “It’s difficult to put a number on it but I definitely want to score and assist.
“I’d like to dribble down the left wing and whip in crosses,” he added. Miura made his professional debut in 1986 for Brazilian team Santos and has also played for teams in Italy, Croatia, Australia and Portugal. He helped put football in Japan on the map when the professional J. League was launched in 1993.
He spent last season with fourth-tier Atletico Suzuka, making eight goal-less appearances as the team were relegated to Japan’s regional leagues after finishing second bottom of the table and losing a playoff. Wearing a crisp suit, with his dark grey hair neatly combed, Miura said he wanted to “make a contribution” to his new team.
“Wherever I play, the challenge doesn’t change,” he said. “I’m really grateful that I have been given the opportunity to take on this challenge.” Miura’s move to Fukushima sees him return to the J. League — the top three divisions of Japanese football — for the first time in five years.
He made his Japan debut in 1990 but was famously left out of the squad for their first World Cup finals appearance in 1998, despite scoring 55 goals in 89 games for the national side. He said his aim for the coming season was the same as always. “I just want to be on the pitch, even for just one minute or one second longer,” he said.
Platform with AFP
