Kazuyoshi Miura
Japan's second-highest all-time scorer and football pioneer.
via Wikipedia: Kazuyoshi Miura · see source
Kazuyoshi Miura, nicknamed King Kazu, is a Japanese professional footballer who played for the Japan national team from 1990 to 2000. He is the second most prolific goalscorer in the national team's history, with 55 goals in 89 caps, behind Kunishige Kamamoto. Miura was the first Japanese recipient of the IFFHS Asia's Footballer of the Year award. He is also the world's oldest professional player and holds the record for the world's longest professional career.
Quick Facts
- Height
- 1.77 m / 5 ft 10 in
- Born
- 26 February 1967
- Birthplace
- Shizuoka, Japan
- Position
- Forward
- Current club
- Fukushima United (on loan from Yokohama FC)
Lore & Background
Miura made his Japan national team debut on 26 September 1990 against Bangladesh during the 1990 Asian Games. In 1992, he played at the 1992 Asian Cup, scoring the winner in a group stage 1–0 win against Iran. Japan won the tournament, and Miura was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. During 1993 World Cup qualification, he played thirteen games and scored thirteen goals, though Japan failed to qualify. He also played at the 1994 Asian Games and the 1995 King Fahd Cup. In the 1996 Asian Cup, Miura scored the second goal in a group stage 4–0 win against Uzbekistan. During qualification for the 1998 World Cup, he scored fourteen times, leading Japan to their first ever World Cup appearance. Despite this, coach Takeshi Okada controversially left Miura out of the World Cup squad. He played for Japan for the first time in two years in February 2000, and played his last national team match later that year.
Reader's Guide
Kazuyoshi Miura debuted for Japan in September 1990 at the Asian Games. He played as a forward until 1997. His key international moments include: scoring the winner in a 1–0 group stage win against Iran at the 1992 Asian Cup, where Japan won the tournament and Miura was named MVP; scoring thirteen goals in thirteen games during 1994 World Cup qualification; and scoring fourteen goals during 1998 World Cup qualification, leading Japan to their first World Cup. He also played in the 1996 Asian Cup, scoring against Uzbekistan. After being left out of the 1998 World Cup squad, he played his final national team matches in 2000.
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