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Japanese footballer Kazu Miura, has emerged the world’s oldest professional footballer. He has broken a long standing record held by Sir Stanley Matthews’ as he became the oldest footballer to ever play in a professional game at the age of 50 years and 7 days.
Miura, who currently plays for Second division side, Yokohama FC in Japan, retired from the national team in 2000 after winning 89 caps. He is currently in his 32nd season of professional football.
Matthews, the former record holder, played and retired at Stoke City in 1965 at the age of 50.
Reacting to the fact that he had broken Matthews’ record, Miura told FIFA.com: ‘I don’t actually feel like I’ve gone past a legend. I may have surpassed him in longevity but I won’t ever be able to match his statistics and the career he had.’
Miura played 54 minutes in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with V-Varen Nagasaki, enough to move past the record Matthews set when he played for Stoke City against Fulham at the age of 50 years and five days in 1965.
Miura played for Brazilian club Santos and in Italy with Genoa earlier in his career, as well as a number of clubs in his homeland during what became a golden age for Japanese football.
The striker made his professional debut in 1986 and became famous during his career for his ‘Kazu dance’ when he celebrated scoring goals.