Soccer-Japan's King Kazu wants more after first appearance of 40th season
TOKYO, - Japan's Kazuyoshi "King Kazu" Miura made his first appearance of his 40th season as a professional footballer at the weekend and shows no sign of wanting to hang up his boots any time soon.
The former international forward, who turned 58 in February, came on as a late substitute in Atletico Suzuka's 2-1 win over YSCC Yokohama in the fourth tier of the Japanese pyramid on Sunday.
The popular striker signed an 18-month loan deal with Suzuka last June but a leg injury sustained in January had kept him on the sidelines from the start of this Japan Football League season.
"I hope to play again showing my character," Miura told Kyodo news agency after the match.
"I managed to play thanks to the support from everyone. I'm looking to stepping up a gear from here."
Miura made his first two appearances for Santos in the 1986 Brazilian Championship, having headed alone to South America to pursue his football dream as a 15-year-old.
He returned to Japan as an established international to join Verdy Kawasaki and helped them win the first two J.League titles in 1993 and 1994. He scored 55 goals in 89 appearances for Japan, the last of which came in 2000.
Miura, whose long club career has also included spells in Italy, Croatia, Australia and Portugal, still has a way to go to match Egyptian Ezzeldin Bahader's record of turning out for a professional team at the age of 74.
Given his commitment to the game, however, it might be foolish to write him off.
"When I was around 35 or 40, I did start saying to myself, 'I can't keep playing this way'," he told FIFA.com in April.
"Rather than giving any thought to quitting, it was more about pushing myself to give more. It's not so much that the word 'retire' isn't in my vocabulary, but more that I've never felt any desire to do it."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
32 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Boca Juniors vs Benfica LIVE streaming info: Where to watch FIFA Club World Cup 2025 match? Predicted lineups
Argentine club Boca Junior will kick off its FIFA Club World Cup 2025 campaign against Benfica of Portugal in their Group C match at the Hard Rock Stadium, Miami on Wednesday (IST) Both Boca vs Benfica qualified for the tournament through the ranking pathway system of CONMEBOL and UEFA. The 32-team revamped tournament began on Saturday in the United States with Lionel Messi's Inter Miami playing out a goalless draw against Egyptian side Al Ahly. The final is set to be played on July 14 at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. LIVESTREAM AND TELECAST INFO When will the Boca Juniors vs Benfica FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group stage kick off? The Boca Juniors vs Benfica FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group stage will kick off at 3:30 AM IST on Wednesday, June 17 at the Hard Rock Stadium, Miami. Where to watch the Boca Juniors vs Benfica FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group stage match? The Boca Juniors vs Benfica FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group stage will not be telecast anywhere in India. The match will be live-streamed on the DAZN webiste. PREDICTED LINEUPS Boca Junior: Marchesín; Blondel, Battaglia, Costa, Blanco; Belmonte, Delgado, Zenón; Palacios; Merentiel, Giménez Benfica: Trubin; Araújo, Otamendi, Silva, Carreras; Luis, Kökçü, Aursnes; Di Maria, Pavlidis, Aktürkoğlu. FULL SQUADS Boca Juniors (Argentina) Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero, Leandro Brey, Javier Garcia, Augustin Marchesin Defenders: Marcelo Saracchi, Marcos Rojo, Nicolas Figal, Marco Pellegrino, Rodrigo Battaglia, Luis Advincula, Frank Fabra, Lautaro Blanco, Juan Barinaga, Aryton Costa, Mateo Mendia, Lautaro di Lollo, Lucas Blondel, Walter Molas Midfielders: Carlos Palacios, Ignacio Miramon, Malcom Braida, Williams Alarcon, Agustin Martegani, Alan Velasco, Andre Herrera, Kevin Zenon, Tomas Belmonte, Camilo Rey Domenech, Milton Delgado, Santiago Dalmasso, Joaquin Ruiz Forwards: Exequiel Zeballos, Milton Gimenez, Edinson Cavani, Lucas Janson, Miguel Merentiel, Brian Aguirre Benfica (Portugal) Goalkeepers: Antonily Trubin, Diogo Ferreira, Andre Gomes Defenders: Alvaro Carreras, Antonio Silva, Samuel Dahl, Nicolas Otamendi, Rui Silva, Goncalo Oliveira, Joshua Wynder, Leandro Santos, Adrian Bajrami Midfielders: Fredrik Aursnes, Orkun Kokcu, Leandro Barreiro, Florentino Luis, Joao Veloso, Rafael Luis, Joao Rego, Renato Sanches, Diogo Prioste Forwards: Angel di Maria, Vangelis Pavlidis, Kerem Akturkoglu, Andrea Belotti, Andreas Schjelderup, Gianluca Prestianni, Bruma, Tiago Gouveia, Eduardo Fernandes
India Today
6 hours ago
- India Today
Who is Shohei Ohtani? Athlete who earns more from endorsements than Ronaldo, Messi
Shohei Ohtani is set to make a highly anticipated return to the mound as the starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the opening game of a four-game series against the visiting San Diego Padres, Major League Baseball (MLB) officials have globally for his rare dual-threat ability as both a dominant pitcher and a powerful hitter, Ohtani has redefined the modern baseball player. Born on July 5, 1994, in Oshu, Japan, he burst onto the MLB scene with the Los Angeles Angels in 2018 and quickly became one of the most electrifying talents in the sport, captivating fans with his extraordinary skill on both sides of the 2024, Ohtani signed a groundbreaking 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers-the largest contract in professional sports history at that time. Despite undergoing Tommy John surgery in September 2023, which kept him off the mound during the 2024 and 2025 seasons, Ohtani continued to excel offensively. In 2024, he led the National League with 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases, showcasing his resilience and versatility. Accordin to Forbes's World's 50 Highest-Paid Athletes, Ohtani stands out among the world's highest-earning athletes with total earnings of $102.5 million. What's remarkable is that $100 million of this comes from endorsements, while his on-field earnings are just $2.5 million. This is a stark contrast to stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, whose income mainly comes from playing leads the list with $275 million in total earnings, driven largely by his $225 million on-field salary and $50 million in endorsements. Stephen Curry follows with $156 million, thanks in part to $100 million from endorsements. Boxer Tyson Fury ranks third with $146 million, mostly from his fights. Other notable athletes include NFL quarterback Dak Prescott and soccer legend Lionel Messi, who earned $135 million with a strong endorsement global appeal has turned him into a marketing powerhouse. His $100 million endorsement earnings in 2025 surpass those of Ronaldo, Messi, LeBron James, and Tyson Fury. He partners with more than 20 major brands, including New Balance, Seiko, Porsche Japan, and Mitsubishi Bank. His popularity also benefits the Dodgers, who gained an estimated $70 million in additional revenue from Japanese sponsorships thanks to his of mid-2025, Ohtani is preparing for a pitching return with the Dodgers against the San Diego Padres. With three MLB Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards and historic achievements under his belt, he is regarded as one of the greatest dual-threat players in baseball history. Off the field, Ohtani is known for his humble demeanor. Recently, he married former basketball player Mamiko Tanaka, and the couple welcomed their first Ohtani's rare combination of on-field excellence and off-field marketability has not only changed the game but also made him a global sports icon and a powerful economic force in the industry.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
7 hours ago
- Business Standard
ASICS to boost India sportswear production to 40% amid import restrictions
ASICS, which competes with global rivals including Nike, Adidas, and Skechers USA in India, plans to open three new franchise stores per month between now and the end of the year Reuters Japanese sportswear giant ASICS will ramp up India manufacturing to 40% from 30% over the next few years to ensure steady supply, a top executive told Reuters, as the country's regulations force global brands to pause imports of footwear. The Indian government has mandated certain standards for various footwear segments, requiring both domestic and foreign manufacturers to obtain quality certifications. ASICS, which has also paused imports, said bringing in footwear from any country is not feasible without government certification. "To address this critical situation, we are strategically developing local production capabilities," ASICS India Managing Director Rajat Khurana said. For financial year 2024-25, ASICS reached 30% local production, a government-mandated threshold that allows foreign brands to operate their own single-brand stores in India. The firm, which operates roughly 125 stores through franchise partners, plans to open its first brand-owned store this year and is scouting locations in and around Delhi and Mumbai, Khurana said. It aims to set up a couple more over the next few years. ASICS, which competes with global rivals including Nike, Adidas, and Skechers USA in India, also plans to open three new franchise stores per month between now and the end of the year. For 2024-25, ASICS projected revenue growth of 35%-37% in India, following a 26% jump in the previous fiscal year that lifted its revenue to Rs.428 crores. Known for its running shoes, ASICS is benefiting from a growing fitness culture in India and rising interest in tennis and pickleball among affluent urban consumers. The local sporting goods and apparel category is expected to double to $58 billion by 2030 from 2023 levels, according to a 2024 report by consultancy firm Deloitte.
