Kazuyoshi Miura

Kazuyoshi Miura
Personal information
Full name Kazuyoshi Miura
Date of birth February 26, 1967 (1967-02-26) (age 44)
Place of birth Shizuoka City, Japan
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in)
Playing position Striker, Winger
Club information
Current club Yokohama FC
Number 11
Youth career
1973–1979 Jonai F.C.
1979–1982 Jonai Jr. H.S.
1982 Shizuoka Gakuen H.S.
1982–1986 Clube Atlético Juventus
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1986 Santos 0 (0)
1986 Palmeiras
1986 Matsubara
1987 CRB
1987–1988 XV de Jaú
1989 Coritiba 21 (2)
1990 Santos 11 (3)
1990–1992 Yomiuri FC 39 (9)
1993–1994 Verdy Kawasaki 58 (36)
1994–1995 Genoa 21 (1)
1995–1998 Verdy Kawasaki 95 (55)
1999 Croatia Zagreb 12 (0)
1999–2000 Kyoto Purple Sanga 41 (21)
2001–2005 Vissel Kobe 103 (24)
2005– Yokohama FC 149 (18)
2005 → Sydney FC (loan) 4 (2)
National team‡
1990–2000 Japan 89 (55)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of February 26, 2011.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of February 26, 2011

Kazuyoshi Miura (三浦 知良 Miura Kazuyoshi, born on February 26, 1967),[1] often known simply as Kazu, is a Japanese football (soccer) striker. He has played for the Japanese national team and was the first Japanese recipient of the Asian Player of the Year award in 1993,[2] an award presented annually by the Asian Football Confederation.[3] He is currently with Yokohama FC in the J. League Division 2.[4][5] Kazu, whose rise to fame in Japan coincided with the launch of the J. League in 1993,[6] was arguably Japan's first superstar in football. 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 89 matches. Miura is currently the oldest footballer in Japan's professional leagues at 44.

Contents

Club career

In 1982 Miura left the Shizuoka Gakuen High School after less than a year, and travelled alone to Brazil at the age of fifteen to become a professional footballer there.[2] 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 Brazilian clubs including Palmeiras and Coritiba until his return to Japan in 1990.[2]

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.[1][7] 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.[2][8]

Miura then became the first Japanese footballer to play in Italy, joining Genoa C.F.C. in the 1994–1995 Serie A season.[2] In his Italian stint, he played 21 times and scored just 1 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.[2] Kazu made another attempt at playing in Europe with Dinamo Zagreb in 1999. He returned to Japan however, following a brief trial with A.F.C Bournemouth, in the same year, and played with Kyoto Purple Sanga and Vissel Kobe, before eventually signing for Yokohama FC in 2005.

He played with Sydney FC of the A-League on a 2 month loan in late 2005, appearing in league matches and the 2005 FIFA World Club Championship held in Japan. Kazu scored 2 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.[9]

Career statistics

As of February 10, 2011
Club Season League Cup League Cup Other* Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Yomiuri S.C. 1990–91 18 3 1 0 7 3 26 6
1991–92 21 6 5 2 4 1 30 9
Total 39 9 6 2 11 4 56 15
Verdy Kawasaki 1992 - 2 1 10 10 2 1 14 12
1993 36 20 3 3 1 0 2 2 42 25
1994 22 16 - 0 0 2 0 24 16
Total 58 36 5 4 11 10 6 3 80 53
Genoa 1994–95 21 1 - 1 0 1 0 23 1
Total 21 1 - 1 0 1 0 23 1
Verdy Kawasaki 1995 26 23 2 0 - 2 0 30 23
1996 27 23 5 4 6 2 1 1 39 30
1997 14 4 2 1 0 0 1 0 17 5
1998 28 5 3 2 0 0 - 31 7
Total 95 55 12 7 6 2 4 1 117 65
Croatia Zagreb 1998–99 12 0 - - - 12 0
Total 12 0 - - - 12 0
Kyoto Purple Sanga 1999 11 4 2 1 0 0 - 13 5
2000 30 17 1 0 7 2 - 38 19
Total 41 21 3 1 7 2 - 51 24
Vissel Kobe 2001 29 11 2 0 3 2 - 34 13
2002 17 3 0 0 1 0 - 18 3
2003 24 4 3 2 4 0 - 31 6
2004 21 4 0 0 5 0 - 26 4
2005 12 2 - 6 1 - 18 3
Total 103 24 5 2 19 3 - 127 29
Yokohama F.C. 2005 16 4 1 0 - - 17 4
Total 16 4 1 0 - - 17 4
Sydney FC 2005–06 4 2 - - 2 0 6 2
Total 4 2 - - 2 0 6 2
Yokohama F.C. 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 - -
Total 133 14 4 0 4 0 - 141 14
Career total 522 166 30 14 54 19 24 8 630 207

*Includes other competitive competitions, including the J. League Championship, Japanese Super Cup, Xerox Champions Cup, Serie A Play-off, Konica Cup, Sanwa Bank Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.

National team statistics

[10]

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  Côte d'Ivoire 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

Awards and honours

Japan

1992
1992

Club

Coritiba
1989
Yomiuri S.C.
1990–91, 1991–92
Verdy Kawasaki
1993
1996
1992, 1993
Croatia Zagreb
1998–99
Yokohama F.C.
2006

Individual

1993
1992
1992
1991–92
1990–91, 1991–92
1993
1996
1993, 1995, 1996
1992
1992, 1993
1993

References

  1. ^ a b Boa Sorte Kazu! - Museum - Profile - Personal Data
  2. ^ a b c d e f Boa Sorte Kazu! - Museum - Profile - Biodata
  3. ^ Asian Football Confederation's Asian Player of the Year winners since 1988
  4. ^ Jsoccer.com - Soccer in Japan - Football News - Japanese Soccer Information
  5. ^ :: National Football Teams ::.. Club - Yokohama FC
  6. ^ J.League Official Site
  7. ^ J.League Official Site
  8. ^ Asian Football Confederation's Asian Player of the Year winners since 1988
  9. ^ Ｊリーグ公式サイト：2007 JOMO ALLSTAR SOCCER：フォトギャラリー
  10. ^ Kazuyoshi "Kazu" Miura - Goals in International Matches

External links

Preceded by
Takanohana Kōji		 Japan Professional Sports Grand Prize Winner
1993		 Succeeded by
Ichiro Suzuki
Yokohama F.C. – current squad