Japan's 'King Kazu' set to play on into his 50s

49 and still going strong

(Reuters) - Japanese striker Kazuyoshi Miura will extend one of soccer's longest professional careers by 12 months after the 49-year-old agreed a new deal with second division Yokohama FC on Wednesday.

Miura, who scored 55 goals in 89 appearances for Japan prior to his international retirement in 2000, is set for his 32nd season as a professional.

"I hope to keep fighting with all my might together with people involved with the club, my team-mates and supporters who have always given me support," said Miura, who turns 50 on Feb. 26.

Miura has scored 55 goals in 89 games for Japan but hasn’t appeared in the World Cup. He came closest in 1994 – He scored the opener against Iraq in the final qualifier for the 1994 tournament in the United States of America, but Japan conceded a last-minute equalizer in Doha to miss out on a spot.

Fondly dubbed 'King Kazu', Miura not only broke his own record as the oldest scorer in Japanese professional football in June but also the record of the oldest player to appear in the Emperor's Cup soccer tournament in September.

Miura, who scored twice in 20 league appearance last year, has played for several clubs in Japan and also enjoyed a spell with Brazil's Santos.

(Reporting by Shravanth Vijayakumar in Bengaluru; editing by Ken Ferris)