KAWASAKI -- Back in the stadium where he starred in the inaugural year of the J.League nearly three decades ago, Yokohama FC forward Kazuyoshi Miura became the oldest player to appear in a J.League first-division match on Wednesday.
Miura, popularly known as Kazu, took the field for Wednesday night's game against Kawasaki Frontale at the age of 53 years 6 months 28 days, breaking the previous record of 45 years 2 months 1 day set by then-Consadole Sapporo forward Masashi Nakayama in 2012.
Kazu was in the starting lineup for the match, won 3-2 by Frontale, at Kawasaki's Todoroki Stadium, which was his home stadium when he was with Verdy and became the league's first MVP in 1993.
The former national team star had started two games in August in the YBC Levain Cup, but this marked his first appearance in a league match this season.
Yokohama FC is playing in the first division for the first time since 2007.
Wearing the captain's armband, Kazu gave his all in the rain-hit match, keeping the ball moving up front and pressing his opponents before coming off for a substitute in the 56th minute.
"I wanted to take responsibility for how I play in the field," he said after the match. "I am grateful to everyone at Yokohama FC [for our first J1 appearance in 13 years]."
Kazu was not the only star of yesteryear in the Yokohama lineup. Also starting were 42-year-old Shunsuke Nakamura and 39-year-old Daisuke Matsui.
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