An oddity in the world? A soccer player who can be considered a modern-day samurai.
To all the soccer fans worldwide: Have you ever heard of the popular Japanese soccer anime “Captain Tsubasa”? The series started in 1981 and spread around the world, and the news media in many countries recently announced the fact that the series would soon come to an end.
Did you know that there is a soccer player who is the model for the main character of “Captain Tsubasa”? Kazuyoshi Miura left Japan to study soccer in Brazil and made his professional debut with Santos FC in 1986. The author said he wrote the book based on Miura, who is still active as a soccer player at the age of 57.
Nowadays, there are more and more examples of Japanese soccer players playing overseas, and it is no exaggeration to say that Miura started that trend.
His age is a rarity in soccer, which is a very athletic game, and in the professional sports world.
Let’s take a look at some of the world’s older players.
GK: Brad Guzan (39 years old/ Atlanta United)
RB: Jesús Navas (38/ Sevilla)
CB: Pepe (41/ Porto)
CB: José Fonte (40/ Braga)
LB: Cristian Ansaldi (37/ Parma)
CM: Felipe Melo (40/ Fluminense)
CM: Santi Cazorla (39/ Real Oviedo)
CM: Andres Iniesta (39/ Emirates Club)
RW: Tomoyoshi Miura (57/ Oliveirense)
CF: Roque Santa Cruz (age 42/ Libertad)
LW: Lukas Podolski (38/ Gournik Zabrze)
I think you can understand why Miura, at 57 years old, is so exceptional. He is a Samurai of the modern age, aiming to be an active player throughout his life.
Please have a look at his words of wisdom:
There is a 1% chance, right? Then I believe in that 1%.
If you can’t win, you should be beaten. You have to be mentally professional.
Praising each other is the worst thing a pro can do.
You are not a professional because you get paid. You are a professional because you fight with all of your might and never take shortcuts, no matter the situation.
A prestigious name is meaningless if you can’t stand on the sports ground.
There is no past to which I want to return. The past is the past.
Even if it’s just one centimeter, I’ll move forward.
If you’re always trying something, you’ll never lose your shine.
If you don’t have a sense of urgency, you’re finished.
I don’t feel like I have anything to prove by trying to be better than younger players, rather I’m more focused on overcoming my own hurdles.
No matter the environment, quitting in the middle of something is not good. If you work hard and keep at it, that will be your real strength.
If you want to get better, just keep doing what you do best.
You can only laugh at a game if you suffer in practice.
To feel joy, you have to endure at some point.
If you underestimate your opponent, you will always lose.
You have an opponent, but you are the enemy.
It doesn’t matter what they say. You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.
Only those who surpass the feeling of worrying whether they will overcome a struggle will survive.
I think these words are meaningful not only for soccer but for everyone. Kazuyoshi Miura devoted himself solely to soccer and put his whole life into it.
Isn’t that worthy of respect?
ABE KENGO
