DO YOU KNOW THE FIRST JAPANESE PLAYER TO PLAY IN ITALY?

Kazu Miura

Kazuyoshi Miura became the first Japanese footballer to play in Italy, joining Genoa F.C. in the 1994–1995 Italian Serie A season. In his Italian stint, he played 21 times and scored just 1 goal, during the Genoa derby against USC Sampdoria. was the first Japanese recipient of the Asian Player of the Year award in 1993, an award presented annually by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).