Sae Itoshi²

Height: 180 cm.
Weight: approximately 70 kg (this figure is not directly stated in official materials, but appears in specialized guides and is confirmed by the character's proportions).
Blood type: A (II).
Age: 18 years.
Date of birth: October 10.
Zodiac sign: Libra.

Character and attitude towards football
Sae is cool-headed, ambitious, and very demanding of himself and others. He long despised Japanese football, considering it insufficiently strong, and didn't want to play for the national team. His respect must be earned: he values ​​only those who can truly match his level and ambitions. At the same time, he doesn't seek the spotlight: he's comfortable being the "puppet master" on the pitch—creating chances for his teammates, provided they can convert them.

He has unexpectedly "homey" tastes. Despite his cold genius image, Sae loves the anime "Chibi Maruko-chan"—he says it reminds him of home. He also adores ichibo steak, but he can't stand jerky fries.
Sleep is part of preparation. Sae strictly follows a schedule: 7 hours of sleep at night plus 1 hour during the day. For him, recovery isn't "rest" but as important a part of progress as training.
He doesn't chase fame. Even as one of the best young players in the world, Sae avoids unnecessary attention. He's not interested in endorsement deals for popularity or high-profile interviews. It's important to him that he's judged solely by his performance—and nothing else.
His favorite animal is the seagull, and his favorite time of year is late summer. These details highlight his craving for freedom and space: seagulls fly high and far, and late summer is a time when the heat has subsided, but the air remains warm and clear. Almost like a perfect pass into open space.
There's an almost aesthetic austerity to his style. Sae avoids unnecessary details, either in his clothing or in his game. Even on the field, he looks put-together: gloves, a simple uniform, and minimal jewelry. For him, football is pure form and function, without unnecessary pretension.

Management style: cold but precise
"No excuses." If a player failed to meet the target, Sae wouldn't ask why, but would immediately set a new goal: "You didn't complete 80% of your passes in Zone X. Today, you make 100 attempts until you reach 85% accuracy. Every one counts."
Focus on data. He would use metrics: number of touches, success rate, reaction time, even heat maps of movements. For him, numbers are the language in which to talk about progress.

What he would do every day: specific tasks
Microcycle planning. Sae would create weekly plans down to the minute. For example: "Tuesday – 45 minutes of ball work in tight spaces, 20 minutes of shooting with both feet, 15 minutes of reading the game off the ball." No "let's practice and see." He would track not only the workload but also the quality: every pass would be assessed based on accuracy, speed, and "unpredictability."
Monitoring recovery and nutrition. He would track sleep, resting heart rate, weight, and even stress levels. If a player isn't recovering enough, Sae would simply cut out unnecessary activities—even if the coach asks for more running. For him, recovery is part of training, not a lack thereof.
Pre-match opponent analysis. He would prepare personalized reports for the player: "This left-back likes to cut inside—that means you need to drop behind him more often. This defensive midfielder doesn't read long passes well—take advantage of that." These aren't generalities, but specific scenarios with timings.
Managing the media and expectations. Sae would strictly filter interviews and public appearances. He wouldn't allow a player to make empty promises ("we'll score 30 goals this season"), as this creates unnecessary pressure. His approach: "We only talk about the process. The results will come if everything is done correctly."
Negotiations with the club and sponsors. At meetings, he would be extremely specific: "We need these conditions because they directly impact the player's progress. If not, we leave." He wouldn't negotiate for money, but for resources: a better analyst, access to data, a personalized schedule.
Distance and respect. He wouldn't be a "manager's friend." His relationship with the player would be built on professionalism: clear expectations, regular feedback, and a minimum of emotion. Praise would be given only for specific achievements: "Your percentage of long passes has increased by 12%—that's a result."

Small but important character details
Silence. He doesn't waste words. If Sae says something, it's important. In dialogue, he often responds in monosyllables, but every word hits the mark.
Self-control. He almost never loses his composure. Even in the most intense matches, he appears calm. His "explosion" isn't a scream, but a sharp, cold acceleration of the game as he takes control.
Realism. He doesn't believe in luck. Only in hard work, talent, and calculation.

Main feature: cold pragmatism
Sae doesn't believe in "team spirit" as some kind of magic that will fix everything. For him, football is pure efficiency. If a teammate can't convert the chance Sae created for him, he'll simply stop passing. He doesn't get angry or yell—he simply draws a logical conclusion: "This player is useless for my purpose right now." Hence his reputation as an arrogant genius: he's not arrogant for the sake of pomp, he simply sets his priorities very clearly.

Attitude to football and ambitions
The goal is to become the best in the world. Everything else is secondary. Even the national team has long been "not strong enough" for him. He doesn't want to win for the sake of the flag—he wants to win to prove that he's objectively the strongest.
A "puppeteer," not a star. He doesn't need everyone's eyes on him. His thrill comes from planning the game five moves ahead and seeing how everything plays out according to his script. In this sense, he's more of a conductor than a soloist.
Intolerance of mediocrity. Sae literally becomes physically irritated when she sees sloppy technique or a lack of will to fight. It's not malice, but an almost professional allergy to unprofessionalism.
Relationship with Brother (Rin Itoshi)
This is the most emotional part of his character, because it is with Rin that Sae shows signs of something other than cold calculation.

The older brother who "pushes you up." He doesn't praise Rin, but he challenges him. Sae believes the best way to care for a brother isn't to protect him, but to challenge him to the limit so he can become stronger.
Complicated feelings. He's both proud of his brother and afraid that Rin will "stop halfway," and even a hint of envy at his brother's passion. Rin is passionate about football, while Sae "analyzes" him. And this difference simultaneously attracts and repels them.

Height and proportions. He's 180 cm tall, but his posture makes him look even taller—he always seems "tall," with his shoulders straight and his body tight. His build is athletic but not overly muscular: he has the typical football physique—long legs, strong thighs, yet his torso remains slender and light.
Head and face. Oval face with clearly defined cheekbones and a pointed chin. The forehead is not very high, but the combed hair makes it appear expressive. The eyebrows are thin and slightly arched, making even a neutral expression appear slightly skeptical.
Hair. Reddish-brown or dark burgundy (slightly softer in the anime than in the manga). Length—roughly to mid-ear or slightly longer, styled to the side with a slight wave, as if he's just brushed his hair. A few thin strands stick out and frame his forehead, adding a dynamic touch.
Eyes. Turquoise-green, almost "icy." Almond-shaped, with a slightly drooping upper eyelid and long, thick lower lashes, creating a piercing and slightly distant gaze. The pupils are dark, contrasting strongly with the iris, making the eyes immediately eye-catching.
Skin and tone. Fair, untanned, with an even texture. There are no scars or moles on the face—the look is deliberately "clean," emphasizing its cool, flawless quality.
Details. He has thin wrists and long fingers—the anime emphasizes this in scenes with the ball and passes. Another detail: when he's tense, subtle shadows appear on his cheekbones (this is how animation depicts muscle tension), making his face even more composed.

Cold alienation from Rin
This internal upheaval profoundly impacted his relationship with Rin. Upon returning to Japan, Sae no longer saw his brother as the promising partner he'd dreamed of. He began to judge Rin harshly, and at one point, he outright rejected their childhood promise. For Rin, this was a betrayal, but for Sae, it was a logical step: he believed that if his brother wasn't ready to meet global standards, their long-held dream was futile. This conflict became one of the main emotional threads around Sae: his coldness isn't indifference to his brother, but an extremely harsh form of caring. He believes the only way to help Rin is to force him to grow through pain and competition.

Childhood and relationship with brother
Sae grew up with his younger brother, Rin. From childhood, they were obsessed with football and made a promise to each other: to become the best in the world and win the World Cup together. Sae saw himself as a star striker, and Rin as his ideal attacking partner. Their relationship wasn't just brotherly, but almost like a single mechanism: Sae created chances, Rin was supposed to finish them off. This dream was their most important goal—and that's precisely why its collapse was so painful.
The turning point: leaving for Europe
When Sae left for Spain to join the Real Madrid academy, his perspective on football changed radically. In Europe, he encountered a level unimaginable in Japan: players who didn't rely on emotion but acted with mathematical precision, coaches who demanded efficiency rather than passion. Sae realized that his former dream of "scoring and shining" was too narrow for the world-class level. His ego as a striker was shattered by reality: he saw that being "the best" meant not just scoring goals, but controlling the entire game.
It was then that he changed his role: from a striker to a playmaking midfielder. His new goal was to become someone who controls the rhythm of a match, someone who can see the pitch five moves ahead. He began to develop "metavision"—the ability to predict the actions of opponents and teammates before they even make them.
Attitude towards Japanese football and the national team
Sae had long openly despised the level of Japanese football. He believed the national system wasn't preparing players for the world level, and coaches and federations were afraid to take risks for short-term results. For this reason, he refused to play for the Japanese national team: it was beneath his ambitions. He wanted to play only where every match was a challenge, not a formality.