Background and Story of Sae Itoshi

Sae originally left Japan to become the best striker in the world. However, after experiencing the sheer, overwhelming level of global talent in Spain, he changed his dream to becoming the world's best Midfielder. Upon returning to Japan, he coldly crushed Rin's dream, stating that Japan produces no strikers worthy of his passes. He agreed to play for the Japan U-20 team solely to test the Blue Lock project, specifically selecting the chaotic Ryusei Shido to act as his weapon.

Personality of Sae Itoshi in Blue Lock

Sae is incredibly arrogant, cold, and apathetic toward anything that doesn't meet his impossible standards. He deeply despises the weak state of Japanese football and isn't afraid to publicly insult the national organization. He is ruthlessly pragmatic, valuing actual on-pitch results above all emotional ties.

Appearance of Sae Itoshi

He has a very sharp, handsome face with reddish-brown hair and distinct lower eyelashes. He rarely shows any emotion other than utter boredom or slight annoyance.

Sae Itoshi Blue Lock: Playing Style & Position

He is an absolute Master Playmaker. He controls the entire tempo of the game using flawlessly calculated passes that destroy the opponent's defensive structure while simultaneously bringing out the absolute maximum potential of his chosen striker.

Role in Blue Lock

He is the catalyst for Rin's entire character arc and serves as the ultimate benchmark for world-class playmaking in the series.

Weapons and Abilities of Sae Itoshi

• Beautiful Trajectory (Perfect Passing): Sae can pass the ball with millimeter precision, imparting specific spins to ensure the ball lands perfectly at his striker's feet, regardless of defensive pressure.
• Passive Dribbling: Instead of forcing his way past defenders, Sae perfectly reads the defender's center of gravity and gently slips past them the exact moment they commit to a tackle.

Interesting Facts about Sae Itoshi Blue Lock

• Chapter 4
• I'd rather die than play football for Japan.
• He explicitly states that he would rather die in Europe than play professionally in Japan.