Red Blooded Eleven

At Shinsei High School, soccer is more like a battle than a game, and the new coach, Teppei Matsuki, is a ruthless taskmaster who drives his team mercilessly to win. Shingo Tamai, the school’s rebellious troublemaker, and his friend Ohira refuse to be forced into Matsuki’s squad. Instead, they form their own team, playing for fun at first but struggling to match Matsuki’s disciplined players. As they improve, they take on tougher opponents and sharpen their skills, eventually facing the powerhouse Asakase High team led by star player Misugi Yan in the championship finals. Along the way, old rivalries resurface, injuries test their resolve, and a mixed-race teammate searches for his identity-and his imprisoned mother. Shingo grows into a skilled center forward and dreams of competing against a visiting Brazilian team. But during a match, he suffers a serious injury. Despite this setback, his raw talent-even acknowledged by the legendary Pelé-and sheer determination keep him going. With help from an unexpected ally connected to his old rival Matsuki, Shingo recovers and leads his team to victory. More soap opera than traditional sports story, this is the first in a long line of Japanese soccer dramas that paved the way for series like "Captain Tsubasa." Based on the manga by Ikki Kajiwara and Kosei Sonoda.