Anri Teieri, 22 years old, was one of the youngest members of the Japan Football Union (JFU).
How did she attain such a high position at such a young age?
She had a father with powerful connections and a wide network!
A youth with lofty ambitions!
Shortly after taking office, Anri Teieri was eager to make a change and contribute to the national team.
Regarding Japanese football, there was no questioning its progress; it had been built step by step. From a second-tier team in Asia to a first-tier one, and then leaping to become the strongest in Asia. From considering China's national team a formidable rival to now not giving them a second thought.
Compared to China's national team, Japanese football was at the opposite extreme. One generation was worse than the last, while the other was stronger with each new generation.
Today's Japanese football no longer focused on the Asian region, but set its sights on the world.
The 2018 World Cup was over. The Japanese national team fell in the Round of 16, eliminated by Belgium's golden generation with a score of 2:3. Compared to the previous World Cup in Brazil where they failed to advance from the group stage, reaching the Round of 16 this time was a small breakthrough. The problem was, the Japanese national team had fallen in the Round of 16 many times, consistently unable to break through that barrier. It had practically become a psychological demon for them.
Because of this, Anri Teieri had sought out the like-minded Ego Jinpachi. After discussing it, the two hit it off immediately. They wanted to cultivate a world-class striker for the Japanese national team.
They believed that the current Japanese national team's defense had already reached a world-class level. What they lacked was a top-tier striker who could seal the deal.
To put it simply: they were toothless in front of goal.
To change this situation, the two of them created a project called "Blue Lock."
"A World Cup championship?"
The JFU members heard these words and speechlessly put down the Blue Lock proposal that Anri Teieri had handed them.
"It's pretty profitable, isn't that enough?" a leader said disapprovingly.
The football association of any country is a group of modern-day vampires. They don't care about the national team's results; what's important is the money! Making money is the top priority!
Although Japan was eliminated in the Round of 16 this year, their opponent was the powerful Belgium, the recognized "golden generation." Losing 2:3 could be considered a glorious defeat. The pressure from the fans wasn't particularly intense right now, so they could easily get through this period without any trouble. They would only feel the pressure if they were knocked out in the group stage or the Round of 16 again at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
But that was four years away, what was there to worry about now?
Eat when you should eat, drink when you should drink, just enjoy life!
"Shut up, you miser!" Anri Teieri glared at the people in the conference room. To personally witness Japan lift the World Cup trophy was her lifelong dream.
"Win by playing our own style?"
"Does Japan's possession-based football work outside of Asia?"
"It's because you always say things like that that we get stuck in the Round of 16 time and time again!"
Perhaps, in the past, Japan would have been satisfied with the Round of 16. Just like Chinese football fans today; forget the Round of 16, if they could just qualify for the World Cup finals, the fans would celebrate as if they'd won the championship.
However, a different position naturally leads to a different perspective. For the Japanese, who no longer felt pressure just qualifying for the World Cup, their goal was now to break through to the quarterfinals, or even the semifinals.
"Today, I didn't come here to discuss this with you. I just came to inform you."
That's right.
Today's meeting was not a negotiation, but a notification.
Anri Teieri and Ego Jinpachi had already silently completed all the work for the Blue Lock project, and it was about to be implemented.
The person in charge was furious at her actions. Over the years, he had seen too many young people like Anri Teieri, full of passion, clamoring to change the status quo. In the end, these people either left in disgrace or were corrupted and became one of them.
"You'd better think this through, Anri! Since you've already planned everything, if you can't produce results, you'll have to bear all the responsibility!"
The JFU officials skillfully shirked their responsibility. If she succeeded, they would share the credit. If she failed, she would have to take the blame herself.
"Of course!" Anri Teieri's blood was also boiling. She hadn't even considered the issue of credit. She said, "I firmly believe that if there is someone who can tear down and rebuild football, to cultivate a player who can lead our country to a World Cup victory..."
"Then that person must be him!"
A photo and profile of a man appeared in the conference room.
Ego Jinpachi, male, age 30... Height 189cm, blood type AB....
Like Anri Teieri, he was one of the main people in charge of Blue Lock.
There was very little information about him. Even in the manga, there were only vague, cryptic mentions. It was only known that he had once played for a club in the Bundesliga and had crossed paths with the number one player in football today. He might have been a professional player, or perhaps a coach. The official information provided about him was scarce.
However, his abilities and connections were beyond question. Later in the manga, he somehow managed to pull in the youth teams of several top clubs from the five major leagues to train with the Blue Lock players. This feat alone qualified him to be one of the leaders of the Blue Lock project.
...
The scene returns to Tendou.
Although he was still in Japan, everything here felt unfamiliar to Tendou. Unacquainted with the place, he walked aimlessly, planning to head back to Ichinan High's field to get used to the "power" he now possessed.
However...
"Where is Ichinan High again?!"
Tendou suddenly stopped in his tracks. Despite having won the crucial match for Ichinan, he had absolutely no information about the school in his head.
He awkwardly scratched his hair and continued walking. "There are always more solutions than problems!"
Then, he found a sporting goods store, bought a ball, and learned from the owner about the location of a nearby pickup soccer field.
Before long, he arrived at the field the store owner had told him about.
At the moment, there were some university students, a few years older than him, playing on the field.
Tendou was never a "child" who obediently followed rules. The word "wait" did not exist in his dictionary; waiting meant wasting time.
Alright, he would wait when necessary, but he didn't plan on waiting now.
He changed into his gear and stepped onto the field.
The others immediately noticed this uninvited guest and stopped what they were doing.
"Hey, kid, we're still in the middle of a game. If you want to play, wait on the sidelines."
Someone came over to tell him to get off the field so they could continue their game.
Hearing this, Tendou let go of the ball he was holding. Then, with a lightning-fast kick, he sent the ball flying into the goal.
"Now, I'm commandeering this half of the field. If you want to play, use the other half."
...
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