A truly great coach makes a game of soccer interesting! Tatsumi Takeshi is 35 and has spent the last few years coaching in England before being brought back to Japan to coach his old team. His favorite pastime? Causing giant upsets a.k.a. Giant Killing! From the genius behind U-31.
It’s time to build a team! However, Tatsumi’s unconventional coaching methods threaten to break them apart before the season even begins!
The preseason match heads toward its conclusion, and the season finally starts! Coach Tatsumi brings out strong feelings in everyone.
Who could have expected five straight losses under Tatsumi’s new leadership? But what’s truly scary isn’t losing—a good coach knows how to lose! The players are tired, the fans listless, and yet Tatsumi’s eyes are ever facing forward, shining brightly!
ETU is clashing with their new coach’s style! Neither the team nor the players have made any progress, but the coach continues to have faith! And in ETU’s hour of weakness, the Brazilian trio strikes! Zelberto cuts through their lines; Carlos rushes forward; and Pepe devours! ETU is constantly on the defensive, but is it all just part of Tatsumi’s trap?
The position battle intensifies! Eleven players stand on the field! What does Tatsumi look for in a forward? With the addition of Natsuki and his bountiful expressions and personalities, Sera’s usual enthusiasm is put to the test. Meanwhile the seasoned veteran Sakai watches and waits for his opportunity. Which of these three forwards will Tatsumi choose?
The blue-eyed leader of the Gunners, Dulfer, and his unwavering faith in beautiful football makes his debut! The preparations have been made. All that’s left is to hash it out on the field! Thanks to Dulfer’s beautiful football, the Osaka Gunners haven’t lost all season. Four players take aim, and four players shoot! Will these four magnificent and heroic players crush ETU’s hopes of victory?
The match against Osaka Gunners continues. With the first half over, ETU is two points down and the atmosphere in the locker room is melancholic. But Tatsumi is certain that if they can enjoy the game, they’ll win! As expected(?), Tatsumi lays out his plan for a great counterattack!
Players who overcome strategy are a coach’s joy! ETU is quickly evening the score, shaking Dulfer’s beliefs! ETU dashes towards the point Tatsumi envisions! And after the match, the stage moves to Tsubaki-kun’s hometown in the middle of nowhere.
The Olympic team has taken Akasaki. Murakoshi and Prince have to sit out the next game! And to top if all off, Tatsumi wants to hold a curry party! The Kawasaki match is next, but the game captain is… Daisuke Tsubaki?!
Amidst torrential rain, the match against Kawasaki goes on. ETU is pressed but finds the strength to keep on fighting. The veteran players, who know best what it means to be a club, unleash their latent power! It’s their turn to answer Tatsumi’s iron faith!
The Tokyo Derby begins! But Hiraizumi remains unmoved when Tatsumi’s plans expose Tokyo V’s weaknesses. The pride of the players of a famous club is just waiting for the moment to change the team!
A one-point lead against Tokyo V! But with the king’s awakening, ETU gets stuck on the back foot! Can they endure this beating and escape with a victory? Plus, a new event—here comes the All Stars arc!
The summer festivites end in victory with Tatsumi and Sakura taking control! Now, as ETU prepares for the second half of the league, rumors of Ishihama transferring surface. And Tatsumi goes to meet a traveler!
Even in the early days, Tatsumi’s love for football was great. His striking style of play threatened even the famous Tokyo Victory, so much so that the world finally seems to be shifting favor toward him. The club’s hopes pinned on his talents, what does he think of everyone’s rising expectations of him?
Takeshi Tatsumi: 35 years old, professional soccer coach for East Tokyo United. His favorite dish? Taking down "giant" clubs, i.e. Giant Killing! The summer mid-season break means it’s time for a training camp! This is the team’s precious time to prepare themselves for the second half of the league. Tatsumi asks the players, "What do you think I want from you?" Put on your thinking caps, boys!
ETU’s summer training camp has opened a new chapter for the club, with a completely new starting lineup and two players joining the roster. It’s ETU against FC Sapporo to kick off the second half of the season, but things quickly start to feel a little too reminiscent of the disastrous season opener...
Following a gutsy goal from Murakoshi, ETU breaks out of its slump and rides high in the second half against Sapporo! With their summer training camp clearly bearing fruit, the whole team’s raring to get on a hot streak! But there’s never any telling when a trap may catch them from unexpected places ...
In the second half of the rainy match against Wissel Kobe, Tsubaki finally steps up and performs! With the wind at their backs, ETU extends their unbeaten streak to six ... but at a potentially heavy cost. Their next opponent is Montebia Yamagata, managed by a man infatuated with Tatsumi—but despite that respect, the team proves strangely difficult for ETU to deal with ...
Motebia Yamagata is nothing but defense, defense, defense -- but camping out in front of their own goal won’t earn them any points. They need to go on the offensive, and coach Sakura thinks the time for change is right now. It’s exactly the reborn Yamagata that Tatsumi feared! And who’s the real playmaker on the Yamagata team, the one that put even Tsubaki on edge?
Sakura, coach of Montebia Yamagata, is adopting the “Komori System”—and Tatsumi was ready for it. But after an unexpected accident, the tables are turned and ETU are forced to go on the defensive! Something’s got Tatsumi’s preoccupied on the bench…but it isn’t long before he responds, with a couple of exciting new presences on the pitch!
The game against Monetbia Yamagata is about to wrap up! From start to finish, it’s been a battle of wits between Tatsumi and rival manager Sakura. How will it turn out?!
It’s ETU pitted against the Kawasaki Frontier and their powerhouse offense! It doesn’t take long for the game to turn into an extended shooting match—and the vice-president of Oedo Express is in the audience! Is ETU in danger of losing their main sponsor?
The match against the all-powerful Kawasaki nears its conclusion! When the barrage of goals finally settles down, who’s going end this match for good?!
Once upon a time, ETU all but collapsed after Tatsumi left to play in England. The United Skulls supporters group has constantly cheered for the team since, ever faithful to its players…but now a frustrated Hata and his group confront the vice-president of the team, airing their grievances. What will happen when Tatsumi, the Skulls’ sworn enemy, enters the fray?!