Fluegels in the J-League but later returns to the team, playing in the matches against Mexico, Uruguay and Italy. He currently plays for the Nagoya Grampus Eight and plays as a forward for the U-22 and Olympic Japan teams (something that Coach Kira always wanted, a two-top with Hyuga). Takeshi Sawada Takeshi Sawada (沢田 タケシ, kana: さわだ タケシ) is a midfielder and one of the youngest members for the Japanese national team. During the national championship, he serves as vice captain for Meiwa FC and later serves a more important role for Toho Academy when Hyuga was forbidden to play. Although he is two years younger than the majority of the others, he joins the U-16, U-20 and Olympic Japanese teams. He plays for Urawa Red Diamonds, along with Hayato Igawa, who is Japan's best libero. Takeshi had captained the U-19 side to win the U-19 Asian youth championship. Shun Nitta Shun Nitta (新田 瞬, kana: にった しゅん) is a forward for the Japanese national team known for his Hayabusa Shoot and one of the fastest characters in the series. Originally, he played for Nankatsu in elementary school, but in middle school, he played for Otomo along with Urabe, Kishida, Nakayama and Nishio, who also played for Nankatsu. They face off against Nankatsu in the finals of the regional tournament but lose 1 to 3. Nitta is then chosen for the U-16 Japanese team, playing against Italy, Argentina and West Germany. He returns to play for Nankatsu in high school and is later invited to play for U-20 Japan. He's taken off from the team because of his incapability to shoot with both legs after losing to Real Japan 7, but returns to the team. After the World Youth tournament, he plays for Kashiwa Reysol and is currently playing for Olympic Japan. The Tachibana Twins Masao Tachibana (立花 政夫, kana: たちばな まさお) and Kazuo Tachibana (立花 和夫, kana: たちばな かずお) are twins who play as forwards in their years at Hanawa, but later play as midfielders for the Japanese national team. They're known for their acrobatic skills, particularly the Skylab Hurricane. These acrobatic techniques proved to be an annoyance for Nankatsu in the elementary and middle school championships, but Tsubasa managed to beat the twins two times. They are later recruited for the Japan U-16 team, but get injured after doing the Skylab Twin Shoot with Jito in the match