Blue Lock- Who is Sae Itoshi based on? Explored

Blue Lock is notorious for its Striker characters. Its protagonist, Isagi, plays a CF, and its various antagonists, Ishidou, Micheal Kaiser, and Barou, play the same football role. While the entire Blue Lock focuses on Strikers utilizing their ego to be the best, football is not only played with strikers. Strikers might be the most integral part of a game, but there are other important positions in a team.

Midfielders, defenders, and goalkeepers also play a significant role. Kaneshiro, Blue Lock’s Mangaka, did not forget that. He introduced one of the most dazzling characters, who is not a striker but a midfielder, Sae Itoshi. The latter is the older brother of Rin Itoshi, another Blue Lock character. He is regarded as a football prodigy and one of the few young players in the anime who play in Europe.

Many Blue Lock characters are based on real-life players, and Sae Itoshi is no exception. A frequently asked question by fans is, “Who is Sae Itoshi based on?” Many have compared him to Mesut Ozil and Luka Modric because they glide with the ball and play through balls, but the most accurate comparison is Takefusa Kubo.

Disclaimer: This article contains potential spoilers from the manga series and has the author’s opinion.

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How is Blue Lock’s Sae Itoshi based on Takefusa Kubo

Sae Itoshi plays similarly to Takefusa Kubo (Image via Eight Bit)

Takefusa Ikubo shares many similarities with Sae Itoshi, but the biggest similarity is in their play style. Kubo and Sae move like feathers in the wind, capable of passing through the midst of densely packed players like they were not there and able to provide a goal-scoring threat at the same time. The combination of all these factors is what made Takefusa Kubo hyped by the Japanese media.

Sae Itoshi in Blue Lock also enjoys that same admiration by the media. He is hailed as a football prodigy and eventually plays in Europe for a team named Royale based on Real Madrid, Takefusa Kubo’s former team. He is also left-footed, just like Kubo, but is capable of involving his weaker foot when dribbling. There is also a similarity in height, with both being 5’8 to 5’9.

While there have been comparisons to Ozil and Luka Modric, they don’t hold weight. Modric plays as a central midfielder, meaning he plays deeper on the pitch. Ozil's comparisons do not work because he is taller than Sae Itoshi and lacks the work-rate Sae possesses.

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Sae Itoshi’s personality

Sae Itoshi is known for being arrogant and egoistical (Image via Eight Bit)

It is hinted at in Blue Lock that Sae Itoshi’s initial goal was to be the best striker in the world. All this changed when he left for Europe, his initial plan changed and then he decided to be the best midfielder in the world. This change stems from how he looks down on football in Japan.

Throughout the series, fans see him voice his regrets about being born in Japan and how he looks down on anyone who plays in Japan. However, this view eventually changes after he plays for the Japanese U-20 squad and faces off against the Blue Lock Eleven. The Blue Lock Eleven wins the match, and Sae Itoshi admits to his brother, Rin, that he was wrong about Japan being unable to produce good forwards.

Due to Sae’s talent and his prodigal status, he developed a superiority complex and arrogance that shows when he interacts with other players. While he doesn’t let it get in the way of his game, he is known for ridiculing other players as well as other senior football officials.

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Sae Itoshi’s ability

Sae Itoshi is the premier playmaker in the entire series (Image via Eight Bit)

Sae Itoshi’s reputation stems from how good of a player he is. His early days as a striker are quite noticeable due to his goalscoring instincts, but what makes him stand out even more is his role as a playmaker. His transition to the midfield enabled him to affect the game more.

His Metavision allows him to see any game from a birds-eye view, analyze player data, and react to their movements quickly. As a playmaker, this allows him to start plays easily and shut down opposing plays defensively. He is also very good at connecting with his strikers and understanding where they want a ball, how they want it, and when they should get it.

His dribbling is also one of the best, with only a few characters like Bachira, Chigiri, and Yukimiya being better. His Marseille turns, and Elasticos is a thing of joy to witness, and they are his favorite skills as he uses them to devastating effect.

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Final Thoughts

Apart from Rin Itoshi, the series doesn’t have any midfielder of prominence, charisma, and ability like Sae Itoshi. His introduction to the series shows viewers the success of the Blue Lock program and how their favorite characters have become world-beaters.

Sae Itoshi as a character is most likely modeled after Takefusa Kubo and might be Kaneshiro longing for a better career for the Japanese magician who currently plays for Real Sociedad. The only difference between Takefusa Kubo and Sae Itoshi is their character. Kubo doesn’t have a huge presence on the pitch, unlike Itoshi, who is larger than life.

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