Template:Infobox playerJun Misugi (三杉 淳, Misugi Jun) is a major character in Captain Tsubasa, and he is one of Japan's pivotal players. It was once said that if it wasn't for the heart disease that hampered his early career, Misugi would have become the best Japanese player of his generation, even better than Tsubasa.
Misugi is strong-willed and dedicated besides being kind and clever; he has a keen perception that enables him to read the opposing team’s formation and tactics even when he is not playing on the field; not to mention his ability on how to control his opponent's movements.
Captain Tsubasa arc
Misugi was first presented as the very talented star of Musashi elementary school, but he had a heart disease, preventing him from playing a full match without endangering his life. However, he decided to play full time in the elementary school tournament's semifinal against Nankatsu, eager to give it his all against Tsubasa. His performance was stellar (although it almost brought him to the point of collapse), although in the end his team lost 5-4. Despite his loss, Misugi was happy to have fought Tsubasa with all of himself, and he thanked Yayoi for her precious advices during the game and decided not to give up on soccer, even if his heart condition stood in his way.
Misugi fought against his heart disease in rehabilitation with Yayoi for 2 years, and came back on the field for his last year of middle school (although he was still limited to playing for 30 minutes of a match), with the two of them eventually becoming close and beginning to date each other. Misugi wanted to have a rematch against Tsubasa again in the national tournament, however, he lost in the finals of the Tokyo prefecture tournament against Toho and Hyuga, and again being crippled by his illness; he expressed frustration at not being able to play and improve his skills like everyone else during these years. He was still offered a position of assistant coach in the All Japan Jr. Youth team, which he accepted, and his keen tactical sense was a precious addition to the team (for example, it was Misugi's idea to try to have Matsuyama play as a defender). He was also registered as a player in the International Jr. Youth tournament where he would serve well as a super substitute in the matches against Argentina and France. His heart condition prevented him from playing the final match, but he felt that his heart had become stronger. After the tournament, he decided to keep on playing soccer while studying medicine like the Brazilian player Sócrates.
World Youth arc
Misugi spent the next three years of High school without playing, only giving tactical advices to the All Japan Youth team for a friendly match against Netherlands Youth; this allowed him to fully recover from his heart disease, and he successfully took a selection test to be part of the All Japan Youth team. Having played like a midfielder before (inspired by the Dutch player Cruyff), given that there were many other talented players for that area of the field, he took the decision to play as a libero (like the Italian player Baresi). Enduring the harsh training of Gamo despite many years of inactivity, he perfected his comeback with a decisive equalizing goal against Thailand. During the second round of the Asian preliminaries, he was considered, with Matsuyama, as a reliable wall by Wakabayashi. His genius soccer sense allowed him to be the only one to understand and support Tsubasa in his Sky Dive Shoot against Mexico.
Road to 2002 arc
Prior to Road to 2002, Misugi joined Bellmare Hiratsuka, but later transfered to FC Tokyo, a J-League division 1 club. An all-round player, he was used by the team as a right midfielder. In a match against Consadole Sapporo led by Matsuyama, which ended in a tie, Misugi expressed his admiration at Matsuyama's shooting power, and the two renewed their friendly rivalry.
Golden 23 arc
In Golden 23, he was selected in the Japanese Olympic team. Coach Kira put a lot of trust in Misugi as well as Misaki and Matsuyama (the "three Ms", as was called the ensemble), entrusting the team's balance to them in the Asian preliminaries. He believed that Misugi's calm discernment would be an important in Japan's qualification to the last round of the Asian preliminaries, belief vindicated by his performance.
Abilities and Special Techniques
It is noted that Misugi had excelled as soccer player by the time he was a 6th grader, since many of the techniques he mastered were still in developing process by Tsubasa, and he developed all by his own without a mentor like Roberto or Kozo Kira. Because of his heart disease operation, he would have to leave soccer for the most part of his 5-year absence (not counting the rehabilitation months for the Junior High Tournament) until the Training camp of All Japan Youth were he made his comeback as a regular. Even though his abilities were now behind overseas players such as Tsubasa or Hyuga, he was able to settle a level similar to that of Japanese soccer players such as Matsuyama or Misaki. Even so, his tactical abilities still remained unrivaled, and only equal to that of a genius tactician such as Brian Cruyfford from the Netherlands soccer team.
Physical abilities
Dribble
Fast Break
Great tactician: Misugi was capable of foreseeing the opponent by making several hand-sign strategies with his teammates. He used this ability from the bench on the Kids' Dream arc and later while playing against Hyuga on the Tokyo prefecture qualifier round (Boys' Fight arc).
Sharp observation: Misugi had great observation abilities as he was not playing for most of the games while being benched in Boys' Fight arc. This is why Katagiri asked him to be Japan Jr. assistant coach for the J Boys' Challenge arc.
Special shots
Drive Shoot: Jun Misugi's special shoot after his comeback for the World Youth, he's able to do the same shot as Tsubasa.
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