El Maestro

Once upon a time in Chiba, there was a man named Ishizaki who led a group of ragtag group of young players and gritty veterans out of a purgatory known as J2. Two years later he had brought the team to the very cusp of Japan's most storied and heralded soccer title but he was dismissed.

In his place was a willing but unequipped man named Takahashi who did his best but failed miserably. After half a season, he too was shown the door. In entered an old warrior, a man who had lead two other J League teams into battle (as well as 27 some other squads), this man was sometimes successful but never around long. His time in Japan has been marked with mediocre results and tumultuous exits, but never has he faced such a dire situation as this.

Nelsinho Baptista cut his soccer teeth for Ponte Preta long ago as a young right back, he would later make his name at Sao Paolo. He would see some time with the storied Brazilian National team before embarking on a long and colorful coaching career.

The last team he would coach before assuming his role at Kashiwa saw him burn bridges with his most decorated players before leaving. Sport Recife. During his term he would help them win 2008s version of the prestigious Copa De Brazil.


Now Nelsinho embarks on his most dauntin task. Save Kashiwa from dropping and he becomes a legend. Let them drop and he has to rebuild, possibly losing half his team in the process.

His record so far is a lackluster 3-5-4 but he has 3 games to turn it around.

Nelsinho Baptista, the man steering the ship.