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Endou Mamoru

Endou Mamoru (円堂 守, Endō Mamoru) is the main protagonist of Inazuma Eleven. He serves as the goalkeeper and captain of Raimon Junior High’s soccer team and later leads Inazuma Japan in international matches. Known for his unwavering determination, leadership, and boundless enthusiasm, Endou is a central figure in revitalizing his team’s passion for soccer and taking them to new heights.

Ten years later, in Inazuma Eleven GO, Endou transitions into a coaching role, becoming the head coach of Raimon. His influence continues into Inazuma Eleven GO Chrono Stone, where he later assumes the position of coach for Chrono Storm, guiding the next generation of players with his experience and indomitable spirit.

Appearance

https://everipedia.io/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/shibuya.jpg

Endou Mamoru as a goalkeeper, wearing his signature headband and protective gloves

Endou Mamoru has short, spiky brown hair, with a single bang hanging over his forehead. His large, round brown eyes reflect his cheerful and determined personality, and his slightly tanned skin gives him a rugged, athletic look. A defining feature of his appearance is his orange headband, which he considers his trademark accessory, rarely seen without it.

As an adult, Endou’s hair becomes slightly longer and spikier, giving him a more mature appearance. His outfit consists of an orange shirt with a white collar, layered under a white jacket with brown accents and orange stripes running down the sleeves. He pairs this with dark blue jeans, and he keeps the collar of his jacket raised, reinforcing his confident and charismatic attitude.

In Inazuma Eleven GO the Movie: The Ultimate Bonds Gryphon and episode 32 of Inazuma Eleven GO, he wears an alternate jacket, which is white with a thick orange stripe around the middle and an orange dot on each sleeve.

In an alternative timeline, Endou’s skin is fairer, and his chin is more pointed, giving him a noticeably different facial structure from his main timeline counterpart.

Photo Section with Captions

Personality

Endou Mamoru is a passionate and optimistic soccer enthusiast known for his never-give-up attitude and selfless nature. He always prioritizes others before himself and maintains a happy-go-lucky demeanor, which endears him to both allies and rivals alike. His admiration for his grandfather, Daisuke, drives him to study and refine the technique notebooks that his grandfather left behind. His love for soccer is so intense that many, including Coach Hibiki, have called him the biggest soccer freak in the world. His infectious enthusiasm and ability to inspire others allow him to gather new teammates for Raimon and later Inazuma Japan, helping them grow both as individuals and as a team.

Despite his carefree attitude, Endou is a respected leader due to his mental strength, perseverance, and unwavering encouragement. He consistently pushes himself and his teammates to face stronger opponents, even when the odds are against them. His determination is evident in his matches against Aliea Gakuen, where, despite losing, he remains undeterred and strives for improvement in future games. His closest friends include Kidou Yuuto, Gouenji Shuuya, Kazemaru Ichirouta, and Kabeyama Heigorou. However, his confidence can sometimes border on overconfidence, as seen in Episode 51, where he believed that Seigi no Tekken would be strong enough to defeat The Genesis, only to be shocked when Desarm’s Gungnir broke through his technique.

As a captain, Endou is responsible, open to criticism, and deeply supportive of his teammates. He works with them on a personal level to ensure their growth and success. While he is generally cheerful, he also has high emotional intelligence and can quickly sense when his teammates are struggling. His leadership makes him a role model and a pillar of strength for his team.

In the manga, Endou is depicted as more hotheaded and loud compared to his anime and game counterparts. His determination and confidence are strongly emphasized, especially in his attempts to recruit players like Gouenji and Tamano Gorou. He also displays greater emotional vulnerability, as shown when he learns about his grandfather’s death at the hands of Kageyama Reiji. Overcome with grief and disbelief, he briefly loses his usual composure, leading some to question whether he is the same Endou they knew. However, upon hearing a student remark that “a captain like that won’t win the match,” he quickly suppresses his sadness and reassumes his role as a leader.

By the time of Inazuma Eleven GO, ten years later, Endou has matured significantly, becoming calmer and more analytical while maintaining his love for soccer. He returns as Raimon’s coach with the goal of restoring soccer to its former glory, believing that it should be played freely rather than dictated by Fifth Sector. His marriage to Natsumi further contributes to his maturity, and his romantic side is shown more openly compared to his younger years. Unlike his past self, he no longer overreacts or talks excessively about soccer, instead demonstrating patience and wisdom. As a coach, he is kind and supportive, valuing his players’ growth and independence. While he maintains his seriousness during matches, he remains a motivational leader, as seen when he successfully encourages Shinsuke to use Buttobi Jump in the match against Teikoku. The Raimon team members consider him a kinder coach than Kidou, though they appreciate both of their coaching styles.

In Inazuma Eleven Reloaded, even after losing a match 0-13, Endou maintains his unshakable optimism, laughing about how strong the world is, showcasing his undying love for soccer and his indomitable spirit.

Background

As a child, Endou Mamoru discovered his grandfather’s belongings in a storage room in his backyard. His grandfather, Endou Daisuke, was a legendary goalkeeper, regarded as one of the best in the world. Inspired by Daisuke’s legacy, Endou became fascinated with the world of soccer, developing an unwavering determination to play the sport himself. However, his mother initially opposed his involvement in soccer, as she believed that his grandfather’s supposed death was connected to the sport. Despite her reluctance, Endou’s persistence and passion eventually won her over, and she came to support his love for soccer.

In season three of Inazuma Eleven, a new character, Kudou Fuyuka, is introduced as one of Inazuma Japan’s managers. Endou immediately recognizes her as his childhood friend, though Fuyuka initially denies any recollection of him. Later in the season, it is revealed that Fuyuka had undergone a medical memory suppression procedure due to the trauma of losing her parents. Overcome with grief, she had been hospitalized, and the procedure was performed to help her cope. However, as she spent more time around Endou, her lost memories gradually resurfaced, triggered by his presence and familiarity. Endou displayed great concern for Fuyuka, staying by her side in the hospital as she recovered her past memories.

While Endou is canonically married to Natsumi in the main continuity of Inazuma Eleven GO, an alternate storyline in the Dark version of the game depicts him as married to Fuyuka instead, offering a different take on his future relationships.

Relationships

Gouenji Shuuya
Endou’s best friend and ace striker, forming an unbreakable bond on and off the field. Gouenji’s powerful shots and Endou’s strong defense make them a legendary duo.

Kidou Yuuto
Initially a rival, Kidou eventually becomes one of Endou’s most trusted teammates and strategists.

Kazemaru Ichirouta
One of his earliest teammates, Kazemaru respects Endou for helping him find his passion for soccer again.

Fuyuka Kudou
Endou’s childhood friend and eventual wife, showing his softer and more caring side outside of soccer.

Matsukaze Tenma
As a mentor in Inazuma Eleven GO, Endou inspires Tenma to believe in his own potential, guiding him toward becoming a great leader.

Legacy

Endou Mamoru’s unbreakable spirit, strong leadership, and incredible goalkeeping skills make him one of the most beloved characters in Inazuma Eleven. His journey from a young player to a world-class captain and later a coach embodies the core themes of perseverance, teamwork, and passion for soccer.

Whether as a legendary goalkeeper, an inspiring captain, or a wise mentor, Endou’s legacy continues to inspire players and fans alike, solidifying him as one of the greatest protagonists in sports anime history.

Trivia

    • In a tweet by Hino Akihiro, it was revealed that Endou Mamoru’s name is derived from エンドをまもる (Endo wo mamoru), which translates to “protecting to the end.” This name serves as a reference to both his role as the main protagonist and his goalkeeper position, emphasizing his duty to defend his team.
    • In the English dub, his name was changed to Mark Evans, a name coincidentally shared with a former professional goalkeeper for Bradford City and Scarborough F.C. However, it remains unclear whether this was intentional or purely coincidental.
    • In the Latin American localization, his first name was altered to Satoru, likely because “Mamoru” sounds similar to a slang word in Spanish.
    • Endou shares his birthday, August 22nd, with the Japanese release date of the first Inazuma Eleven game.
    • During Raimon’s match against Inazuma Eleven in the anime, Endou does not wear the captain’s armband, a rare occurrence given his usual leadership role.
    • He is classmates with Aki Kino, Gouenji Shuuya, Handa Shinichi, Ootani Tsukasa, and Azuma Jirou, strengthening his close bonds with several of his teammates.