Which ‘Ted Lasso’ Characters are Based on Real People

Part of the magic of Ted Lasso his understanding of soccer culture, including plenty of serious references to the sport that only fans of the game would understand. Of course, the Apple TV show balances this realism with comedic and dramatic elements to give it a wider appeal, but there’s no doubt that soccer and its nuances are still a big cog in the series machine.

Although AFC Richmond is an entirely fictional team (well, we think), certain characters are definitely inspired by real-life names in soccer, and some take elements from several others and become an amalgamation of different players. Here’s a summary of what it contains Ted Lasso characters based on real people.

Zava – Zlatan Ibrahimovich

Although it was very clear, Ted Lasso recently starred Jason Sudeikis added confirmation of the That Peter Crouch podcast that Zava’s character was largely based on the charismatic, egotistical Zlatan Ibrahimovich. Ibrahimovich (often referred to as Ibra or just by his first name, like Cher) is known for some of the most outrageous quotes in the game but also being able to back them up with great performances, countless titles, and some of the best goals of all time to boot.

Maximilian Osinski plays the character of Zava, and the actor confirmed that he took some inspiration from other famous players who are known for their arrogance – like Eric Cantona, who once famously kicked a kung-fu fan. However, Zlatan is definitely the main inspiration – Osinski said he wore it an hour watching clips of the football player, who gave us gems like “I don’t think you can score a goal as amazing as Zlatan’s in a video game – although these games are so realistic these days,” and “I can’t help but laugh how perfect I am.” Very Zava-esque.

Jamie Tartt – Jack Grealish/Cristiano Ronaldo/David Beckham

The man with the most prominent chant in the game, few characters have shown as much growth as Jamie Tartt, played brilliantly and empathetically by Phil Dunster. Originally written off as an over-the-top but extremely talented starlet, Tartt’s personality and ability to bounce back has drawn comparisons with global superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who also rose to prominence playing for Manchester United (yes Tartt initially “on loan” at Richmond from Manchester City). In fact, when he returned to City for a short stint in the show, Tartt even adopted one of Ronaldo’s famous spiky hairstyles.

As an England player who does as well as celebrities, he has also been compared to David Beckham – a comparison that makes more sense when you remember that Roy once said, “His right foot was touched by God.” as Beckham was known for his ability. whip in dangerous crosses and free kicks with his right. However, as the character has grown and developed, he now seems to be based primarily on Jack Grealish, a silky player known for his Jack-the-lad attitude and kindness off the field . This is not only reflected in Tartt’s personality but also in his hair styling, which has a distinctive Grealish look.

Sam Obisanya – Sam Richardson/Marcus Rashford/Bukayo Saka

A good guy and one of the most likeable characters in a show full of them, Sam’s personality is not based on a footballer, but on an American comedian and actor. Sam Richardson, of VEEP He is known for having a friendly, calm personality, and generally being a nice guy in an industry that sometimes lacks them. The American was brought in during season two to play a Ghanaian billionaire who wants to build an all-African superstar team to improve the soccer situation of his home continent, giving him the unique experience of playing a character in front of someone based on it.

That said, Sam’s activism means he could be compared to England striker Marcus Rashford, who famously campaigned against the UK Conservative government to cut free school meals for children. His charming personality could be based on Brit Bukayo Saka, who is known by everyone who works with him as a gentleman and charming – or, as one of his own. England teammates once said: “If I had a sister or a daughter and they said to me: ‘Oh, I’m going on a date with Bukayo Saka’, I would ‘enjoy it. Let it pay, but enjoy it.”

Roy Kent – ​​Roy Keane

There is no doubt who inspired gruff hardman and ex-Richmond captain-turned-coach Roy Kent: the much-feared ex-Manchester United captain Roy Keane. In addition to the very similar names and personalities, the character (played by Ted Lasso writer Brett Goldstein) even to be like Keane, who gave Manchester United numerous awards in the nineties and early 2000s.

Keane was competitive, often to the point of near violence, and was known for his outspoken attitude. Both the character and the player are huge leaders, although there is one huge difference between the two: while Kent has excelled as a coach at Richmond, Keane has had little in the way of management. But, maybe if he had Lasso to calm him down, he might have done a little better.

Ted Lasso – Jurgen Klopp

Considering that one of the main points of the show is that Ted doesn’t know much about football, it might be strange to think that he is based on a modern manager, who has a reputation for being a great tackler and generally a soccer nut. However, the Kansas man and current Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp share many similarities in their coaching styles and general exuberance.

In addition to the fact that they are both great male managers who can squeeze every ounce of effort out of players, the story of Ted taking the team to karaoke is established. on a real-life event involving Klopp and his team. Having said that, Klopp is definitely a lot quicker than Ted, especially when Liverpool (or any of the teams that went before him) lost, so it’s not a head-to-head comparison.

Dani Rojas – Javier “Chicharito” Hernández/Alexis Sanchez

In South and Central America, Dani Rojas’ famous phrase about the world of football is true, and two real players who embody that message are the Mexican Javier “Chicharito” Hernández and the Chilean Alexis Sanchez.

Chicharito was more of a “poacher” than Rojas but he always had the same sunny attitude on the pitch, but Sanchez has a similar style of play to Sanchez. Ted Lasso character, as well as a battery that would put the Duracell bunny to shame – like Dani.

Nate Shelley – José Mourinho

A lot of people might think this is a bit of a stretch, but when you think about it, there are a lot of similarities between Nate and the man who once called himself “the special one”. Nate was assistant coach at Richmond before moving on to manage rivals West Ham, while Mourinho started at FC Barcelona before managing arch-rivals Real Madrid to glory. Nate and Mourinho are noted for their tactical minds with a deep knowledge of the game that most of their rivals cannot match.

Both also gave themselves their own slightly catchy nicknames (“the wunderkid” and “the special one”), and both are known for their disdain for rival managers. In addition to all that, in recent years, Mourinho has mellowed (just a little), and as viewers of the show will know, we are very much in the middle of Nate’s redemption arc – or re-nate-sance, as some . people (me) are calling him.

Keeley Jones – Keeley Hazell

Keeley is definitely a fan favorite, and although many think she is an amalgamation of various British models, she is primarily based on former English glamor girl Keeley Hazell. Hazell is credited as a writer on the show and also appeared as Rupert’s girlfriend.

The similarities between the two not only end in their careers, but also that both went from the somewhat seedy world of topless modeling to forge their own paths in other fields.

AFC Richmond – AFC Wimbledon/Crystal Palace

Although Richmond is fictional, there are some similarities between them and other real life clubs in London. AFC Wimbledon were once the boys of the football league before they were disbanded by mismanagement and had to start from the bottom of the football pyramid, but Wimbledon’s proximity to Richmond and mid-sized club status make the comparison meaningful.

However, in terms of clubs, Crystal Palace are the closest we have in real life to Richmond. Based in South East London instead of the South West, Palace have a reputation for being top of the league for a while without making much of an impact in terms of trophies. More importantly, the shots of the Richmond ground (the Dog Track) we see in the show are taken from Selhurst Park, where Palace play.