11 Fantastic Ted Lasso Facts You Might Not Know

The fourth season of Ted Lasso is scheduled to arrive on Apple TV+ in summer 2026. It is likely music to fans’ ears after the hit show ended in May 2023, as Ted left AFC Richmond to return to Kansas to coach his son.

Yet, fans didn’t need to wait long for Ted to return to football, as he resumes his role as manager in the upcoming series, but this time takes charge of AFC Richmond’s women’s team.

If you cannot wait for the show’s return and would love to learn more about it while you wait, here are 11 fantastic Ted Lasso facts you might not know.

1. Jürgen Klopp Inspired Ted Lasso

According to Jason Sudeikis, former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp is the inspiration behind Ted Lasso’s character.

It is believed that the much-loved manager influenced Lasso’s leadership style and specific plot points.

For instance, Sudeikis told Sports Illustrated, “Man, when I heard about (Klopp) taking his squad to go do karaoke, I was like, ‘Helloooo, story idea…’”

He also expressed his admiration for Klopp’s passionate management and empathy towards his players, which he incorporated into the character.

2. Jason Sudeikis Genuinely Bumped His Head in the Pilot

If you cast your mind back to Ted Lasso’s pilot, you might remember the scene when Ted slams his head into the top of a wooden doorframe when leaving Rebecca’s office.

While it may have appeared to be a scripted moment from an energetic Ted jumping for joy, the bump was a genuine accident, causing an authentic reaction from Hannah Waddingham, who plays Rebecca.

Despite the pain, Jason Sudekis remained in character, allowing the funny moment to make it into the final cut.

After the bump, Sudeikis had to receive stitches for the cut, but it was worth it, as the accident was often recreated throughout the seasons.

3. The Crown & Anchor is a Real Pub

It might surprise you to learn that The Crown & Anchor is a real historic pub you can visit. However, it goes by the name The Prince’s Head and is in Richmond, London, on the corner of Richmond Green.

Thanks to its appearance in Ted Lasso, the pub is quite popular and often requires reservations for lunch and dinner.

If you can’t get a seat, you can always take a selfie outside the pub, as you’re likely to recognise the exterior from the hit comedy.

You can even step inside the red telephone booths or take a seat on Ted and Beard’s Thinking Bench.

The inside may look a little different. While the pub inspired The Crown & Anchor, many of the interior shots were filmed on a soundstage.

However, it’s worth dropping in for a pint, as it features AFC Richmond memorabilia, including the Ted Lasso corner, and the team’s scarf is displayed behind the bar.

4. You Can Bake Ted’s Biscuits

If you have always wondered what Ted’s delicious biscuits taste like, you will be happy to know the recipe is available for you to bake.

If you want to enjoy the biscuits while watching the new season, you will be happy to know it is a simple recipe of four ingredients to make classic English shortbread. Click here for the recipe.

5. Juno Temple Inspired Keeley’s Character

Ted Lasso’s writers altered Keeley’s character after meeting Juno Temple. Once she joined the show, the writing team tweaked her personality to match Temple’s high energy and comedic instincts.

Co-writer Brett Goldstein, who also plays Roy Kent, said Temple is “so naturally funny in the way that she’s funny,” which inspired many aspects of Keeley’s character.

6. The Dartboard is Rigged

While Jason Sudekis might be happy for you to believe he’s a natural darts player, the board is rigged to help Ted reliably hit specific shots during a darts scene at The Crown & Anchor.

7. Brett Goldstein Nearly Didn’t Play Roy

Brett Goldstein joined Ted Lasso as a writer and was never supposed to play Roy. After he started writing for the Apple TV+ show, he developed a deep connection with the character.

On his last day in the writers’ room, Goldsten emailed an audition tape to the show’s creators with a note that read, “If this is embarrassing, you can pretend you never got this email.”

Impressed by the footage, he was immediately added to the cast, and the rest is history.

8. The Team Chants Were Often Improvised

Many of AFC Richmond’s chants and celebrations in the locker room were improvised by the cast during filming.

As many have a football background, they knew the types of songs to create and how to act on the spot.

9. There Are Nods to Many American Sports

Ted Lasso is bursting with obvious and subtle facts about American sports culture, often referencing NFL teams, Major League Baseball, and NBA coaches.

While Sudeikis stated many aspects of Ted’s character were inspired by Jürgen Klopp, his coaching style was based on John Wooden, an iconic UCLA basketball coach.

His practice speech is a comedic twist on Allen Iverson’s famous “we talkin’ ‘bout practice” speech at a press conference.

The Believe sign is a nod to the inspirational door signs commonly used for high school and college sports.

Ted also often quotes many iconic NBA coaches, such as Gregg Popovich, Phil Jackson, and Pat Riley.

10. Zach Braff Directed an Episode

Did you know Zach Braff, best known for starring in Scrubs, directed a Ted Lasso episode?

Braff directed season 1, episode two, “Biscuits,” thanks to his relationship with Ted Lasso co-creator, Bill Lawrence, who created Scrubs.

The episode led to Braff receiving a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Director for a Comedy Series.

11. Some Characters Are Inspired by Real Football Players

Many Ted Lasso characters were inspired by real football players and managers. During an appearance on The Peter Crouch podcast, Jason Sudeikis stated Zava is “mostly based on Zlatan Ibrahimović.”

For this reason, Maximilian Oskinski, who played Zava, carefully studied Zlatan’s interviews to embody the character while including elements of Eric Cantona.

Jamie Tartt is also a combination of Jack Grealish, David Beckham, and Cristiano Ronaldo. For instance, he embodies Grealish’s flash style, Beckham’s celeb/footballer branding, and Ronaldo’s superstar persona.

Many fans also believe that Roy Kent is based on Roy Keane, as he is known for his no-nonsense personality, intensity, temper, and strong leadership. However, Ted Lasso’s writers have not confirmed this influence.

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