Ted Lasso ( ) is an American sports comedy-drama television series developed by Jason Sudeikis, Bill Lawrence, Brendan Hunt, and Joe Kelly. It is based on a character Sudeikis portrayed in a series of promotional media for NBC Sports' coverage of England's football Premier League. The show follows Ted Lasso, an American college football coach who is hired to coach an English football team, A.F.C. Richmond, whose owner secretly hopes his inexperience will lead it to failure; instead, Lasso's folksy, optimistic leadership proves unexpectedly successful. The first season of ten episodes premiered on Apple TV+ on August 14, 2020, with the first three episodes releasing immediately. A second season of twelve episodes followed on July 23, 2021, with the third season released on March 15, 2023, which was intended to be the final season. It was announced in March 2025 that the series had been renewed for a fourth season, which premiered on August 5, 2026.
The series has received critical acclaim, with particular praise for its performances (notably Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Phil Dunster, Brett Goldstein, Nick Mohammed, and Juno Temple), humor, writing, themes, and uplifting tone. Among other accolades, its first season was nominated for 20 Primetime Emmy Awards, becoming the most nominated first-season comedy in Emmy history. Sudeikis, Waddingham, and Goldstein won for their performances, and the series won the 2021 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series. Sudeikis also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series. The series repeated all three of those award wins the next year.
Premise
Ted Lasso, an American college football coach, is unexpectedly recruited to coach a fictional English Premier League soccer team, A.F.C. Richmond, despite having no experience coaching soccer. The team's owner, Rebecca Welton, gained ownership of the team in a divorce from her unfaithful ex-husband, Rupert. She has hired Lasso, secretly hoping he will cause the team's downfall and devastate Rupert, who cared more about AFC Richmond than anything else. However, Ted's charm, personality, and humor begin to win over Rebecca, the team, and those who had been skeptical about his appointment.
Cast and characters Main Jason Sudeikis as Ted Lasso, an American college football coach from Wichita, Kansas who is hired to coach AFC Richmond, an English soccer team. He is frequently ridiculed for his folksy optimism and inexperience with the sport, but gradually wins people over through his kind and compassionate approach to coaching. Ted joins Richmond halfway through Richmond's season in the Premier League, and gets relegated to the Championship. He manages to lead them back to the Premier League, and then finishes as runner-up in his third year at the club. Ted leaves Richmond at the end of Season 3 to be closer to his son, and migrates back to the UK with his family in Season 4, returning to Richmond as head coach of the club's women's team. Hannah Waddingham as Rebecca Welton, the new owner of AFC Richmond. Having gained ownership of the team through a divorce settlement with her philandering ex-husband Rupert Mannion, Rebecca hires Lasso as part of a ploy to ruin the club, the only thing her ex-husband truly loved. She eventually comes to appreciate Lasso as a coach and works with him to improve the club's standings within the English soccer league system. Rebecca is especially close with Keeley Jones, the club's PR specialist, and eventually becomes an angel investor for Keeley's PR firm. Jeremy Swift as Leslie Higgins, the timid but quirky Director of Football Operations at AFC Richmond. Higgins was indirectly responsible for Rebecca's divorce due to covering for his ex-boss Rupert during his affairs. Higgins is opposed to Rebecca's plans to sabotage Ted's efforts and eventually quits his post after the two fall out. They eventually reconcile, and Higgins returns to Richmond for the long haul. A jazz enthusiast and musician (who plays the double bass), Higgins has a large family with five sons. Phil Dunster as Jamie Tartt (seasons 1–3; guest season 4), a talented young forward, on loan to Richmond from Manchester City in Season 1. Despite his talent, Tartt is extremely arrogant and believes himself to be superior to the other Richmond players. After pursuing an opportunity to appear on a dating reality show, he struggles to get his life back on track when he is eliminated and Manchester City drops him from their team. Eventually rejoining Richmond, Jamie slowly learns the value of teamwork and transitions into a more versatile attacking midfielder, developing his playmaking skills in addition to scoring. Prior to the events of Season 4, Jamie had transferred to FC Barcelona for the new season, and returns to Richmond as a guest to endorse his new line of vodka, reuniting with Keeley, Rebecca, and Roy. Brett Goldstein as Roy Kent, a veteran box-to-box midfielder. Kent is Richmond's captain at the start of the series, until a tackle on Tartt in a match against Manchester City ends his career in professional soccer. Kent does a brief stint as a commentator before realizing that he misses being on the pitch and returns to Richmond as an assistant coach. At the end of season 3, Kent is appointed as Richmond's new manager following Ted's departure. In Season 4, Roy is still the head coach of the Richmond men's team, and has led them to an FA Cup victory and several Champions League appearances. Kent is primarily based on hot-headed Irish former footballer Roy Keane. Brendan Hunt as Coach Willis Beard, Lasso's grounded, laconic longtime assistant coach and friend from Peoria, Illinois. Beard originally met Ted through college football and eventually fell into trouble with the law, with Ted coming to his aid and helping him get back on his feet. Throughout the series, Beard is in an on-off relationship with a London woman named Jane, whom he met through playing chess. At the end of Season 3, Beard chooses to remain in the UK, staying on as an assistant coach for AFC Richmond and marrying Jane in a ceremony at Stonehenge. In Season 4, Kent releases Beard from the men's team, allowing him to rejoin Ted as assistant coach for the women's team. Nick Mohammed as Nathan "Nate" Shelley (seasons 1–3; guest season 4), AFC Richmond's original equipment manager who is promoted to assistant coach in Season 2. Despite his tactical brilliance, being dubbed the "Wonder Kid" after an inspired substitution which results in a Richmond victory over Tottenham in the FA Cup, Nate is insecure about his abilities. This eventually results in him falling out with Ted after believing the latter has forsaken him and leads him to become the manager of West Ham United under Rupert Mannion's ownership. Nate eventually reconciles with Ted and the other members of Richmond, eventually quitting West Ham and returning to Richmond. Juno Temple as Keeley Jones, a model who also works as Richmond's Chief Marketing Officer. At the start of the series, Keeley is dating Jamie Tartt but breaks up with him after realizing his immaturity and arrogance are not a good fit for her. She later enters into a relationship with Roy Kent throughout the second season, though they break up in Season 3 due to conflicting schedules and extra duties. Keeley eventually leaves the club to start her own PR firm and retains Richmond as one of her biggest clients. Keeley is bisexual, having had relationships with Tartt, Kent, and later Jack Danvers, the female venture capitalist who finances her company. At the end of the third season, Keeley has rebuilt her firm with Rebecca as her angel investor, following her falling out with Jack. Keeley returns in Season 4 as Richmond's official Chief Marketing Officer, promoting the club's women's team. Sarah Niles as Dr. Sharon M. Fieldstone (season 2; recurring season 3; guest season 4), a no-nonsense sports psychologist. Sharon is hired by Richmond to help the players and staff with their mental health, when forward Dani Rojas gets the "yips" after accidentally killing the club's mascot when taking a penalty kick. Besides the players, Sharon also helps Ted with his own mental health throughout the season and continues as his therapist after her contract with Richmond expires. At the end of Season 3, Sharon is hired by Richmond full-time as their resident head of mental health and emotional well-being. Anthony Head as Rupert Mannion (season 3; recurring season 1; guest season 2), Rebecca's vindictive, philandering ex-husband, the former owner of AFC Richmond and later the owner of West Ham United. Toheeb Jimoh as Samuel "Sam" Obisanya (season 3; recurring seasons 1–2; guest season 4), Richmond's right-back, who later converts to playing as a right winger. Sam is from Nigeria and is passionate about environmental issues, driving a Tesla and boycotting AFC Richmond's sponsor when it is revealed they are destroying his homeland's natural environment. Outside of football, Sam is also a restaurateur and owns a Nigerian-themed restaurant named "Ola's" (after his father). In Season 4, it is revealed that Obisanya left Richmond to play for Manchester United. Cristo Fernández as Dani Rojas (season 3; recurring seasons 1–2; guest season 4), an enthusiastic player from Mexico who joins Richmond as a forward half way through the first season, after recovering from an injury. Enthusiastic, upbeat, and passionate, Dani's philosophy is "football is life"; he eventually becomes a core part of Richmond's starting lineup, playing as a second striker. Kola Bokinni as Isaac McAdoo (season 3; recurring seasons 1–2; guest season 4), a center-back for team Richmond. After Roy Kent retires from the team, he chooses Isaac as his successor as captain. Isaac initially struggles with leadership, but he recovers and becomes an effective captain as the season progresses. He is close friends with Colin Hughes and was resentful that Colin did not feel comfortable sharing his sexual orientation with him. The two eventually make amends over a game of FIFA. Besides his defending, Isaac has an especially powerful kick and scored an equalizing penalty in Richmond's final match against West Ham. Billy Harris as Colin Hughes (season 3; recurring seasons 1–2; guest season 4), Richmond's left winger who comes from Wales. Colin is initially closeted; his sexual orientation is revealed during a match when one of the fans yells a homophobic slur and captain Isaac McAdoo goes to confront him in the stands. Colin then comes out to the team and makes amends with McAdoo. Colin is a supercar enthusiast, owning several exotic vehicles including a Lamborghini Huracán Evo, and a Noble M500. In Season 4, it is revealed that Hughes has left Richmond and now plays for Welsh club Wrexham. James Lance as Trent Crimm (season 3; recurring seasons 1–2; guest season 4), a cynical, pragmatic sports reporter for The Independent who is a regular member of the press at Richmond's media conferences. Trent is fired at the end of the second season for revealing his anonymous source regarding Ted's panic attacks, though he remains on good terms with Ted. In the third season, Trent is a freelance writer who spends the season with Richmond to author a book about the club, which is ultimately titled The Richmond Way. Like Colin Hughes, Trent is gay, and came out to his family prior to the series. Trent returns in Season 4 as the host of his own podcast, Through the Laces.