A new soccer star has been introduced in Ted Lasso Season 3, episode 2, named Zava. The episode is aptly titled “(I Don’t Want To Go to) Chelsea.” Rebecca Welton, the owner of the fictitious club AFC Richmond, hopes to make it to the top of the Premier League leaderboard. However, she needed a top player to achieve that. The opportunity arrived in the form of Zava.
Rebecca Welton saying “Zava Dabba Doo” is genuinely one of the funniest things I’ve heard in my life😭 Hannah Waddingham, Queen of Comedy#TedLasso pic.twitter.com/8vC62mxu5D
— Rachel💜 (@weltonandrose) March 22, 2023
Every other London-based club was ready to sign him but Rebecca won the race. She managed to sign the star soccer player. So, the question arises, who is Zava, and is he based on any real-life soccer stars?
Ted Lasso’s soccer star Zava is always wearing sunglasses during his appearances initially. It may have been a little difficult to recognize him, however, Zava is played by Maximilian Osinski. He is an Austrian-born American actor and has appeared most famously as Agent Davis in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
But like many other characters in the show, is Zava also based on a soccer player? He most certainly seems like it. The outlandish and comedic character does bear a resemblance to Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
How is Zava from Ted Lasso similar to real-life soccer player Zlatan Ibrahimovic?
Zava, who is a former Juventus player on the show, resembles the fact that Zlatan also represented the Italian giants. Both men also fashion a man bun. Not to mention the facial hair is also eerily similar. What strikes home is that they both often refer to themselves in the third person as well.
So far, Zava has proven to be a character with a lot of ego and controversies surrounding him. The ‘Lion’ among men, Zlatan, is not far behind. The Swedish star is known for his ego and self-praising comments. In an interview with BT Sport, Zlatan was asked about the best Premier League strikers, however, he did not name himself. When he was questioned about it, he said, “Lions do not compare themselves to humans.”
The Zlatan Ibrahimovic Parody in #TedLasso is amazing…
Zava. 14 clubs, 15 seasons. Leaves nothing but chaos and trophies in clubs pic.twitter.com/ltGDJMf43P
— Inqiad Bin Ali🔰 (@AliInqiad) March 22, 2023
Zlatan’s club-hopping career has also been referenced in the show. Zava has represented 14 clubs in 15 years showing no loyalty whatsoever. Zlatan, on the other hand, played for 9 clubs over 24 years. Zava has also been said to be an acrobatic goalscorer much like Zlatan. The Swede’s famed bicycle kick from over 30 yards out in 2012 against England comes to mind.
How this egocentric star of the world will affect the close-knit dynamic of AFC Richmond will be seen. Though Jamie Tartt, the star player of Richmond, seems to be apprehensive about it. Could it be just because he is used to being the star player? Or he genuinely cares about the team’s discipline being disrupted? We will get to know as the season progresses.