Remember Dani Rojas from Ted Lasso shouting "Football is life!"? Well, Cristo Fernandez might be about to make that real. The 35-year-old actor just played 30 minutes in a preseason friendly for USL Championship side El Paso Locomotive.
A club source confirmed that Fernandez is currently on trial with the team. They're expected to make a decision on a professional contract this week. Yes, you read that right - the beloved Ted Lasso star could actually become a professional footballer.
This isn't just some celebrity stunt either. Fernandez was a serious player growing up in Mexico. He came through the academy at Tecos FC, a former first division Mexican team, staying there until he was 15.
He even played in Puerto Rico's First Division with Guayama FC. The team came close to qualifying for the CONCACAF Champions League during his time there. But two major knee injuries forced him to step away from the game and focus on academics instead.
From Acting School to Ted Lasso Fame
After hanging up his boots, Fernandez got a bachelor's degree in Communications from UNIVA in Mexico. Then he earned a master's in acting from the Guildford School of Acting at the University of Surrey in England.
His acting career took off big time. Beyond Ted Lasso, he's appeared in Spider-Man: No Way Home and voiced Wheeljack in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. He's even produced 37 screenplays according to IMDB.
The Ted Lasso cast won a 2022 award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series. Fernandez has picked up several other nominations for his portrayal of the lovable Mexican striker Dani Rojas across all three seasons.
What This Means for El Paso and Bettors
At 35, Fernandez would be the oldest player on El Paso's current roster. The second-oldest is 33-year-old defender Arturo Ortiz. That's definitely past the typical athletic prime for a professional footballer.
But here's the interesting angle - if El Paso signs him, expect a massive boost in attention for the USL side. Ted Lasso fans around the world would suddenly have a reason to follow USL Championship matches. That could mean higher attendance and more eyeballs on their games.
For bettors, this creates an intriguing situation. The publicity boost alone could give El Paso extra motivation and crowd support at home matches. However, whether Fernandez can actually contribute on the pitch at 35 after years away from competitive football is the big question.
Season 4 of Ted Lasso is expected this summer, with production already underway in London. Fernandez told Screen Rant he'd return "for free" if asked, though his involvement in the new season hasn't been confirmed yet. How he'd balance both roles remains unclear if El Paso offers him a contract.
