It's the TV series that has taken the football world by storm - so much so, that Ted Lasso is even forcing its way into Premier League dressing rooms.
The Emmy Award-nominating show starring Jason Sudeikis has proved to be a popular hit with viewers of Apple TV, and now boasts Liverpool's backroom team among its followers. It was only several months ago that it emerged Manchester United players had nicknamed their own coach after the fictional football manager.
And now those working behind the scenes at Liverpool 's Kirkby training base have taken their own inspiration from the programme. Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders has revealed that he and the fellow coaches have even named their WhatsApp group after the one Lasso shares with his staff.
According to The Athletic, Lijnders and co are part of a group titled "Diamond Dogs " - the same name Lasso gave to his own backroom team. The show follows American football coach Lasso as he is appointed manager of fictional 'Premier League' side AFC Richmond - despite him having no experience of working in 'soccer'.
While the fallible Lasso has become a somewhat inspirational figure, he has also been the butt of the jokes in some dressing room. Former United no.2 Chris Armas - also an American - was given the nickname by the Red Devils' players in what was his first job in English football.
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The moniker was supposedly used in a derogatory manner, but Armas has since insisted his relationship with the players was always friendly. "I'm only grateful, they treated me, I promise you all, tremendously," he told The Crack Podcast.
"With the players, I had a really good rapport, top to bottom, young or older, or superstar. But the frustrating thing is you find yourself with this gift, like a pot of gold and I can't carry it, it's too heavy."
Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch has also found himself compared with Lasso due to also hailing from the States. Marsch took over at Elland Road in February and immediately addressed any correlation reporters would make between him and his compatriots.
“I think there’s probably a stigma [against American coaches in the UK]. I’m not sure Ted Lasso helped,” he joked. “I haven’t watched the show but I get it. People hate hearing the word ‘soccer’."
Marsch's comments soon travelled far enough for producers of the show to invite Marsch down to see how the show is made. "They were filming in London and they gave me an invitation but it was in the middle of the relegation fight," Marsch told ESPN. "But I'm a huge Jason Sudeikis fan and so any time I could be on set or see what's going on, that would be awesome.
"I haven't (had time to watch it in the offseason). I've heard it's a really great show, I've heard it's inspiring and a lot of people love it. I'll have to find some time to watch it." Addressing negative opinions on coaches from the States, he added: "It's just about managing the way people speak about Americans in England and our sport. I think no one comes here if they're afraid of what people might say."
