Jason Sudeikis has said there’s an easy solution for American coaches who are battling the stigma around his show “Ted Lasso” — win some games.
After being named Leeds head coach last year, Jesse Marsch admitted that the hit Apple TV show may not have helped perceptions around American managers in Europe.
“I think there’s probably a stigma. I’m not sure ‘Ted Lasso’ helped. I haven’t watched the show, but I get it,” Marsch said at a news conference in March 2022.
“People hate hearing the word soccer — I’ve used the word football since I was a professional football player. More and more in the States we’re adapting to what the game here is, and our connection to what this league is and what the sport is in this country.”
In the show Sudeikis plays Lasso, who takes over fictional Premier League team AFC Richmond despite having almost no knowledge of the sport.
In an interview with Gary Neville on Sky Sports, Sudeikis said he hasn’t had the chance to speak to Marsch, but brushed aside any concerns that the show could be unfairly stigmatizing American coaches in Europe.
“That’s not the intention at all and I haven’t had the opportunity to apologize or explain myself yet with Jesse Marsch,” Sudeikis said.
“I think it’s a little lazy of anybody to correlate the two, but that’s never our intention to make things more difficult. But I do know that ultimately, if American coaches came into this league and won a whole bunch of games, that would probably go away.”
After the interview was released Marsch responded on Twitter, saying: “No worries @jasonsudeikis! I’m a big fan!!”
After nearly a year in charge, Marsch was sacked as Leeds manager in February with the club close to the relegation zone.
Watch Neville ask Sudeikis about Marsch
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