Episode of this week Ted Lasso starts with the players getting ready for practice, and a particularly useful detail is that Dani Rojas (Cristo Fernandez) the catchphrase “Football is life” is embroidered on his boots. The Mexican star’s enthusiasm and natural charisma is captivating, although what you may not know is that his entire character is based on a real football player, another Mexican striker. Javier “Chicarito” Hernandez. They both play forward, love to score goals (even with their faces!), and are very positive about football and why it’s important, so they’re the perfect couple.
It’s one of the things Ted Lasso does it best: uses real football references to create his own version of a great game. Recently, for example, we had star scorer Zava (Maximilian Osinski) imitate Swedish legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the series, but it happened much more than that. Roy Kent (English)Brett Goldstein) is based on the Manchester United badge. Roy Keene, and even AFC Richmond itself is based on the real-life Crystal Palace club. For football fans, this is a treat as it means the show knows what it’s doing, treating the history of the sport as knowledge. But enough about that, let’s talk football Now.
Dani Rojas Teda Lasso is based on Mexican soccer star Javier “Chicarito” Hernandez.
When we first meet Dani Rojas, he’s an ultra-spirited new player who starts in Richmond in season 1, episode 6, “Two Aces.” He is recovering from injury, has spent some time away from the field and is therefore very happy to play. Only soon do we learn that this enthusiasm is due not only to the fact that he was away, but also to a defining feature of his personality. He is naturally happy and positive, perfect for TedJason Sudeikis) with the dynamics of the dressing room and soon infected the rest of the team with his attitude.
The general attitude of Rojas is usually seen in many Latin American players, but one of them has stood out over the past decade, going so far as to become an inspiration for Ted Lasso character. This is Javier “Chicarito” Hernandez, whose nickname means “little pea”, alluding to the fact that he is the son of another famous Mexican footballer. Javier “Chicharo” Hernandezwho has green eyes that look like peas. Chicharito was the symbol of a new generation of players in Mexican football, along with players such as Giovani dos Santos And Guillermo “Memo” Ochoaand defined the national team’s passionate and skillful playing style despite not winning a single title.
Chicharito began his career at Chivas Guadalajara where he remained until a move to Manchester United in 2010. Like Rojas at Richmond, his impact on the club’s game was clear and he scored 20 goals in his first season with the Red Devils. player to do this, as a classic striker Ruud van Nistelrooy. In his five years at United, he won two Premier League titles, including the club’s last title in 2012/2013, and was one of the last players to be coached by the legendary manager. Sir Alex Ferguson.
After leaving Manchester United in 2015, he played a season with Real Madrid on loan before going on to play for Bayer Leverkusen in the German Bundesliga, where he was often awarded the Player of the Month trophy. He would later return to the Premier League and play for West Ham for two years (though not under Nate Shelley, who was played on the show Nick Mohammed). He now plays in Major League Soccer for the Los Angeles Galaxy, a club known for hosting great players in the last years of his career.
Similarities Between Dani Rojas and Chicharito Go Beyond Nationality and Charisma
Of course, Chicharito may not have been the only inspiration for Dani Rojas’ character, as many footballers also join our favorite star. There are differences between them, especially in regards to their style on the field. For example, Chicharito has always been described as a “poacher”, the kind of player who likes to be either in or near the box and finish his team’s game by scoring a goal. He always had a sense of where the ball was, where it was going and where it needed to be - a typical striker trait - and despite his short stature, he always scored well with his header. Rojas, on the other hand, has always been faster and a dribbler, which puts him closer to the PSG icons. Neymar And Kylian Mbappe.
However, their willpower when entering the field is quite similar and both Dani and Chicharito will go out of their way to help their teams, even scoring weird goals. This is another sign that the inspiration is real because both players have already scored with their faces. Yes, you read it right. Remember the second episode of this season, “(I Don’t Want to Go) to Chelsea”? Richmond went to Stamford Bridge to play against Chelsea and Dani scored the goal with a face. Crossed by Jamie Tartt (Phil Dunster), Sam Obisanya (Tohib Jimo) throws the ball into the goal post and then hits Dani in the face before going inside. Guess who also scored against Chelsea? It happened when Manchester United played Chelsea in the 2010 Community Shield, the match between the reigning Premier League and FA Cup champions that traditionally opens football in England. After the cross Antonio Valencia, Chicharito missed his shot, causing the ball to bounce into his face before entering the ball. So technically you can argue that he even helped himself in this goal. You cannot do this.
There are coincidences that also help the cause, such as Dani Rojas’s actor Cristo Fernandez was once a footballer himself and was also born in Guadalajara, like Chicharito. Thus, despite the differences in the field, this parallel between the two Mexican footballers suggests itself. We don’t see everyday passionate players who live the sport the way they do - the good, the bad and the awkward aspects of it. So we can say with confidence: “Football is life”, but it is also real life.
New episodes Ted Lasso Season 3 premieres every Wednesday on Apple TV+.
Source: Collider
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