'Ted Lasso' star Cristo Fernandez joins USL team, will face Rising FC
Cristo Fernandez dreamt of playing professional soccer before an injury sidelined him and sent him into acting. Now, he's back on the pitch.
A star from one of the most popular television series in recent years is moving from the screen to the pitch for his next career move. Cristo Fernandez, who played effervescent footballer Dani Rojas in the Apple TV+ award-winning "Ted Lasso" series, about a fictional English soccer club and its American coaches, will be playing professional soccer. The 35-year-old native of Guadalajara, Mexico, has signed with USL Championship club El Paso Locomotive FC, the club announced on Tuesday, May 12.
Fernandez, 35, is listed on the Locomotive roster as a midfielder. He had a two-month trial with the club and ultimately earned a contract, after earlier this year working out with Chicago Fire II, the MLS Next Pro reserve club for Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer. Fernandez isn't just a TV soccer player.
He played the sport in Mexico until an injury forced him to quit at age 15, and would go on to pursue acting. Decades later, he got a shot with El Paso, which plays in the same league and conference as Phoenix Rising FC. He played 30 minutes of a preseason match for the Locomotive.
That turned into an extended tryout and a chance to play professionally. "Fútbol has always been a huge part of my life and identity, and no matter where life has taken me, the dream of competing professionally never truly left my heart,” Fernández told the Locomotive website. 🇺🇸🎬🇲🇽 From TV screens to professional soccer!