Apple TV+’s award winning show, “Ted Lasso,” is now on its third season. The show features coach Ted Lasso, an optimistic Kansas born football coach turned European soccer manager, who brings his cheerful nature across the pond to AFC Richmond, a premier league (European) football club. Lasso, though faced many challenges, is ultimately able to win over the team, fans, and even befriends their revengeful owner, Rebecca Walton. Throughout the series, Lasso and the other characters emphasize positivity, even over winning. Here are a couple of quotes that VALLEY thinks will help you think a little more like Coach Lasso.
1. “Be a goldfish.” – Ted Lasso
On his first day of coaching, Lasso notices Sam Obisanya, a decent player who seems a little down on himself. After being mocked by one of his teammates, Lasso pulls Obisanya aside and asks him “you know what the happiest animal on Earth is?” Taken aback, Obisanya shakes his head, leading Lasso into his spiel about how the goldfish is the happiest animal on Earth because they have a 10 second memory. “Be a goldfish,” Lasso tells Obisanya.
Lasso is trying to tell Obisanya to forget about the bad things and to not let one moment get to him. While at first Obisanya is confused by this interaction, as the first season goes on, he understands it and implements it into his strategy.
2. “Be curious. Not judgmental.” – Ted Lasso
This is actually a quote by Walt Whitman that Lasso references during a scene when he beats his villainous opponent, and Walton’s ex-husband, in darts. Lasso is emphasizing the idea of not judging people off the bat, but to rather get to know them and ask questions instead.
3. “All people are different people.” – Coach Beard
In season two, the staff is deciding if a sports psychologist should be added to the staff to help the players. However, Lasso is hesitant, especially due to his bad experience in couples therapy. Though, while at the local pub, Coach Beard, Lasso’s assistant coach, relays one of Lasso’s own quotes: “All people are different people.” Ultimately, Beard is saying that just because Lasso didn’t like his old therapist, doesn’t mean they are all the same/bad.
4. “You deserve someone that makes you feel like you’ve been struck by f***ing lightning. Don’t you dare settle for fine.” – Roy Kent
Even the angry and curse-word-ridden Roy Kent has some wise words. In the second season, Kent, who is now a retired footballer, and his cheerful girlfriend, Keely Jones, go on a double date with Walton and her current suitor. After a dull dinner, Walton asks her friends what they thought of her man. Jones goes on to say they were a good match, though hiding from the truth, until Kent decides he has something to say. He opens with a Roy Kent classic, “f***ing hell,” and goes into how Walton deserves “someone that makes you feel like you’ve been struck by f***ing lightning.”
In his own relationship, Kent is seen truly in love, even in his grumpy way. Also, he has learned from the women in his yoga class the importance of not settling, which he is seen relaying to Walton.
5. “Do you believe in miracles?” – Ted Lasso
At the end of season one, before the game that would determine their Premier League status, many of the AFC Richmond fans and players feel hopeless, and go around saying “it’s the hope that kills you.” Lasso is annoyed by this comment and rejects it in a pregame locker room talk. Instead, he says a saying that is heard back in America, “do you believe in miracles?” This phrase was originally said by Al Michaels, a commentator during the 1980 Olympic hockey game when the United States unexpectedly beat the Soviet Union. Lasso’s speech cheered up the players and put them in a positive mindset for when they went out on the pitch. Lasso is telling his players that nothing is impossible, and that hope and believing is what will carry you through.
What are your favorite Ted Lasso quotes? Let us know on Twitter by tweeting @VALLEYmag!
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