Ted Lasso is returning in August after three years away from our screens, and ahead of the fourth series, the fictional football manager is everywhere. Star Jason Sudeikis appeared on the pitch at the World Cup opening ceremony to lead the mini-flag parade and is a Fifa World Cup ambassador.
One of the most popular Ted Lasso characters, Mexican centre forward Dani Rojas (Cristo Fernández), lives by the motto: “Football is life.” We ask England legends, pundits and MOTD presenters, do you agree?
Wayne Rooney, former England captain and Manchester United all-time leading goalscorer with 253 goals
It’s a big part of life, obviously. Family is more important than football but after that, then football has been everything to me.
Steph Houghton, former England captain
Yes. Even though I’ve retired, football is still life. It dictates your mood – whether your team wins or loses, then looking forward to the next match… Your whole week revolves around what game is on the telly, what game are we going to, what game am I working on? Yeah, football is life.
Mark Chapman, Match of the Day presenter
No. I’ve said a lot over recent years that sport is the most important of the least important things. [NB: he is referencing without attribution a famous quote, variously attributed to Pope John Paul II – who was a very good goalkeeper – and legendary Italian manager Arrigo Sacchi.]
Rachel Corsie, former Scotland captain and now BBC pundit
Yes! I’ve loved it all my life as a kid, as an amateur, as a pro. I’ve loved the places it’s taken me. I even love its ups and downs. In every part of my life, football is never far away.
Alan Shearer, former England captain and the Premier League’s all-time leading goalscorer with 263 goals
When you’re in it, it is – and absolutely I’m still in it. It’s my life. Everything has to work around football. It has done since I was the age of 15. I’m 55 now [NB: turns 56 on 13 Aug], so absolutely it is.
Mark Pougatch, ITV’s Chief Sports Presenter
It’s a bit more like sport is life, isn’t it? It teaches you everything – ups, downs, changes of fortune, camaraderie, hanging in there. Don’t get too high or it’ll bring you back down to earth, but if it’s going badly it can turn around quickly. There’s always another game.
Ellen White, England women’s record goalscorer (52 goals) and part of the Euros-winning side at Wembley in 2022
Absolutely. It brings everyone together – the colours, the culture, the noise.
Kelly Cates, Match of the Day presenter
Football is football – a part of life, but not all of life. Maybe all of life is in football, though.
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