Ted Lasso season 3, episode 2, "(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea" introduced a new player to AFC Richmond's lovable roster of athletes, and questions have arisen over which real-life soccer legend Zava, played by Maximilian Osinski, is based on. Even before appearing onscreen, Zava had an almost godlike reputation among AFC Richmond's players and behind-the-scenes crew. The team erupted into an excited frenzy at the mere mention of the possibility of AFC Richmond acquiring the legendary player.
The only exception to this is former AFC Richmond bad boy Jamie Tartt. The combination of Zava's skill on the pitch and massive ego clearly proves troublesome for the talented striker. However, Zava's AFC Richmond signing may allow Jamie Tartt to prove how much he has grown as a character since Ted Lasso season 1. Zava is everything that Jamie Tartt was at the beginning of Ted Lasso, only on a much larger scale. He has international standing as one of the greatest players in soccer, but has no loyalty to any team. This reputation mirrors one of the most famous real-life strikers in the world.
Ted Lasso's Zava Is Based On Swedish Player Zlatan Ibrahimović
Ted Lasso's Zava is clearly a fictionalized adaptation of the Swedish soccer player Zlatan Ibrahimović. Much like how Zava has played for 14 teams in 15 years within the world of Ted Lasso, Ibrahimović has played for nine separate football clubs over the course of his professional career. With his lean build and man-bun, Ted Lasso's Zava closely resembles Zlatan Ibrahimović physically too. In Ted Lasso season 3, Zava is mentioned as having just left Juventus, a club based in Italy whom Ibrahimović played for between 2004-06.
Much like Zava, Ibrahimović is known for both his skills on the pitch and his persona off it. Over the course of his career, Ibrahimović has scored over 570 goals, making him Sweden's top scorer of all time. One of them, a "bicycle kick" goal for Sweden against England in 2012, is considered one of the greatest in the history of the sport. Ibrahimović is an incredibly controversial figure in real soccer, however, infamous for arrogance and getting into physical altercations with teammates. Zava's tendency to speak about himself in the third person is also based on Ibrahimović.
Where Is Zlatan Ibrahimović Playing Now?
Since AFC Richmond is a fictional team, Zlatan Ibrahimović is obviously not playing for them in real life. In 2020, Ibrahimović rejoined former team AC Milan from LA Galaxy. He has been playing with them ever since. At 41, Ibrahimović is one of the oldest elite professional soccer players in the world, and became the oldest goalscorer in the history of Italy's Serie A football league in March 2023. Zava's prowess on the field and eccentric personality is based on Zlatan Ibrahimović, but if he possesses the same skill with a ball, Zava will be a force to be reckoned with in Ted Lasso season 3.