With Ted Lasso returning to Apple TV this week, fans of the smash-hit series cannot wait to be reconnected with the world of AFC Richmond – and meet some new faces in the process.
The Kansas native is making his way back to British soil, but instead of the male team he saw through to greatness, in season 4 he’s focusing on the struggling Second Division female team that Keeley (Juno Temple) and Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham) have set up in his absence.
While the Lady Greyhounds are sure to bring fun new additions to the Richmond world, the series is also going to be affected by some losses – most notably Jamie Tartt (Phil Dunster), and a bunch of the male teammates who won’t be back to see the new state of play.
But they will not be forgotten, with the show’s soul — rooted in kindness and self-belief — continuing to persist no matter who the key players are.
In honour of what lies ahead in Ted Lasso season 4, we look back at the series so far, and rank each character from worst to best.
Ted Lasso Characters: Ranked Worst to Best 
Coach Bears (Brendan Hunt), Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis) and Nathan Shelley (Nick Mohammed) in Ted Lasso. Apple TV
31. Rupert Mannion – played by Anthony Head: A manipulative, stuck-up and cruel man who abuses his wealth, position of power, and the women around him. His downfall in season 3 was delicious to watch. Good riddance.
30. James Tartt – played by Kieran O’Brien: Jamie’s grim, abusive, toxically masculine dad. Saved from the bottom by going to rehab at the end – but it was too little too late for viewers.
29. Edwin Akufo – played by Sam Richardson: A billionaire manbaby who has more political power than he should have. His underhanded tactics to win Sam over for his super league were the closest to ‘dark’ the show’s ever come, so we cheered when Rebecca sent him packing.
28. George Cartrick – played by Bill Fellows: AFC Richmond’s “old school” and misogynistic former manager who needs to invest in longer shorts. His approach to management is the polar opposite of Ted’s – who proved it was unnecessary to be so aggressive.
27. Jack Danvers – played by Jodi Balfour: A love-bombing billionaire who used money and affection to try and control girlfriend Keeley. But the second things didn’t go her way, she ghosted, almost wiping Keeley’s business out in the process. Nasty behaviour.
26. Zava – played by Maximilian Osinski: A rare misstep for the show, the player dipped in and out of the club in a blink, ultimately proving impressive, but a bit of a pointless addition.
25. Michelle Lasso – played by Andrea Anders: An undeniably loving mother to Henry, leaving Ted for their couples’ therapist was a low blow. While Ted might be good with her after their divorce, we’re still not quite won by her.
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24. Richard Montlaur – played by Stephen Manas: An important part of the team but doesn’t really contribute much to any story progression.
23. Jan Maas – played by David Elsendoorn: A bit too blunt, but he means well and is a solid member of the team.
22. Barbara – played by Katy Wix: Extremely professional but often distant, something about the snow globe-loving CFO broke through and was actually quite lovable, willing to teach and learn from boss Keeley.
21. Ola Obisanya – played by Nonso Anozie: Sam’s loving and proudly Nigerian dad, and also the player’s inspiration and moral compass. A single hug from this man may just be the cure to the world’s problems.
20. Will Kitman – played by Charlie Hiscock: The underappreciated kit man for the team, he often finds himself in conversations he has no business in, and gets extra points for becoming Nate’s punching bag when he didn’t deserve it. A genuine sweetie.
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19. Baz, Jeremy and Paul – played by Adam Colborne, Bronson Webb and Kevin Garry: Never seen without each other, these three foul-mouthed, pint-loving Richmond super-fans truly love the team – even through all their insults.
18. Moe Bumbercatch – played by Moe Hashim: Bumbercatch gets points for being the most beloved player on the team – but ultimately we as viewers know very little about him, so he loses some spots on the ranking.
17. Deborah Welton – played by Dame Harriet Walter: Rebecca’s mum is fun, but her male-centred life is her biggest flaw. She loves her daughter, and acknowledges she made mistakes in raising her – but also that it’s not too late to change.
16. Thierry Zoreaux – played by Moe Jeudy-Lamour: Whether you know how to say his name or not, Zoreaux is often a great source of comedy on the team, often taking things too literally or embracing multiple names.
15. Isaac McAdoo – played by Kola Bokinni: Isaac makes efforts to look tough and intimidating, but takes words and criticism extremely to heart. But his devotion to his teammates – especially best mate Colin – is very sweet, and his willingness to beat up a homophobic fan in his honour says a lot about his character. He struggles to find balance in controlling his aggression when his feelings are hurt, but he’s getting there.
14. Nathan Shelley – played by Nick Mohammed: Deeply insecure thanks to being raised by impossible-to-impress parents. Once Nate was given a coach position, with his ego inflated he revealed a nasty streak. He learned the error of his ways before the end of season 3, but his one-sided feud with Ted was hard to watch at times – especially when he let himself be seduced to defect to West Ham by Rupert. But Nathan is also quite sweet when he allows himself to be, and his feud with Ted is largely spearheaded by feeling hurt and forgotten, so we’ll forgive him for now.
13. Mae – played by Annette Badland: An underappreciated character, this pub landlady is a Richmond devotee who is always armed with wise words for anyone who needs them. She can also shoot a look that can kill, and isn’t afraid to put anyone (be they manager, player or punter) in their place.
12. Dani Rojas – played by Cristo Fernández: Football is life! And Dani’s addictive smiley face is always a joy to have on screen. He’s just happy he gets to play the game he loves for a living – with all the side benefits (particularly the beautiful women) just an added bonus.
11. Trent Crimm – played by James Lance: Independent. Starting out as a gotcha journalist, Trent became an unofficial member of the team as his friendship with Ted, and later Colin, grew. He grows to appreciate what Ted brings to the team, and more importantly what could happen if more people followed his way of thinking.
10. Leslie Higgins – played by Jeremy Swift
Jeremy Swift as Leslie Higgins in Ted Lasso. Apple TV+
Oh, Higgins. As the Director of Communications of AFC Richmond, he’s a bit of a scapegoat at times, but he’s learned to stand-up for himself more, which we love. His loving family life away from the club is incredibly heartwarming as well.
9. Colin Hughes – played by Billy Harris
(R) Billy Harris as Colin Hughes in Ted Lasso. Apple TV
Colin’s coming out arc was one of the more emotional and beautiful stories in Ted Lasso. A Welsh boy who learns he doesn’t need to be something he’s not, his growth from Jamie Tartt lackey to strong and capable man (like he tells himself in the mirror) makes him hard not to love.
8. Sam Obisanya – played by Toheeb Jimoh
Toheeb Jimoh as Sam Obisanya in Ted Lasso. Apple TV+
Mature beyond his 21 years, proud of his Nigerian heritage, and not afraid to go after what he wants. He’s a man led by his morals, not money, and that makes him all the more loveable.
7. ‘Sassy’ Collins – played by Ellie Taylor
Ellie Taylor as Flo ‘Sassy’ Collins in Ted Lasso. Apple TV+
Sassy would go to war for Rebecca, and we love her for it. Every acidic conversation she has with Rupert is pure gold. Sassy by name and by nature, she’s self-assured, open and not to be messed with.
6. Keeley Jones – played by Juno Temple
Juno Temple as Keeley Jones in Ted Lasso. Apple TV
As a former Page 3 Girl and model, Keeley has always had confidence, but over the course of the show she has proven (mostly to herself) and embraced the fact that she’s as smart as she is beautiful. Now, her PR smarts are essential at Richmond. She’s carved out an empire of her own, and while her love life’s been a little complicated, she doesn’t need a partner to feel complete. Icon status.
5. Coach Beard – played by Brendan Hunt
Brendan Hunt as Coach Beard in Ted Lasso. Apple TV+
Everyone needs a Coach Beard in their life – that ride or die bestie who is there to support your decisions, but also to call you out when you’re heading down the wrong path. Sure, he never listens to his own advice and finds himself in sequinned disco trousers after a rowdy night out in London fairly often (not to mention the girlfriend that he should run in the opposite direction from), but hey, no one’s perfect.
4. Jamie Tartt – played by Phil Dunster
Phil Dunster as Jamie Tartt in Ted Lasso. Apple TV+
Starting off too smug for his own good, Jamie grew a lot over three seasons, learning to become part of a team instead of showboating. He’s also learned emotions are a strength, not a weakness like he was taught by his dad, opening up to those around him – especially Keeley and Roy. We’re going to miss this loudmouth in season 4.
3. Roy Kent – played by Brett Goldstein
Brett Goldstein plays Roy Kent in Ted Lasso. Apple TV+
A man who looks like he’ll knock you out with just a glance, but is actually a soft teddy bear with a secret love for yoga with his gal pals – what’s not to love? A solid leader among the Richmond players, he’s rightly taken over Ted’s role as the male team’s manager. His bond with niece Phoebe is hard not to admire, becoming the father figure she needs after her dad left, and he was a good boyfriend to Keeley until he let his insecurities get the better of him.
Here’s hoping he’s learned to communicate a little better as season 4 starts.
2. Rebecca Welton – played by Hannah Waddingham
(R) Hannah Waddingham as Rebecca in Ted Lasso. Apple TV
From bitter divorcée hellbent on revenge to a powerful businesswoman with a solid group of friends, Rebecca’s journey has arguably been the most interesting throughout the show. After years stuck under ex-husband Rupert’s thumb, the past three seasons have seen her reconnect with the fun girl’s girl she truly is, especially through her friendship with Keeley, while not losing the cutting business sense she’s developed. Queen of AFC Richmond – long may she reign.
1. Ted Lasso – played by Jason Sudeikis
Jason Sudeikis as Ted Lasso in Ted Lasso. Apple TV+
I mean… it had to be, right? Whether he’s telling you to “be a goldfish” and “be curious, not judgemental”, Ted Lasso is the beating heart of the show, without which the series wouldn’t exist. His ever-smiley demeanour hiding a sometimes overwhelming anxiety and depression, Ted is more than just his can-do attitude, and teaches everyone around him the importance of empathy and forgiveness. He’s the man.
Ted Lasso season 4 starts 5 August on Apple TV. Seasons 1-3 are streaming now – you can sign up to Apple TV+ here.
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