When Cristo Fernández first arrived as an invitee to El Paso Locomotive FC’s training camp in preseason, it was slightly surreal for fellow forward Rubio Rubín.

More than two months later, with Fernandez now officially signed after training with the club since then, aiming to prove worthy of a professional deal, there’s now a feeling of eagerness to have him on board.

“I remember watching Ted Lasso with my wife a year or two ago and we didn’t even think Cristo would be with us, be on the same team,” said Rubín this week. “He’s been such a cool guy, integrated well in the group, he’s been pushing a lot in the past month or two with the guys, and we wish him the best. We’re happy that he’s finally signed so we can get past the noise of if he’s signed or not, what is he doing here, on trial or not.

“We’re just happy that he’s part of the team, and we’re going to help him hopefully get on the field.”

After rousing speculation in preseason when he was spotted competing for El Paso against rival New Mexico United during a preseason scrimmage, Fernández’s signing was officially announced on Tuesday, adding a unique storyline to both Locomotive’s journey this season and the USL Championship campaign.


WALL TO WALL: Understandably, Fernández’s arrival in El Paso has drawn far broader coverage than your average signing in the USL Championship. As one of the stars of AppleTV’s Ted Lasso, playing Dani Rojas, Fernández has become a well-liked figure in the entertainment industry, resulting in this week’s story popping up as much on entertainment news sites as sporting ones. Before his pursuit of an acting career, though, Fernández aspired to be a professional soccer player, competing in the Academy program of former Liga MX club Tecos FC before injuries in his late teens derailed his path.



SECOND CHANCE: Thanks to his breakthrough role as a fictional soccer player, Fernández connected with figures inside the soccer world. Among them was El Tri legend Andres Guardado, whose longevity at the top level of the game has been a marvel of its own. Still feeling the itch to see if he could make it as a professional, last year Fernández began to work out individually with performance coaches. At the 2025 Concacaf Nations League Finals in Los Angeles he also connected with current Locomotive Head Coach Junior Gonzalez, which opened the door to his opportunity this spring in El Paso.



SERIOUS BUSINESS: From the outside, it would be easy to be cynical about this move, but Fernández and the club are adamant this is a move designed to bolster the club’s lineup. “I understand the pressure, but I guess there’s always been pressure, even in anything I’ve done in my life,” Fernández told ESPN.com this week. “I think of myself as a hardworking man, and I have never been the best in anything, but I always give my best and work hard for it.”


Having made the move, there’s also going to be pressure on Locomotive as well as Fernández to prove this isn’t simply a PR move. Having followed Gonzalez’s approach to leading the club with interest since his appointment this offseason – and the club’s strong overall start to the season which sees it in the top four in the Western Conference and a winner in its Prinx Tires USL Cup group opener – this feels like a move made with the right intentions, but there’s going to have to be proof that’s the case when Fernández hits the field.

There’s also going to need to be some realism as to what Fernández might be able to offer game-in and game-out. Upon his signing, the 35-year-old immediately became the oldest player on Locomotive’s roster, and fifth-oldest in the USL Championship. With that in mind, it feels even more improbable that he’ll be taking the spot of Rubín or Amando Moreno in the starting lineup anytime soon, with Locomotive already boasting the best attack in the league so far this campaign.

But, at some point, Fernández will see action and get the chance to show what he’s got, and the club will need to make sure he’s in the best position to succeed. The earliest that could come is on Wednesday, May 27 when Locomotive hosts USL League One club AV ALTA FC in its next Prinx Tires USL Cup contest at Southwest University Park, giving the remaining paperwork time to get processed.

Whatever happens from here, Fernández is committed to his new role, and Locomotive is committed to his success.

“Right now, I’m just focusing on playing football,” said Fernández, “on training every day, on helping El Paso Locomotive and [having] a good season and then from there we can see where things can go.”