has been documenting<\/a> his journey back to professional soccer on social media, training with various professional teams around the country, including with MLS-affiliated clubs in lower divisions. USL Championship plays in the second-division of professional men\u2019s soccer in the United States.<\/p>\n\u201cIt hasn\u2019t been easy to go back to play professional,\u201d Fern\u00e1ndez said in March, when rumblings of his trials with different teams began. \u201cI know it\u2019s a work in progress getting back in the game, especially when it\u2019s professional, for any high-performance level, but I know I can do it, and I believe in myself, and I know it\u2019s the beginning of this journey. I\u2019m ready for what\u2019s next.\u201d<\/p>\n
The actor\u2019s signing brings an obvious boost in visibility for Locomotive FC and for USL Championship. But his arrival could also boost the club on the pitch, especially if Fern\u00e1ndez is able to contribute meaningfully on the wing.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s another spot where El Paso just doesn\u2019t have a lot of firepower right now,\u201d USL analyst John Morrissey recently told The Athletic. \u201cTo me, that all reads in the direction of, if he does sign, if he has this first-team opportunity, he could be in line to play some real minutes for El Paso this season. There is the publicity aspect, but I think he would be expected to be a equal contributor in a lot of ways.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fern\u00e1ndez began his professional soccer career at the youth level with Tecos FC in Jalisco, Mexico, before stepping away from the sport at 15 years old due to injury. He shifted his focus to other ventures, including acting. In 2020, he became one of the many breakout stars from \u201cTed Lasso,\u201d where he portrayed Rojas, a wide-eyed professional soccer player whose tagline throughout the series became \u201cF\u00fatbol is life.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis journey back to professional soccer is about believing in yourself, taking risks, and continuing to chase your dreams no matter how unexpected the path may be,\u201d Fern\u00e1ndez said in his club statement. \u201cBecause as we say in Mexico: Hay que seguirle echando ganas. (We have to keep giving it our all.) \u2026 Maybe I\u2019m just a crazy man with crazy dreams\u2026 so being here with the \u201cLocos\u201d actually makes perfect sense. \u00a1Vamos Locos!\u201d<\/p>\n
Locomotive FC, the same club where Real Salt Lake and U.S. World Cup hopeful Diego Luna got his start, currently sits in fourth place the USL Championship Western Conference standings \u2014 the same position where it ended last season \u2014 with four wins, three losses and two draws in its opening nine games. The team, which debuted in the league in 2019, resumes play May 27 against AV Alta FC.<\/p>\n