Lessons from Lasso — Credit Where Credit is Due

It is a rare thing in football that a good idea originating from an unlikely source would ever get praise or appropriate credit. Usually, it’s a dog-eat-dog world with managers, executives, and even footballers fighting for every advantage in the elite circles — so when a new play comes from the mind of AFC Richmond’s kit man, Nate Shelly, one would think it to be just the opportunity that Coach Lasso needs to gain credibility in the eyes of owners, reporters, and fans — but Lasso surprises us. Today, on the From the Touchline podcast, we look at the humility of Coach Lasso to give credit where credit is due and to actually recognize the work and ideas of others around him, rather than taking the credit (and any accompanying glory or accolades for himself). If there is something that football needs sorely it is giving credit where credit is due — even if it comes from unlikely sources and places. Ted Lasso, the immensely popular streaming TV show in its second season on Apple TV+ features the antics and quirky, ‘Ted Lasso’ character brought to life in his own TV show series. Lasso first appeared a number of years ago as a comedic character as NBC purchased the broadcast rights to the English Premier League. Played by Jason Sudeikis, Lasso (as a coach) brings change to the difficult football (soccer) team that he has traveled overseas to coach. In the ‘Lessons from Lasso’ series, Rev Brad looks at some of the different life learning points brought up in the show from a chaplain’s point of view. From the Touchline is a short-feature (usually 10-15 min) podcast with Rev Brad Kenney, Founder and Executive Director of Soccer Chaplains United and Volunteer Chaplain to the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. Rev Brad and occasional guests touch on various issues around the topics of faith, family, and football (soccer). Also, don’t forget that you can listen in our app, SoccrChapUtd, in the Apple and Google store.