The belittlement, Eurosnobbery and condescension remain a fixture for press and fans, but in the industry itself, there’s an acknowledgement of growth and belonging.
Before there was Ted Lasso, the calm, compassionate and unassuming American coach who knew next to nothing about proper football, there was Brad Bobley, the loud, arrogant and abusive American coach who knew next to nothing about proper football.
A key difference, besides their personalities, is that Apple’s Lasso is entirely fictional. Bobley, a creation of Sky Sports ironically named Soccer AM show, was a brutal spoof of a real guy.