If you’ve watched Season 3 of Ted Lasso, you know the vibe changed the second a tall, man-bun-sporting, avocado-obsessed god walked into the AFC Richmond locker room. He didn’t just enter; he manifested. That man was Zava.
Honestly, the ted lasso zava actor is one of those "wait, where do I know him from?" faces that suddenly became the most talked-about person on television. His name is Maximilian Osinski. And no, he isn’t actually a world-class striker who decided to try acting for a lark. He’s a veteran performer who has been grinding in the industry for years, often playing characters that couldn't be further from a spiritual football diva.
Who is Maximilian Osinski?
Max Osinski wasn't born into the glitz of Hollywood. His story is actually pretty intense. He was born in a refugee camp in Austria to Polish parents who were fleeing the communist regime at the time. They eventually made it to Chicago, where he grew up. You can sort of see that European intensity in his eyes, but his accent is pure American—which is why his performance as Zava is such a trip.
Before he was scoring bicycle kicks for the Greyhounds, Osinski was best known to nerds (and I say that lovingly) as Agent Davis in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. He was also in The Walking Dead: World Beyond playing Dennis Graham.
Basically, he’s been the "reliable supporting guy" for a long time.
Then came Zava.
The Audition That Almost Didn't Happen
Funny story: Osinski almost didn't even go for the part. When the breakdown for the character first went out, it was described as this legendary, larger-than-life footballer. Max has admitted in interviews that he hadn't really touched a soccer ball much in his life. He wasn't a "footy" guy. He almost told his agent to pass because he didn't think he could pull off the athleticism.
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But he took a beat. He realized the character wasn't just about the sports; it was about the presence. He leaned into the ego, the stillness, and the weird "guru" energy. He got the part, moved his family to London, and suddenly had to learn how to look like he belonged on a Premier League pitch.
The Zava Inspiration: Zlatan and Beyond
You can't talk about the ted lasso zava actor without talking about Zlatan Ibrahimović. It's the elephant in the room. The tattoos, the third-person speech, the "I am a lion among humans" attitude—it’s all very Zlatan.
Osinski has been open about the fact that Zlatan was a huge blueprint. He watched countless interviews of the Swedish legend to capture that specific brand of "arrogance that feels like it might actually be wisdom." But he also mixed in a bit of Eric Cantona. You know, that philosopher-king energy where you’re not sure if the guy is a genius or just really good at saying nonsense with a straight face.
- The Look: Those massive back tattoos Zava sports? Total homage to Zlatan’s ink.
- The Attitude: Referring to his wife as the only thing worth watching on TV? Classic eccentric superstar move.
- The Skills: Even though Osinski isn't a pro, the show used clever editing and some genuine training to make those martial-arts-style goals look real.
Why Zava Disappeared Mid-Season
A lot of fans were annoyed when Zava just... left. He retired to go grow avocados and be a family man right when Richmond needed him.
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But from a writing perspective, it makes total sense. Max Osinski played Zava as a "catalyst." He wasn't there to be the hero; he was there to show the team that they were leaning on a crutch. Once Jamie Tartt learned to be better and the team realized they couldn't just "give it to Zava," his job was done.
It was a bold move by the showrunners to take their most exciting new character and bench him permanently halfway through the final season. It forced the Greyhounds to find "Total Football" on their own.
Life After Richmond
So, what is the ted lasso zava actor doing now? Maximilian Osinski didn't just fade away with his avocado farm.
He recently landed a major role in the NCIS spinoff, NCIS: Tony & Ziva, playing a character named Boris. It's a massive jump from a comedy like Ted Lasso to a high-stakes procedural, but if playing an egotistical striker taught him anything, it’s how to command a screen.
He’s also married to Dichen Lachman, who you might recognize from Severance or Altered Carbon. They’re basically a sci-fi/prestige TV power couple at this point.
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What you can learn from Zava's arc
If you're a fan of the show or just curious about how these characters are built, look at the nuance Osinski brought. He could have played Zava as a total jerk. Instead, he played him as someone who truly believed his own hype but also genuinely liked his teammates in his own weird way. He was a "positive" egoist.
If you want to see more of Max’s range, I’d highly recommend checking out his episodes in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. It is wild to see him as a clean-cut tactical agent after seeing him meditate shirtless in a locker room.
The best way to appreciate the work is to go back and re-watch the Zava episodes with the knowledge that the actor had never really played soccer before. The way he carries his body—that "big cat" energy—is all pure acting craft.
To dig deeper into the world of AFC Richmond, you should check out the "Total Football" episodes in the latter half of Season 3 to see how the team evolves after Zava’s departure. It’s the perfect narrative mirror to Osinski’s grand entrance.