You remember that entrance, right? The fur coat. The man-bun that looked like it was sculpted by a higher power. That aura of "I am the sun and you are all just shivering planets." When Zava strolled into AFC Richmond in Season 3 of Ted Lasso, the world basically stopped turning for a second. He was the ultimate enigma. But behind that perfectly manicured beard and the weird obsession with avocados, there is a real person.
So, who plays Zava in Ted Lasso? That would be Maximilian Osinski.
Honestly, Osinski did such a good job that a lot of people genuinely thought the producers had just convinced a retired European football legend to try acting. He didn't just play a striker; he inhabited a god complex.
The Man Behind the Legend: Maximilian Osinski
Maximilian Osinski isn't actually a world-class footballer. I know, it’s a bummer. But he is a damn good actor with a backstory that sounds like it could be its own prestige drama.
He was born in a refugee camp in Austria. His parents had fled Poland, and eventually, the family made their way to Chicago. That’s a long way from the glitzy stadiums of the Premier League. He’s Polish-American, which explains why he was able to improvise some of his lines in Polish during his audition.
You’ve probably seen him before and just didn't realize it because he looks so different without the Zava "vibe." He spent years as Agent Davis on Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. He was also in The Walking Dead: World Beyond.
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But Zava was different. This wasn't just another TV role. This was a character that had to be larger than life.
How He Got the Part (It Involved a Tree)
The story of how Osinski landed the role is actually kind of hilarious. He was living in London at the time because his wife, Dichen Lachman (who you might know from Severance), was filming there. When the breakdown for the character came through, it basically said they wanted the "world's greatest soccer player."
Osinski almost didn't go for it. He told himself, "They’re just going to hire a real pro or a massive star."
His agent pushed him. So, he went to a park in London when it was freezing cold—like 50 degrees—took his shirt off, and filmed himself doing pull-ups on tree branches and squatting heavy logs. He wanted to show that raw, primal energy. It worked. Jason Sudeikis and the team saw the tape and knew they’d found their man.
Is Zava Based on a Real Person?
Let’s address the elephant in the room: Zlatan Ibrahimović.
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If you follow football (or soccer, depending on which side of the pond you're on), you knew exactly who Zava was supposed to be the second he opened his mouth. The third-person speaking, the massive tattoos, the "I don't join teams, teams join me" attitude—it’s pure Zlatan.
Osinski has been pretty open about his inspirations. He didn't just copy Zlatan, though. He’s described the character as a "mix between Ibrahimović and Eric Cantona."
- The Zlatan Connection: The ego, the physical dominance, and the "You're welcome" attitude.
- The Cantona Connection: That philosophical, slightly poetic, "I am a seagull following the trawler" brand of weirdness.
- The Tom Cruise Factor: Surprisingly, Osinski also looked at Tom Cruise. Specifically, how Cruise works a room. He wanted Zava to have that intense, eye-contact-heavy charm where you feel like you’re the only person in the world when he’s talking to you.
Why Zava Mattered to the Story
Some fans were a little annoyed by the Zava arc. They felt like he showed up, won some games, and then dipped out to go start an avocado farm just when things were getting interesting.
But that was the point.
Basically, Zava was a "false prophet." He was the easy button. As long as Zava was on the pitch, the team didn't have to be good; they just had to give the ball to him. His departure forced AFC Richmond to actually find their own identity. It forced Jamie Tartt to stop being a "lite" version of a superstar and start being a leader.
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Without Zava, we never would have gotten the "Total Football" evolution. He was the catalyst. He was the mountain the team had to climb over to realize they were actually strong enough to stand on their own.
What Most People Get Wrong About Maximilian Osinski
People assume he’s this ultra-intense guy in real life. If you watch his interviews, he’s actually super humble and kind of a nerd about his craft.
He didn't grow up as a star athlete. He was a theater kid who studied at Syracuse University and then went to the Globe Theatre in London. He’s a guy who put in fifteen years of "character actor" work before getting this breakout moment.
Also, he’s 6'4". That height isn't camera magic. He actually has that towering presence, which is why he looked so believable standing next to the rest of the cast.
Practical Takeaways for Fans
If you want to see more of the man who plays Zava in Ted Lasso, you should check out these specific projects to see his range:
- Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Watch for Agent Davis. He’s a recurring favorite and shows a much more "everyman" side of Osinski.
- The Walking Dead: World Beyond: He plays Dennis, and it’s a much grittier, more emotional role.
- NCIS: Tony & Ziva: He’s been cast in a major role for this upcoming spinoff, so keep an eye out for him there.
The best way to appreciate the performance is to re-watch Season 3 and look at the tiny details—the way he stares at the biscuits, the way he ignores Ted, and the absolute sincerity in his eyes when he says something completely insane. That’s the mark of a great actor. He made us believe a man could be that ridiculous and that talented at the same time.