Who plays Zava in Ted Lasso? Actor’s career and notable projects explored

Season 3 of Ted Lasso introduced the highly celebrated, eccentric footballer Zava. This character quickly became a major force at AFC Richmond. So, who plays Zava in Ted Lasso?

Actor Maximilian Osinski takes on the role. Osinski brought incredible swagger and charisma to the popular series. Zava joins the team to help them challenge their rivals, West Ham United. His arrival completely changes the team dynamic.

Maximilian Osinski as Ted Lasso: The actor’s career and notable projects

Ted Lasso (Image Source: YouTube/AppleTV)

The man behind Zava

Osinski brought a firm work ethic to his roles, shaped by his early life. Maximilian Osinski was born in 1984 in an Austrian refugee camp. His Polish parents had left their homeland. The family moved to the U.S., so Osinski grew up in Chicago. He gained steady skills studying drama at Syracuse University. He then moved to New York City to start his acting career.

Preparing for the pitch

Taking on the role of the world's best player for Ted Lasso was a big challenge. Osinski did not have experience playing soccer before his casting. He admitted he felt doubt about playing a confident athlete. He hired a coach and trained intensely to get into top soccer shape. He also studied the behavior of famous, magnetic players like Zlatan Ibrahimović.

Osinski successfully brought the needed confidence and flair to Zava. The role required him to appear as a powerful, larger-than-life figure on the field. The character Zava is often described as a mix between Ibrahimović and French forward Eric Cantona.

Prior notable projects

Maximilian Osinski is a familiar face to many television viewers. Before joining Ted Lasso, his most enduring television role was on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., in which he played Agent Davis on and off for seven seasons. His work in this Marvel show spanned from 2013 to 2020. Osinski has shown his versatility during his long stint as an agent. He has appeared in 27 episodes of the series.

Osinski has worked on many film and television projects. He starred in the film Love & Other Drugs. He also appeared in The Express: The Ernie Davis Story. Then he moved into more television work. He played Dennis Graham in The Walking Dead: World Beyond, and he appeared in nine episodes. He also made guest appearances in Shameless, MacGyver, and New Amsterdam.

Maximilian Osinski's role on Ted Lasso raised his profile in Hollywood. The question of who plays Zava became a major topic during the season.

Zava’s impact on AFC Richmond

The character Zava immediately lifted the spirits of AFC Richmond. He helped the team achieve a strong winning streak. His presence made the other players better. They learned to work around his unique style and ego. Coach Lasso had to adjust his own coaching style to fit the superstar's needs.

Zava's run with the club proved short, but his time helped the team find its own strength. This turn of events set up the final arc of Ted Lasso.