KC Current got some love from Ted Lasso. Their coach is a fan of Jason Sudeikis’ show

“Ted Lasso,” Apple TV+’s marquee television series, has taken the world by storm. And in its most recent episode, the Kansas City Current get a shoutout from Lasso, played by Kansas City’s own Jason Sudeikis.

In the episode that debuted Tuesday night, Lasso is wearing a KC NWSL shirt while surfing the internet on his laptop. KC NWSL was the identity of the National Women’s Soccer League’s Kansas City Current through most of their first year of existence.

While there’s some debate in the soccer community about whether “Ted Lasso” has helped or hurt the international image of American soccer — and specifically American coaches on the global stage of the world’s most popular game — there’s no debating the series’ impact on many, including KC Current coach Matt Potter.

The Englishman admits he hasn’t seen the show’s most recent episodes — Season Three debuted this month — but said he watched earlier episodes with his wife over the Christmas break.

“I don’t know him (Sudeikis) personally, but it seems that he’s very much in tune with where he came from,” Potter said. “I think sometimes that’s what we all have to remember: remember where we came from, remember the journey you find yourself on and be humble and kind to others, and good things will happen.”

There are some humorous parallels between Potter and Sudeikis’ character. Lasso grew up in the Kansas City area (this part is true — Sudeikis graduated from Shawnee Mission West High School, after all) coaching a fictional English football club: AFC Richmond. Potter is a Briton coaching the Current here in America.

Before the scripts for the show were written, Sudeikis first played Lasso in 2013, when NBC won the broadcast rights to the English Premier League. Back then, Sudeikis was a member of the “Saturday Night Live” cast, and the character was more of a joke.

In commercials airing at the time, Lasso was hired as the head coach of Tottenham Hotspur. And which English Premier League side does Potter support? Tottenham, naturally.

The television show offers much more human insight, not only into Lasso but a soccer locker room and even the players’ heads.

“I grew up there, been in some locker rooms that are quite harsh,” Potter said. “So when you hear some of the characters talking about the press, or with each other, it kind of strikes a nerve, but in a very positive way.”

Ultimately, perhaps it’s no surprise that Potter finds Lasso to be something of an inspiration.

“I’m a Ted Lasso fan for the reason that it very much highlights an awareness of the human side,” Potter said. “I think, for me, it hits home a lot versus finding the comedy in it.”

And true enough, Potter routinely talks about players as people. Discussing Portland Thorns star Sophia Smith, he complimented her soccer skills and then talked about her being “an even better human being.” When a new signing arrives, Potter underscores the need to take care of her off the field, saying that must happen before she can begin to produce what’s expected during games.

That was evident last summer, when the Current signed French player Claire Lavogez and, after some care and settling-in time, she immediately hit the ground running.

Potter on Wednesday said part of his job is simply “to create environments for people to thrive.” And if that’s another thing he shares with Ted Lasso, so be it.

“We very much have an identity off of the field that everyone understands what the expectations of the standards are,” Potter said. “But I think you still have to meet people where they are at. You only do that through connection.”