Ted Lasso finale shakes up the club with new coaches, a birth, and a wedding
The AFC Richmond of Season 5 will look very different, according to cast member and executive producer Brendan Hunt. Variety and TVLine report that the Season 4 finale, titled "The Departing Lass," concluded with major changes for the club.
Per Variety, Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis) demoted himself to assistant manager of the women's team, promoting Alice Chilton (Tanya Reynolds) to head coach. Hunt told Variety this was always the plan for Ted, allowing him more time for his son Henry after realizing his workaholism mirrored his late father's.
On the men's side, Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein) accepted a huge offer to become head coach at Chelsea, as reported by both outlets. TVLine notes Roy and Keeley (Juno Temple) are expecting their first child, complicating the move.
Meanwhile, Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham) got engaged to her boyfriend Matthijs, according to Variety. The outlet also reports she retained majority control of the club after pub owner Mae's will thwarted Zelda's takeover attempt.
Hunt spoke to TVLine about the creative decisions. He said having Ted return to the men's team would have felt like treating the women's football storyline as a "tourist" visit. The final scene's misdirection about a "vacant manager's position" was intentional, he confirmed.
Regarding Roy's departure, Hunt told TVLine it offers logistical flexibility given Goldstein's busy schedule, joking they "can't fight" if the actor becomes James Bond. He added that Roy's job location is immaterial to his role in Keeley's life and the Richmond family.
The finale also featured a Diamond Dogs reunion with Nate (Nick Mohammad) and saw Coach Beard (Hunt) get a haircut after a season of midlife crisis looks, per Variety.
