Roy Kent From Ted Lasso Is Actually Based On A Real Person

If you've ever watched the comedy-drama series 'Ted Lasso,' you might have found yourself joining the hoards of people who have fallen in love with Roy Kent (played by Brett Goldstein.) The question is, do you know Roy is based on a real-life soccer player named Roy Keane?

If you're wondering if you would love the real version of the character just as much, you might be pleased to know there's a good chance you might. 'Ted Lasso' has taken a lot of inspiration from the soccer world when it comes to developing its characters, with both Roys perhaps being closer than many people ever realized.

Roy Keane was one of the biggest faces of his time

Even if you've only seen an episode with Roy Kent, there's a good chance you know the character's chant by now. He always plays each game as though it's his last, giving soccer his all right until the very end of his career. While some would call Kent brutish, there's no denying that he always got the job done. It turns out that was the same for Roy Keane, who spent most of his time playing for Manchester United. He was joined by a team that largely dominated the sport for a decade, all starting in the mid-'90s, and you could expect Keane to be the one leading the charge. The team even formed the Class of '92, a generation that gave us the likes of Phil Neville, Ryan Giggs, and David Beckham, meaning he had plenty of support. They were all managed by Sir Alex Ferguson, arguably one of the best coaches soccer has seen.

Things started slowly for Roy Keane's career

While he might not have been a part of the Class of '92, Roy Keane was there to join a team that had the same spirit and gusto to make it to the top. The twist? Things didn't immediately start high for Keane, but he was determined to make sure his name was the one in lights. The start of his career was playing for modest clubs before making his England debut with Nottingham Forest. It wasn't until 1993 that Keane joined Manchester United, where he fit in like he was born for the part, becoming the first of the team's defensive players to still dominate the midfield. Keane was never one to score goals, but that didn't matter to him or the fans. He was all about securing a win by giving the rest of his team everything they needed to thrive.

Both of the Roys were known to be tough on the soccer pitch

Roy Kent is known for many things in 'Ted Lasso,' including his vicious temper. The problem? That was inspired by Roy Keane, who was known to be difficult on any team he joined. He was fiercely loyal, which made him the perfect addition, but it often led to a lot of clashes with coaches and managers - such as a heated argument with Alex Ferguson that ultimately saw Keane leave Manchester United in 2005. Another moment came in 2002 when Keane was meant to be playing in the World Cup. The problem? Despite being a major moment in his career, Keane clashed with coach Mick McCarthy about the conditions of their training facilities, leading him to leave just days before the team's debut. In fact, Kent became the first player to get shown two red cards, which is loosely based on Keane's similar ordeal on the pitch. After a heated match against Man City, Keane was flashed a red card just minutes before the end of the game after committing a knee-high foul and shouting it "was no accident."

Roy Keane has remained a prominent part of soccer since retiring

The end of his career didn't mark the end of Roy Keane's time in soccer, as he continued to make his opinions heard loud and clear as a pundit for Sky Sports. The same could be said for Roy Kent in 'Ted Lasso,' but he couldn't stand the career and ultimately left to work as an assistant coach with Ted (played by Jason Sudeikis.) Although Keane did spend time working as an assistant coach, it seems that he much prefers to spend his time talking about soccer instead. Amazingly, the similarities between the two haven't gone unnoticed by Keane, who admitted they are very close, but he's "a lot nicer" than Kent. Brett Goldstein, the man behind Kent, admitted as much too, but says he never got a chance to talk to the real-life star before bringing the character to life in 'Ted Lasso.'

When it comes to creating the perfect character, it's often best to find some inspiration from the real world, and that's precisely what they did when they crafted Roy Kent from 'Ted Lasso.' While both men are known to be feared in the world of soccer, it's also what makes them so lovable and such prominent figures in the sport, even all these years later.