Cristo Fernández Signs with El Paso Locomotive, Adds Ted Lasso Name
Christo Fernández signed with El Paso Locomotive on Tuesday, giving the club a new forward with a ted lasso link and a real soccer résumé behind it. The 35-year-old joins a team that sits fourth in the Western Conference and leads the league in scoring.
Fernández and El Paso Locomotive
El Paso did not release the terms of the contract, but the move ends a trial period that included a preseason friendly against New Mexico United. Fernández had also been on trial with first Chicago Fire 2 earlier this year before arriving in El Paso.
Junior Gonzalez called him “a great addition to our roster, adding another attacking threat to our forward line,” and said his “passion for the game and leadership qualities for our locker room allow us to continue growing the positive culture we strive for as a club.” That is the practical value here: El Paso is already producing goals at the top of the league, and now it has added another option without changing the club’s current place in the table.
Tecos FC to Texas
Fernández’s route back to the professional game is unusual but not improvised. He came through Tecos FC’s youth system before injuries curtailed his playing career at age 15, then built a public profile as Dani Rojas in Ted Lasso while his playing future stayed in the background.
That history explains why this signing lands differently from a standard roster move. El Paso is fourth in the Western Conference and finished fourth there last year before exiting in the quarterfinals, so the club is still operating with postseason pressure while adding a player whose name travels far beyond the USL box score.
How Fernández framed it
“Futbol has always been a huge part of my life and identity, and no matter where life has taken me, the dream of competing professionally never truly left my heart,” Fernández said in a statement. He added that he was “incredibly grateful to El Paso Locomotive FC – the club, coaches, staff, and especially my teammates – for opening the doors and giving me the opportunity to compete from day one.”
He also called the return “about believing in yourself, taking risks, and continuing to chase your dreams no matter how unexpected the path may be,” then pushed the point one step further: “Maybe I’m just a crazy man with crazy dreams… so being here with the “Locos” actually makes perfect sense.” For El Paso, the clean takeaway is simple — the club has signed a forward who can help immediately and give the roster a narrative reach few USL additions can match.
