Will Arnett has joined the cast of The First Team, the new football-based comedy from Inbetweeners creators Iain Morris and Damon Beesley.

The Arrested Development and BoJack Horseman star plays the eccentric American chairman of the club at the centre of the show.

It revolves around three young footballers – played by Shaquille Ali-Yebuah, Jack McMullen and Jake Short – struggling with their mercurial Italian manager Cesare (Paulo Sassenelli), resident hard-man Petey Brooks (White Gold’s Theo Barklem Biggs) and ineffectual coach Chris Booth (Chris Geere). The cast also features comedians Phil Wang and Neil Fitzmaurice in roles that have not yet been disclosed.

The First Team, which was developed under the working title The Afternoon, is Morris and Beesley's first show as co-writers since The Inbetweeners and its two spin-off films. 

In a statement, the pair said: ‘We're so lucky to be working with such an incredible bunch, some new faces and some we've worked with over the years, all making us laugh enormously."

And BBC commissioning editor Gregor Sharp added’ "Iain and Damon have created a series about a group of ordinary young men in an extraordinary world. It’s completely authentic, full of observation and insight, as well as their trademark gift for comic set piece and they’ve assembled an amazing team to bring it to life. We can’t wait to see the results.’

The show will air on BBC Two, although the broadcast date is yet to be announced.

Made by: Fudge Park
Written by: Iain Morris and Damon Beesley.
Executive producers: Tom Werner and Caroline Leddy
Producer: Sam Pinnell
Commissioned by: Shane Allen, controller of comedy commissioning at the BBC and Patrick Holland, controller of BBC Two
Commissioning editor: Gregor Sharp