One of the strangest stories in the sporting world throughout the last two has been Wrexham AFC. The football team based in North Wales was purchased by Hollywood megastar Ryan Reynolds alongside “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia” star Rob McElhenney. At first, no one could understand why two of America’s entertainment royal family would have an interest in the flailing Welsh club, but those questions were answered on April 22nd.
The Red Dragons beat Boreham Wood in the English National League to secure promotion to League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The scenes following the club’s promotion have made headlines the world over, scenes which resulted in both Reynolds and McElhenney finishing the evening with tears of joy streaming down their faces. One thing that is certain is that the next season of “Welcome To Wrexham,” which is available for streaming on Disney Plus, will be simply unmissable.
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We’re barely four months into 2023, but the year has already been a spectacular one in the world of British sports. Leon Edwards defied the odds of numerous online bookmakers which accept UFC bets in order to successfully retain his UFC Welterweight Championship back in March. One month on, Wrexham are making global headlines once again.
But can you lead the Welsh club to the promised land on Football Manager 2023? With the European football season drawing to a close, there are a few interesting stories developing in the world of football, and here are the two teams which you should lead to glory in Sports Interactives ultimate management simulation.
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Wrexham
We may as well start with the flavor of the month. Wrexham was a team that was in the doldrums of English football just two years ago, both in terms of popularity and sporting merit. But in 2023, they are a team at the forefront of everyone’s mind.
There’s one reason why you need to manage the Red Dragons in Football Manager. Who wouldn’t want to work underneath two Hollywood sensations? And with the amount of funding being pumped into the Racecourse Ground outfit, Wrexham is primed and ready for success.
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Your first season in North Wales could be a little boring. Real-life manager Phil Parkinson has just led the club to promotion for the second time of asking, and your first task at hand will be replicating that achievement. But once you have done that, the sky really is the limit.
With strikers Paul Mullin and Ollie Palmer, as well as defender Ben Tozer and former England international goalkeeper Ben Foster in your squad, back-to-back promotions are a very real possibility. Once you’re in League One, further investment will be required, an investment that your Hollywood ownership duo will be only too willing to provide. Reynolds and McElhenney are also planning to invest in the Racecourse Ground stadium which Wrexham calls home, and the Premier League could beckon within half a decade… And who knows where after there?
Chelsea
Another club that has a new North American owner is Chelsea. American businessman Todd Boehly bought The Blues from longtime owner Roman Abramovich last year, however, his time in charge at Stamford Bridge has been the opposite of that enjoyed in North Wales. Chelsea is a team that is at the opposite end of the footballing spectrum to Wrexham, however, they are currently in freefall, despite spending £300m on new players in the January transfer window.
The club is currently without a manager after parting company with Graham Potter, their second manager of the 2022/23 season. Club legend Frank Lampard has been tasked with seeing the club through till the end of the season, however, The Blues have lost their first three games with Super Frank in charge and are in dire need of someone to come in and steady the ship. Could that man be you?
Your first task at hand needs to be clearing out the deadwood. There are over 30 first-team players currently on the books at Chelsea, and after their winter spending spree, they are in dire need of a clear-out. The likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Hakim Ziyech, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and Conor Gallagher all need to go, amongst others.
Once that has been done, your next task is gelling the new additions into a cohesive unit. João Félix, Mykhaylo Mudryk, Enzo Fernández, and Benoît Badiashile all arrived for eye-watering fees just a matter of months ago, but they already have their critics despite spending hardly any time in London. They need a manager to get them on the same page, could that be you?
Sounds pretty challenging right? Are you the manager for the job, or will you follow the likes of Potter and Lampard and fail when the club needs you the most? The poisoned chalice at Stamford Bridge isn’t for the faint of heart.
