Hollywood meets fifth division English Football as Ryan Reynolds of Deadpool fame and Rob McElhenney AKA – Mac from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia have become the new owners of Welsh club Wrexham.
It’s been reported that the pair have purchased the 156-year-old club – one of the oldest in English football for $2.5 million US.
Wrexham is currently sitting in 14th place in the National League and has been outside the top ranks of English Football since 2008 but the Hollywood pair is sure to give the club the real shot in the arm it needs to become one of the big boys.
The new owners also have plans to do some sort of behind the scenes documentary – something along the lines of Sunderland ‘Till I Die about the club for Amazon Prime.
However, Wrexham fans would hope that it doesn’t see them get relegated in the first series – like what we saw with Sunderland ‘Till I Die.
Reynolds and McElleny now join a who’s who of somewhat famous people owning sporting teams…
Such as our own Russell Crowe and his beloved Souths…
And in something truly out of character, Russ managed to link Renyolds and McElleny’s purchase of Wrexham to himself…
Of course, Elton John did own Watford
The likes of Gloria Estefan, J-Lo, Fergie, Venus & Serena Williams & Jimmy Buffett (Who actually supports the New Orleans Saints) have a stake in the Miami Dolphins
This chart reveals the ownership chain of the Dolphins…
Justin Timberlake has a minority stake in the Memphis Grizzlies
Usher got in on the Cleveland Cavaliers with a small stake purchase back in 2005.
When the Cavs won the NBA Championship in 2016, some were confused as to why he was in amongst the celebrations, but he had every right to get amongst it!
Jay Z has got 99 problems but his ownership of the Brooklyn Nets ain’t one.
In what seems to be a trend of having R’N’B hits in the early-mid 2000’s and having stakes in NBA teams, Nelly got in on the action with the Charlotte Bobcats.
Some bloke called Michael Jordan – who did not have an R’N’B smash-hit in the mid-2000s ended up becoming the part-owner of the Charlotte Bobcats – now the Hornets.
Will Smith also has a minority stake in the Philadelphia 76ers.
Jon Bon Jovi started his own AFL team…
Arena Football League (AFL) that is.
The Philadelphia Soul
The World Game has plenty of celebs getting in on the club ownership action.
Especially in America.
Drew Carey owns the Seattle Sounders.
Will Ferrell is one of the owners of LA FC
And who can forget David Beckham’s Inter Miami FC…
The best we can do in Australia is Anthony LaPaglia getting a piece of Sydney FC, including the time he was used as a goalkeeper at training.
But when it comes to sports team ownership in Australia, there’s only one man that springs to mind.
Think 80s
Think Pink Hellicopters.
Think bizarre high-profile wedding on average every 4.5 years.
The one and only DOCTOR GEOFFREY EDELSTEN.
After the Edelstein experiment, iconic Australian journalist Mike Willesee became a part-owner of the Sydney Swans for a number of years before the club returned to being owned by their members.
When the Brisbane Bears joined the VFL in 1987 it was a celebrity power team running the club.
The chairman was Paul Cronin – star of the hit show “The Sullivans” as Dave Sullivan
The owner – “high flying” 1980s businessman Christopher Skase.
But the peak of “famous” sports team ownership in Australia if not the world would have to go to Clive Palmer and his Gold Coast United days
The fans loved him.
And he attracted some serious major sponsors to the club.
If anything, Clive Palmer’s Gold Coast United was too good for the A-League
Clive even had hoped to start his own Football League with the motto “WE KICK HARDER”.
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