As Wrexham AFC prepares to storm EFL League One after securing back-to-back promotions, the storied Welsh side’s prolific co-owners — Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney — have turned their attention to central Mexico where they’ve now acquired a minority stake in another beloved football franchise: Club Necaxa.
Joining a consortium of minority owners comprised of fellow A-listers like actress Eva Longoria, MLB pitcher Justin Verlander, NFL superstar Odell Beckham Jr, as well as supermodel Kate Upton, the duo harbour aspirations to recreate Wrexham’s renewed success with the century-old Liga MX team — which currently sits nine in the league table after finishing dead last in the 2023 season.
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Throughout its history, in stark contrast to Wrexham, Club Necaxa has consistently remained in the country’s top football division and even won it on three occasions. But the last time they brought home any silverware was all the way back in the 90s; meaning the face of the Deadpool franchise and the comedic genius behind It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia certainly have their work cut out for them.
On the subject of having their work cut out for them, last year, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney also became minority owners in Alpine F1 after joining Otro Capital and RedBird Capital Partners in a €200 million ($326.3 million) deal to acquire 24% of the race team.
“This association is an important step to enhance our performance at all levels,” said Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi.
“Otro Capital, RedBird Capital Partners and [Ryan Reynold & Rob McElhenney’s] Maximum Effort Investments, as international players with a strong track record in the sports industry, will bring their recognised expertise to boost our media and marketing strategy, essential to support our sporting performance over the long term.”
Since then, however, the Renault-owned outfit has been languishing in the paddock. Throughout the ongoing 2024 season, both Pierre Gasly and Esteban have been competing towards the back of the grid; neither one having scored a single point after five grands prix — and in the dire case of Gasly, yet to record even a single overtake. Grim stuff, indeed.
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Wrexham AFC, on the other hand, appears to be a neverending Cinderella story.
“A few years ago, if you told me I would be crying tears of joy over a football match taking place in north Wales, you would be Rob McElhenney,” Ryan Reynolds wrote on X (formerly Twitter) after the club was promoted to EFL League One earlier this month.
“Congrats to Wrexham and to my co-chairman in crime. Double up the town! This is the ride of our lives.”
