One might anticipate that power couple Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively would live in a mansion close to Hollywood like royalty.
The charming couple, who collectively have a net worth of over $400 million US, live in a sleepy North Wales village with views of castles that the British Royal family uses.
The quick-witted Reynolds didn’t move away from his adoring fans when he settled in the quiet village of Marford, which has a population of about 2,500, as there, his fame grew as a result of the recent success the Wrexham Association Football Club (AFC) is experiencing under his leadership.
Wrexham AFC is home to the oldest club in Wales as well as the third-oldest professional association team in the world. Near the Racecourse Ground, where the team plays, Reynolds purchased a $1.9 million home in Marford, North Wales.
The soccer team they bought in 2021 is co-owned by Reynolds, a Canadian, and Robert McElhenney, an actor best known for his work on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
Both actors had no prior experience working for a sports team, but Reynolds is accustomed to running businesses. Along with his incredibly successful acting career, he founded the production company Maximum Effort and owned stock in a number of companies, including Aviation American Gin and the Canadian communications firm Nuvei.
Reynolds, who plays Ted Lasso in the Welcome to Wrexham TV docuseries, took on the underachieving sports team as a fresh challenge to improve performance and win the community’s support.
According to a press release from the co-owners, “we can now pursue our goal to grow the team and return it to the EFL in front of increased attendances, in an improved stadium, while making a positive difference to the wider community in Wrexham.”. “In collaboration with the team members, staff, spectators, and neighborhood. The English Football League, or EFL, features professional football teams from Wales and England.
In an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Reynolds promotes the team for the 2020 season. And recalls that he ran into some issues when he forgot to notify Lively, whom he married in 2012, about the transaction.
I clearly remember going up to Blake and telling him the bad news. I regretfully entered someone’s direct messages again. The terrible news is that I might have bought half of a fifth-tier national football league in Wales. Reynolds said Lively’s response was “not good. ”.
We’re still working through that one,” Reynolds jokingly remarked. ”.
The couple and their four daughters had no regrets about leaving their home in Pound Lake, New York, where there are about 5,200 people, and relocating to Marford, where they will reside.
Reynolds is eager to relocate to Wrexham, according to Magus Malik, the Red Lion Pub’s proprietor, who spoke with the Daily Mail. The Red Lion Pub is one of the town’s two pubs.
“This is excellent news. In Wrexham and the surrounding area, Ryan Reynolds has made a significant contribution. Malik claims that the news has caused quite a commotion in the neighborhood and that many locals are overjoyed that such a well-known celebrity would be relocating there.
The Croods: A New Age, The Hitman’s Bodyguard, Free Guy, and the Deadpool actor—known for his impeccable comic timing—have all been box office hits.
In addition to watching the Netflix documentary about him and Rob McElhenney taking over the Wrexham football team, Malik added, “I’ve seen a number of his movies.”. “Ryan seems to be sincere, and I think he’ll fit in well here. The neighborhood is lovely and welcoming. He’ll love it as much as we do, no doubt about that. He is more than welcome to join us at the pub, where we will have a pint waiting for him. ”.
Because of Reynolds’ arrival, the town and its adored football team are receiving a lot of attention, so it might not be so sleepy for much longer.
He handled his celebrity so endearingly that even King Charles wanted to meet him. In December 2022, King Charles and Queen Consort Camila paid a visit to the Racecourse Ground and spoke with team management.
People reports that the senior royals visited the club to learn more about its expansion plans and “walked through the Player’s Tunnel for an authentic experience. They were then led onto the field by Reynolds and McElhenney.
A professional hockey team might soon belong to Reynolds. Due to his prior experience leading a sports organization, the process got underway, and in 2022 he announced his plans to buy the struggling Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League.
Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively perform some admirable deeds through their extensive charitable endeavors. Reynolds is saving a sports team whose players and staff were out of the office when he got there. Others have made the analogy that he is a real-life superhero.