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How Man Utd legend Sir Alex Ferguson once played crucial role in Wrexham’s shock European upset

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Wrexham are eyeing a return to Europe in the very near future but already have an impressive history outside of the UK, in no small part due to Sir Alex Ferguson.

Since their takeover of the club three and a half years ago,  Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds have turned Wrexham into one of the best sides in Wales.

Cardiff City and Swansea City both remain in the Championship but the former are in danger of being relegated this season while Wrexham are eyeing a spot in the second tier for the 2025/26 season.

While not competing in the Premier League, the Red Dragons could be back playing European football in the somewhat near future.

Wrexham are in Welsh League Cup talks, with McElhenney and Reynolds eyeing a potential route into European football.

Along with Cardiff City, Newport County, Swansea City and other Welsh sides playing in the EFL, Wrexham are trying to join the Welsh League Cup.

The winner of that cup qualifies for a place in the recently-established Europa Conference League.

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How Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson helped Wrexham win in Europe

Should Wrexham be allowed to play in the Welsh League Cup and go on to earn a place in the Europa Conference League, it will be the first time they are able to compete in Europe since the 1995/96 season.

Wrexham first started competing in the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1972/73 and though they never really got to far in the competition, they did cause one major upset in 1984.

The Welsh side beat FC Porto in 1984 despite them finishing 88th out of the 92 English Football League teams in the previous campaign and having just 14 professionals on their books.

Now, as per The Athletic, Andy Edwards, who played in that tie, has opened up on the role Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson played in that game.

He said: “Bobby was old school, with tea cups flying everywhere. So, the only real preparation we did was extra work on corners.

“We had Sir Alex Ferguson to thank for that, as his Aberdeen side had played Porto (in the Cup Winners’ Cup semi-finals) the year before.

“Sir Alex told Bobby that Porto were really vulnerable at set pieces. So, we practised and practised these corners.”

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Wrexham can win Welsh League Cup to qualify for Europe

Should Wrexham be given the green light to join the Welsh League Cup, it will surely only be a matter of time before they are competing in Europe.

The likes of Swansea and Newport may pose tough tests if they to are allowed to join.

But most of the current sides competing in the competition should be fairly easy to beat.

The New Saints are the current holders, having won it five times in the last nine seasons. And while they are a decent side, they are simply not at the level of any of the Welsh teams competing in the EFL.

So, as long as they can cause something of an upset against the likes of Swansea and Cardiff, Wrexham could be creating some fresh European memories at the Racecourse Ground in the coming years.