Phil Parkinson has now explained how he’s evolved as a manager since joining Wrexham.
Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds appointed Phil Parkinson as manager of Wrexham in July 2021.
The 56-year-old arrived as one of EFL’s most experienced managers having coached at Colchester United, Hull City, Charlton, Bolton Wanderers and Sunderland before moving to Wales.
Like many who dropped down to the National League during that period, Parkinson was sold by the project McElhenney and Reynolds were building at Wrexham.
Fast forward three years and the veteran manager has orchestrated back-to-back promotions at the Racecourse Ground, taking his overall tally to five.
With previous triumphs at Colchester, Bolton Wanderers and Bradford City, Parkinson is aiming to add a third promotion to the Championship on his CV.
Phil Parkinson explains how he’s evolved as a manager at Wrexham
Parkinson isn’t perfect and like many managers, made mistakes early on in his career.
Describing managerial life as a “whirlwind”, the Wrexham boss has explained how being in charge of a football club is “non-stop” and during his spell at Colchester, he let it take over his life.
Luckily, he’s now older and wiser, explaining how he’s learned the importance to take time off to reflect and let the decisions come to him more.
“I would like to say I’m calmer but probably not,” Parkinson told the Leader. “I think I have probably learnt to enjoy the job a lot more.
“Certainly when you start managing, it is an absolute whirlwind. You can’t believe how all encompassing managing is, it really does take over your life. It is non-stop. Sometimes when I was at Colchester, I was in every single day of the week. I never had a day off.
“But as I have grown more experienced, I have learned you have to have those days away so you have time to reflect and let decisions come to you more. I think that is probably the biggest aspect.”
Phil Parkinson’s Wrexham career in numbers
Parkinson has taken charge of 165 matches as Wrexham boss, winning 103 and losing just 27 to give him an impressive win percentage of 62.4%.
Remarkably, the Reds have tasted defeat in just six of their 85 home matches that Parkinson has overseen – a record that will stand them in good stead heading into League One.
In terms of players who have played the most under his tutelage, Ben Tozer leads the way on 141 games but following his departure, Paul Mullin – currently on 140 – will overtake him in 2024/25.
Wrexham’s biggest win under the English tactician was matched in April as a 6-0 hammering of Forest Green Rovers sealed their return to the third tier – the fourth time they’ve won by a six-goal scoreline under Parkinson.
As of June 2024, Parkinson’s win percentage of 62.4% is the highest of any manager in the club’s history, underscoring what a tremendous job he’s done, and what supporters hope will continue in the future.