Wrexham owner Ryan Reynolds praises Derry-born captain James McClean comparing him to ‘grumpy' Samuel L Jackson
McClean has caused controversy in the past over his vocal political stances.
Besides his footballing prowess and status as Wrexham's captain, McClean is also known for his refusal to wear a poppy during matches.
But Reynolds, who bought over Wrexham FC back in 2020 with Always Sunny in Philadelphia star Rob McElhenney, has lavished praise on the midfielder.
'There is a burning, fearsome, 5000 kelvin oven inside that guy that is remarkable, and one of my favourite players to watch,' the Deadpool actor said.
The 48-year-old The Hitman's Bodyguard actor went on to compare the Londonderry-born sportsman to his 'grumpy' co-star and Hollywood icon Samuel L Jackson.
Speaking to the Fearless in Devotion Podcast, Reynolds said: 'I grew up as the youngest of four boys, right, I have a people-pleasing gene in me somewhere. I always love the guys that don't have that,' he said.
'I gravitate towards grumpy people. Samuel L Jackson can be a grumpy person and he's one of my favourite human beings on planet earth because of it.
'I love it. James has a bit of that.'
McClean captained the Wrexham side which was promoted to the Championship this year marking the third promotion for the club since Reynolds and McElhenney bought it.
The Marvel actor's 'favourite' player scored four goals in his 41 games with the Welsh team.
Following stints with Derry City, Sunderland, West Brom and Stroke City, McClean joined the team in the summer of 2023.
In his first season, he helped elevate the club from League Two to League One.
The player who once bore a 'Free Derry' tattoo and compared British soldiers to 'terrorists' is known for stirring controversy with his political beliefs and recently caused a stir by branding the city of Shewsbury, as a 'cesspit'.
Last November, McClean refused to wear a football shirt with the Remembrance Day poppy on it for their match against Mansfield.
During the League One fixture he stood away from his teammates during a minutes silence to maintain the stance he has taken for over a decade in the Premier League – he first refused to wear the emblem at Sunderland in 2012.
'The poppy represents for me an entire different meaning to what it does for others,' he wrote on Instagram in November.
'Am I offended by someone wearing a poppy? No absolutely not, what does offend me though is having the poppy try be forced up on me.
'If the poppy's purpose was to honour World War one and two, then I would have no issue wearing it.'
Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds celebrate Wrexham's Championship promotion
Reynolds and McElhenney's ownership Wrexham has been a fruitful endeavour.
In the season before before the 2020 purchase, the club brought in £1.15m.
Following the deal, which was made official in 2021, Wrexham saw exponential growth bringing in £10.5m.
The 2023-24 season saw an even larger revenue of £26.7m – a record for their League Two status at the time.
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