The best Wrexham AFC XI using players from the last decade ft Ben Foster | OneFootball

The last decade has brought both crushing lows and, more recently, big highs for Wrexham.

From nearly getting relegated during the Covid season to last term's record-breaking National League title win, supporters of the Red Dragons have seen it all.

When it comes to choosing the club's best XI from the last ten years, you could make a strong argument that only players from the last few seasons should make the cut.

Indeed, Wrexham's takeover by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney has seen a raft of star talent arrive at the Racecourse Ground.

However, exclusively picking players from the Hollywood era would also be pretty dull, so we have included at least a couple of faces from before then.

There are many players who, after all, brought joy to fans back when the most famous person you might see in the crowd was Ted Robbins, best known for playing Den Perry in Phoenix Nights.

The best Wrexham AFC XI since 2014

It's not a formation you will see Phil Parkinson choosing anytime soon, with Wrexham's manager staunchly favouring a 3-5-2.

But in order to cram in some of the best talents from the last decade, we have decided to use a 4-3-3 set-up.

GK: Ben Foster

There's only one name you could pick between the posts and that's Ben Foster.

The veteran keeper came out of retirement towards the tail end of last season for one of the most memorable cameos in non-league history.

His penalty save against Notts County was undoubtedly the most crucial moment as it swung the title race fully in Wrexham's favour.

didn't turn out to be the best idea, nothing will taint the memories he created to help the club out of the National League.

RB: Anthony Forde

Anthony Forde has been a model of consistency for Wrexham in the right-wing-back position since arriving from Oxford United in July 2022.

It's a role where Phil Parkinson tried a few different faces out before the Irishman made it his own.

Forde is equally capable of attacking down the right flank and getting back to do his defensive duties and made more than 30 appearances for the club last season.

He also scored three goals as they amassed 111 points, including a vital strike to break the deadlock during Wrexham's penultimate game against Yeovil Town.

The fact he did so whilst dealing with personal problems off the pitch after his wife was diagnosed with a brain tumour, is a true mark of the man's character.

CB: Aaron Hayden

"Aaron Hayden's magic, he wears a magic hat"

So goes the popular chant among Wrexham fans in celebration of one of their star centre-backs.

Hayden quickly established himself as a favourite after joining from Carlisle United in August 2021.

An absolute rock at the heart of defence, he also scored eleven goals last season, often assisted by the long throw of his colleague Ben Tozer.

League Two limited, but he's unarguably one of the most talented defenders the club has had in a long time.

The first of our XI who joined Wrexham before the Hollywood era is former club captain Shaun Pearson.

Supporters were delighted when Dean Keates secured his signature in May 2017 after witnessing his assured performances at the back for Grimsby Town.

A born leader whose passion was unrivalled, Pearson was excellent in the air and marshaled the backline like a sergeant major.

Fans also took him to their hearts for his endeavours off the field, which included delivering takeaways to their houses during Covid, before he returned to Grimsby in the summer of 2021.

'one of the best'.

The sight of Jacob Mendy flying down the left wing is enough to get any Wrexham fan out of their seats.

The left-wing-back position was not one where the club was blessed with pace before the Gambian international arrived in town.

His introduction just before last season started brought some much-needed balance to the squad, with his goals and assists really adding to the side's attacking threat.

Mendy's most iconic moment to date came as he raced forward to score his team's second goal in their epic battle against Notts County last April.

The arrival of James McClean has seen the former Boreham Wood man feature more often on the right side of defence in League Two, where he has also acquitted himself well.

Phil Parkinson is a manager who doesn't compromise on quality and was willing to wait right until the end of last summer's transfer window to sign George Evans from Millwall.

It was soon clear why, as he immediately impressed in a sitting midfield role with some cultured performances.

Affectionately known as Gorgeous George, the 29-year-old has helped transform Wrexham's midfield into a unit which is capable of competing at the top end of League Two and beyond.

It's no coincidence that Parkinson's side have struggled for form since Evans suffered a glute injury in February.

It was during a post-match press conference in February 2021 when former Wrexham manager Dean Keates sighed admiringly before uttering the famous words 'I love Luke Young'.

It's a sentiment that most fans would wholeheartedly agree with, with Young having been a vital cog in the midfield engine room since joining in May 2018.

A terrier-like player, he is tough in the tackle and has also scored some spectacular goals over the last six years.

Young, who is an expert at set pieces, has been relied on by successive managers at the Racecourse, up to and including Phil Parkinson.

Some might argue there are more naturally talented players now ahead of him, but he made a vital contribution last term with more than 40 appearances.

When Elliot Lee dropped down the divisions to join Wrexham from Luton in 2022, expectations were sky-high.

The attacking midfielder delivered almost immediately, bagging a late brace in his debut against Eastleigh.

Lee has been a talisman for the Red Dragons during the last two seasons, notching plenty of goals from midfield and turning his opponents inside out.

The 29-year-old has stepped up to the plate again in League Two, leading to him signing a new contract in January to keep him at the Racecourse until 2027.

Kevin Wilkin's reign as manager at Wrexham was not exactly a memorable one, but he did have a good eye for a player.

Former Stoke City striker Louis Moult tore the National League apart during 2014/15, scoring 23 goals in his only season with the club after joining from Nuneaton Town.

Supporters didn't get to see too many 20-goal strikers before the takeover, but Moult was ruthless in front of goal.

He was later signed by Motherwell, where he also scored for fun, and has played in the Championship with Preston. He can still be found putting them away for Dundee United in the Scottish Championship.

ST: Paul Mullin

There are frankly not enough superlatives in the English dictionary to describe how good Paul Mullin has been for Wrexham.

The clinical striker was the club's first real marquee signing under the new owners after scoring 32 goals for Cambridge United in 2020/21.

Mullin has topped the goalscoring charts since arriving in North Wales with a tally nearly in triple figures already.

Far from being just another mercenary, the Scouser has built up a real affinity with the fans through his tenacious attitude and raw passion.

He recently signed a new deal keeping him at the club until 2027 and supporters will be hoping to watch him for many years to come.

For every Paul Mullin, there needs to be an Ollie Palmer alongside him knocking the ball down and making it stick at the top end of the pitch.

It wasn't until the big striker arrived in January 2022 that Wrexham really began to see Mullin's full potential, despite an already impressive start to his time at the club.

Brought in from AFC Wimbledon, Palmer added a much-needed physical presence up front and has scored at a rate of one in every two games.

Parkinson has often favoured veteran forward Steven Fletcher alongside Mullin so far in League Two, but there are many who still feel Palmer is the perfect foil for their star striker.