This week’s soccer questions: Wrexham’s future, and did we just see the biggest title shock in history?

3 min read
This week’s soccer questions: Wrexham’s future, and did we just see the biggest title shock in history?

This week’s soccer questions: Wrexham’s future, and did we just see the biggest title shock in history?

We look at whether FC Thun’s championship victory rivals Leicester City’s in 2016, and what the future holds for Michael Carrick and two Hollywood stars

This week’s soccer questions: Wrexham’s future, and did we just see the biggest title shock in history?

We look at whether FC Thun’s championship victory rivals Leicester City’s in 2016, and what the future holds for Michael Carrick and two Hollywood stars

This week in soccer, we're asking two big questions: Has FC Thun just pulled off an even bigger shock than Leicester City's 2016 Premier League triumph? And what's next for Wrexham after their Hollywood-fueled promotion streak finally hit a bump?

Let's start in Switzerland, where FC Thun have written a fairy tale that deserves a place alongside the sport's greatest underdog stories. A decade after Leicester City stunned the world, Thun have done something even the Foxes couldn't manage—winning the Swiss Super League title immediately after promotion. Hailing from a town of just 45,000 people, Thun were tipped for an immediate return to the second division. Instead, manager Mauro Lustrinelli, who played for Thun during their memorable 2005 Champions League run, orchestrated an unforgettable campaign.

In their 128-year history, Thun had never won a Swiss title. Their net transfer spend this season was roughly €700,000 ($820,000). Their captain, Marko Burki, isn't even the most famous footballer in his own family—that honor goes to his older brother, former Switzerland goalkeeper Roman Burki. Like Leicester, Thun took advantage of a rebuilding period for traditional powerhouses Basel and Young Boys. But seizing that opportunity required belief, consistency, and a touch of magic. Switzerland may never crown another champion quite like them.

Meanwhile, in North Wales, Wrexham have experienced something unfamiliar: a season without promotion. The Welsh side's remarkable rise from the National League to the Championship over four years came to a pause on Saturday after a 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough ended their playoff hopes. For owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, it's the first time they've had nothing to celebrate at the end of a campaign.

Wrexham's strategy has been straightforward—outspend the competition. And it worked, propelling them up the English football pyramid at a dizzying pace. But now they've hit a ceiling where their Disney millions no longer guarantee results. The Championship is a different beast, and the club faces a crucial summer of recalibration. Can they adapt their approach, or will the Hollywood dream need a new script?

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