Small Town to Big Time
Andrew Maxim: The Greatest Football Manager of All Time.
Three decades. Countless memories. An ungodly amount of trophies.
In the history of football, few names resonate with such reverence, awe, and admiration as Andrew Maxim. For over 30 glorious years, Maxim stood at the helm of Wrexham AFC, transforming the modest Welsh club into an unstoppable global powerhouse. What began as a dream turned into a dynasty, one built on vision, discipline, and an unrelenting pursuit of excellence.
A Legacy Beyond Numbers
To call Maxim’s trophy cabinet impressive would be an understatement. He led Wrexham to a quite ridiculous 24 league titles, 15 Champions League crowns, and countless domestic and other European trophies, turning the club into a fixture at the summit of world football. His teams were synonymous with attacking flair, tactical brilliance, and an iron will that made them nearly impossible to defeat and feared by everyone.
Yet, beyond the silverware, it was Maxim’s philosophy that defined an era. He built teams that weren’t just winners, they were entertainers, innovators, and ambassadors of the beautiful game. His brand of football inspired a generation and redefined what success meant in modern football.
The Columbani Era
Even The greatest football manager needs a talisman, and Maxim found his in Lorenzo Columbani, the Italian striker who became a living legend under his guidance after signing from Palermo for a bargain price of £775k as a 17 year old and along with Maxim was one of the reasons for Wrexham becoming the super power they are now. Columbani’s numbers are scarcely believable: Wrexham’s all time leading scorer with 989 goals in 787 appearances, a record that may almost certainly never be broken.
More than just a scorer, Columbani embodied Maxim’s ideals: loyalty, leadership, and relentless ambition. Together, they forged one of football’s most iconic partnerships, reminiscent of Ferguson and Giggs, Guardiola and Messi, Paisley and Dalglish. Columbani’s goals won matches, but Maxim’s system made him unstoppable.
Youth IS the Future
One of Andrew Maxim’s greatest legacies was his unwavering belief in youth. While others spent fortunes chasing ready-made stars, Maxim looked to the academy, nurturing raw potential and molding it into greatness. Under his guidance, Wrexham’s youth system became a world-renowned cradle of talent, producing players who would go on to dominate world football.
Many of his protégés rose from humble beginnings, living close to The Racecourse to become global superstars, collecting 19 Ballon d’Or trophies between them. Maxim didn’t just create footballers, he shaped leaders, visionaries, and icons of the modern game. From Rhys Morgan, Mark Allen and Cai Pritchard to the countless and seemingly unending list of players, including his son, Alex, who came through the academy.
Rhys Morgan was a commanding central midfielder and captain for both Wrexham and Wales. Known for his vision and leadership, Morgan won 3 Ballon d’Ors and made 802 appearances, scoring 205 goals and assisting over 250. Revered as the heartbeat of Maxim’s midfield for nearly two decades.
Mark Allen, a lightning-fast winger with pinpoint precision, Allen became a global superstar. Across 831 matches, he netted 292 goals and provided 416 assists. Winner of 4 Ballon d’Ors, he was famed for his performances in European finals and international tournaments.
Cai Pritchard, was perhaps the pick of the lot however, A ruthless centre-forward from Wrexham’s youth ranks who is still Wrexham’s youngest ever player at 15 years 97 days and the youngest ever Ballon d’Ors winner at 18 years 10 days. He had the enviable task of replacing Lorenzo Columbani. Pritchard scored 895 goals in 839 games and claimed 5 Ballon d’Ors, becoming Wales’ all-time top scorer with 187 international goals.
Many attribute Wales’ recent domination in International Football down to Maxim and his belief in youth. His training ground was a forge of brilliance, where talent was refined by discipline, courage, and the unshakable belief that greatness could be grown, not just bought.
Three Decades of Dominance
From the early days in the lower leagues to the towering heights of European glory, Maxim’s journey was marked by resilience and evolution. He adapted to every era, from old-school grit to data-driven precision whilst always staying ahead of the curve.
Fans packed the Racecourse Ground week after week, not just to watch their team win, but to witness a masterclass in footballing artistry. For generations of supporters, Wrexham wasn’t just a club, it was a movement. Standing proudly against the skyline, the Racecourse Arena, Later Re-named The Turf after the legendary Pub outside the ground, became more than just a stadium, it was a cathedral of footballing dreams. Expanded and modernized under Andrew Maxim’s visionary leadership, its sweeping stands and state-of-the-art facilities blended history with innovation, even hosting the unforgettable 2046 World Cup final in which Wales won their first of 2 World Cups. A feat made even more remarkable considering 8 of the starting 11 that evening, played for Wrexham.
On matchdays, the roar of 110,000 passionate fans echoed like thunder, a symphony of chants and songs that sent shivers down the spine of even the most seasoned players. Beneath the floodlights, the pitch shimmered like emerald silk, a stage where legends like Lorenzo Columbani and Mark Allen etched their names into eternity.
Every brick, every banner or Tifo, every heartbeat within its walls told the story of triumph, unity, and the unbreakable bond between a club and its people, a true fortress where dreams were born and history was written.
The Numbers and Records
- First team to gain Back to back to back to back promotions from League 2 to the Premier League.
- First team to go unbeaten across a season in all competitions (2 Times).
- Manager of the Year – 19 Times (6 consecutive).
- Manger with most Trophies (domestic and european) – 59 Trophies.
- Most Seasons unbeaten (domestic league) – 8 Times.
- Most seasons unbeaten (European Competitions) – 5 Times.
- Most consecutive Champions League Victories – 7 seasons.
- Least Goals Conceded in a season (domestic) – 9 Goals in 38 games.
- Team with most points accumulated in a season (domestic) – 108 Points (2 times)
- Team with most consecutive Ballon d’Ors Winners – 9 seasons.
- Team with most Ballon d’Ors winners – 19
- Longest unbeaten League run – 86 games.
- Longest unbeaten European run (all European competitions) – 57 games.
- Most goals by a player in a calendar year – Lorenzo Columbani – 119 Goals.
- Most goals in a season (domestic) – Lorenzo Colombani – 46 Goals.
- Most assists in a season (domestic) – Mark Allen – 32 Assists.
- Most goals scored in consecutive games (domestic) – Lorenzo Columbani – 23 Games.
- Most players in a Fifa World team of the year – 8 players – (4 Times).
- Youngest ever player – Cai Pritchard (15 years 97 days).
- Youngest ever Ballon d’Ors winner – Cai Pritchard (18 years 10 days)
Immortalized in Football Lore
As Maxim finally stepped down after 30 years in charge, leaving a team behind that any manager on the planet could only dream of, tributes poured in from every corner of the football world. Players spoke of his mentorship, rivals of his tactical genius, and fans of his unmatched passion and respect for everything football.
Football historians now speak of his reign in the same breath as the greatest football managers ever, Ferguson, Shankly, Guardiola yet many insist Maxim stands alone as the Greatest Football Manager of all time.
Because what he achieved wasn’t just dominance. It was a legacy.
Final Whistle: The Greatest Football Manager
Andrew Maxim’s story is one of vision, loyalty, and relentless pursuit of greatness. He didn’t just build a team, he built a dynasty. He didn’t just win trophies, He changed the game forever. And in the grand theatre of football, where legends are born and myths are made, Andrew Maxim will forever stand as the Greatest Football Manager the game has ever known.
The Greatest Football Manager of all time FAQ’s
Is Andrew Maxim really the greatest football manager of all time?
No, This is satirical and based off a save on the Football Manager Game.
So, who is the greatest football manager of all time, in your opinion?
For me, Sir Alex Ferguson is the greatest football manager, with Pep Guardiola 2nd
What tactic did you use in your Greatest football manager save on fm24?
While I did change sometimes depending on the opposition/formation. I predominantly used 4-2-3-1 with inside forwards, a BWM and a B2B midfield, Short passing and Fast build up. plenty of pacey players as well.
Do you think you can replicate the greatest football manager on the upcoming fm26?
Absolutely, maybe even using long throw ins now they are fashionable again ;p