Wrexham star's dad landed in hot water with Cristiano Ronaldo after 'uncool' request

Wales Online

18 hours ago

Wrexham star's dad landed in hot water with Cristiano Ronaldo after 'uncool' request
Ollie Rathbone's father Mick was a physio at Everton for eight years, where his son would regularly visit and meet the club's star players
Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo was unimpressed by Everton physio Mick Rathbone's request
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The father of one of Wrexham's key players found himself in a spot of bother with Cristiano Ronaldo due to a favour his son requested.
As a physio at Everton from 2002 to 2010, Mick Rathbone would often bring his football-loving son to the club, where he rubbed shoulders with stars like Wayne Rooney and Duncan Ferguson. However, it was Manchester United icon Ronaldo who truly captivated future Wrexham midfielder Ollie Rathbone.
Mick shared an uncomfortable moment with the Portuguese superstar in a corridor after a match between Everton and United, all because Ollie had asked his dad to get a shirt signed by his hero.
In his book "The Smell of Football," Mick wrote: "Sometimes, I must admit, when surrounded by these superstars, I just wanted to grab a pen and piece of paper and get their autographs, but this was frowned upon as being totally uncool.
"A few years ago, however, when we played United, Ollie begged me to get Cristiano Ronaldo's autograph on his brand new Portugal shirt that he had just received for his birthday. I really didn't like to ask and did feel a bit of an anorak, but you know what it's like - you will do anything for your kids, won't you?
"I kept my eyes peeled after the match, hoping to spot Ronaldo passing the medical room. Eventually, I saw him and stepped into the bustling corridor, clutching the shirt. Dressed in full Everton gear, I didn't feel too out of place.
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Ollie Rathbone's stellar performances for Wrexham have made him popular at the club
(Image: Getty Images )
"'Excuse me, Cristiano, could you please sign this for my son?' He didn't seem too thrilled, but took the shirt and pen without looking up or acknowledging me, and began to scribble. 'Could you write, 'To Oliver, happy birthday' on it please, Cristiano?' He still didn't look up but just continued scribbling.
"'It's O-L-I-V...' I didn't get any further. He simply tossed the shirt back at me where, due to static electricity, it stuck. He then walked off, leaving me with the shirt on my head."
Mick added: "There were a couple of the Everton press guys in the corridor that day who witnessed the whole thing, and we spent the next 10 minutes in fits of laughter. Never again."
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Ollie experienced life at United first-hand as a young player, having progressed through the club's academy alongside the likes of Marcus Rashford. The 28-year-old spent eight years with the Red Devils before moving to Rochdale in 2016 due to limited opportunities in the first team.
He subsequently signed for Rotherham, where he had a successful three-year spell, before his transfer to Wrexham for £500,000 last summer. Ollie made a strong impression in his debut season with the club, owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, contributing significantly to Phil Parkinson's team's promotion from League One.
He was also honoured as the club's player of the season after netting eight goals in 41 league matches. Mick has voiced his pleasure at Ollie's accomplishments at Wrexham, having played a key role in their rise to the Championship for the first time in 43 years.
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"I'm proud of Ollie; all the family are, but I'd be just as proud of him if he served me a coffee," Mick told The Leader, having become a regular fixture at the Racecourse Ground this season. "We love the atmosphere at home games and Ollie's enjoyed it at Wrexham; he says it's a fantastic club.
"He got a knock on the ankle early on in the season and had to work hard to get into the side, but once he did you knew he was going to give his all to remain there. He's consistent, has a great work-rate and he'll give you everything - and fans appreciate that.
"Supporters pay their hard-earned cash and if they see players giving it their all, they'll like you. I was a bit like that in my playing days at Blackburn as giving 100 per cent every game is the minimum requirement for a footballer, whether you're playing for Barcelona or the Dog and Duck."