We had the good fortune of connecting with Tony Merola and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tony, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
The biggest thought process was knowing that if I set up my own Academy, I could make my own decisions and to facilitate running a soccer Academy as a development platform first then grow it as a business second. For over ten years here in North Texas I have worked for Club’s that operate as a business first instead of really focusing on player and coach development.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I was a professional player back in the early 90s at Wrexham Football Club making my professional debut at 17 and gaining my first and only contract at 18. An injury on my 18th birthday stopped me playing for my Country which was hard to take. After a season of consistent groin and ankle injuries I was released by the Club in 1995 and continued to play semi-professional for the next 10 season until 2 Achilles ruptures forced me to stop playing at 29. At the age of 38 I decided to move to Texas and coach for Liverpool FC’s International Academy as Director of Soccer Expansion. I met my wife in 2015 and Charlie Rose was born in 2017 and the rest is history with us launching the Wrexham Texans Football Academy in 2023.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The Stockyards every time with lunch at H3. Second favorite place is just walking around Downtown and visiting Sundance Square with dinner at Texas De Brazil.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
It has to be my wife, Colleen and 7-year-old daughter Charlie Rose. Without their support and unwavering patience with my hectic schedule at times, they allowed me to become the person I am today.

Website: https://www.wrexhamtexans.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wrexhamtexans/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-merola-4652933b/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Wrexham-Texans-100028560563418/

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