Wrexham star had the world at his feet before Swansea call derailed promotion push and his career: View | OneFootball

When Dean Saunders was in charge at Wrexham between 2008 and 2011, it's fair to say that his signings were a very mixed bag to begin with.

However, early on in his managerial career, he did manage to unearth at least one mercurial young talent who would go on to be signed by a Premier League club.

Having come up through the Manchester City youth system and played for England under-19s, Curtis Obeng certainly looked like a hot prospect when he arrived at the Racecourse in August 2009.

Aged just 20 years old, it would take a year or two for him to adapt to the rough and tumble of non-league football.

But when he did, Obeng's pace and crossing precision became a lethal weapon for the Red Dragons as they mounted a title charge during the 2011/12 season.

Alongside his league form, an FA Cup run saw him catch the eye of then Swansea City manager Brendan Rodgers, who soon came calling during the January 2012 transfer window.

It was a move no-one could begrudge him, but it played a pivotal role in Wrexham missing out on top spot that season and, sadly, things did not work out for Obeng in south Wales.

Here FLW takes a look at how his career developed at Wrexham and what happened next.

Obeng's "heated" Saunders relationship

Dean Saunders is well known for being a larger than life character and still divides opinion among Wrexham fans.

When Obeng arrived, it was at a time when the former Liverpool and Aston Villa striker was struggling to find his feet.

Many of his signings were not suited to non-league football and his frustration at their inability to play to the standards he expected of them often boiled over.

Despite the pair occasionally trading some tense words, Obeng believes Saunders ultimately did get the best out of him.

Speaking to the Rob. Ryan. Red. podcast about early life at Wrexham, Obeng said: “Even now to this day, Dean is one of my favourite coaches that I've worked with.

“It did take me a good few months to adapt my game and even in the early periods, me and Dean had a few heated words in training.

“But looking back now, I know he was trying to mould me into what you need to be to play competitively at that level.”

FA Cup form attracts attention of Brendan Rodgers

Fast-forward a couple of years and Saunders had finally managed to build a team which was capable of competing in the top tier of non-league football, with Obeng as his first-choice right-back.

Wrexham made the play-offs for the first time since their drop out of the EFL during the 2010/11 season, losing in the semi-finals to Luton.

A few key additions such as strikers Jake Speight and Danny Wright during the following summer put the club in good shape to push for promotion again.

The Red Dragons started off the 2011/12 campaign very well under their madcap boss and were second in the table when Saunders left in September to join Championship outfit Doncaster Rovers.

It's under the tutelage of player-manager Andy Morrell that Obeng really began to shine, establishing himself as one of the top assist-providers, and with his pace tying opponents in knots.

However, it was the club's run in the FA Cup that season which really got him noticed.

After knocking out League One side Brentford with an impressive display in the second round, Wrexham did battle with Championship outfit Brighton in the third round over what would be a pivotal two legs for Obeng and Morrell's side.

They held the Seagulls to a 1-1 draw at the Amex Stadium in January and then brought them back to the Racecourse.

They repeated the same feat over 120 minutes in a game in which Obeng was one of the star performers.

While Wrexham ultimately lost on penalties, there was someone watching in the crowd who liked what he saw.

Then in charge of Swansea City, Brendan Rodgers was actually in attendance to watch his son Anton play for Brighton.

Obeng told Rob. Ryan. Red: “It was just a coincidence that Brendan's son was playing for Brighton. He came to the home and away games.

“I had a good game in the home game, and he put the wheels in motion almost straightaway.

“I didn't want to leave, but it's impossible to turn down going from the Conference to the Premier League.”

When Obeng left for the top flight, it put Wrexham in a healthy position financially after a period of disarray under former owners Geoff Moss and Ian Roberts.

New custodians, the Wrexham Supporters Trust, were still fighting fires and the fee of £200,000 which Swansea reportedly paid for Obeng was therefore almost impossible to refuse.

Morrell was initially hopeful of getting the right-back to return on loan for the second half of the season, but the two clubs could not come to an agreement.

The Swans instead sent youngster Danny Alfei on loan to the Red Dragons. However, he did not have the same impact as Obeng.

Along with the departure of influential midfielder Lee Fowler to title rivals Fleetwood Town, it was to play a big part in them falling short of automatic promotion that season.

They still finished the season in second place with an impressive 98 points, but lost to Luton again in the play-off semis.

There were also other factors at play, such as the red-hot form of future Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy for Fleetwood.

However, it's hard not to feel they would have stood a much better chance if Obeng in particular had stayed.

Reflecting on the situation more recently, the man himself says he doesn't regret his decision, but was keen on rejoining Wrexham on loan.

He said: “No-one would honestly hand on heart say that they would have done that (rejected the move) because it just doesn't make sense. If it works out a different way, you think ‘Wow, what a great move’.

“Something I am regretful for is not being allowed to come back on loan, which me and my agent pushed for, but it wasn’t happening.”

When Obeng initially joined Swansea, it was with a lot of excitement as he said Rodgers had drawn up a clear route for him to join the first team.

The initial plan was for him to train with the club for the remaining four months of the season to get up to the standard required.

He would then be integrated into the squad properly during a pre-season tour of the US and put in rotation with Spaniard Angel Rangel at right-back.

That was until Liverpool came knocking for Rodgers, who he joined in June 2012.

Obeng's career at Swansea never recovered after the man who signed him was replaced by Michael Laudrup, and he was eventually released in May 2015 without making a first team appearance.

He has since had a bit of a journeyman career, and most recently joined Bury in the North West Counties League in August 2023.

Meanwhile, Wrexham would have to wait eleven years before they were finally promoted from the National League. It was very much a case of what could have been for both parties.