SAM RICKETTS is Wrexham's new manager.

Here we take a look at the 36-year-old and how he's ended up at The Racecourse after a successful playing career that spanned 16 years and took in the likes of Swansea, Wolves, Hull and Bolton, as well as 52 caps for Wales.

Related: Sam Ricketts appointed as new Wrexham AFC manager

1. Instead of football, Ricketts could have made a name for himself in the world of show jumping.

Ricketts comes from an equestrian background. His father, Derek, was crowned world showjumping champion in 1978 and his uncle is the former National Hunt champion jockey John Francome.

"He just came out and told me that he didn't want to do it any more," said his father in an interview with the Observer. "I was disappointed at the time. Maybe we should have guessed because Sam would insist on putting up goalposts in one of the paddocks."

2. His step into management has been three years in the making, not an accident.

Ricketts had half an eye on the future when at Wolves, taking on a player/coach role with injuries slowly catching up with him.

"There's a lot for him to contribute, in particular to the defenders and the younger defenders," said then Wolves boss Kenny Jackett.

"He's been helping out and getting involved in the coaching, learning it himself.

"On a matchday, being around the group, we feel he's a very positive influence."

3. He's done his coaching badges through the Welsh FA system.

There's a picture on social media of Ryan Giggs flanked by Ricketts and Dave Edwards at a various coaching meeting.

Since his playing days were winding down Ricketts has taken a genuine interest in coaching, and perhaps most interestingly, the development of young players.

He's been coaching with Wales Under-16s and his playing career, which saw him fill in across the back four, will stand him in good stead.

“I’ve signed at clubs before to play a specific position but have been played somewhere else," said Ricketts. "Kenny Jackett at Swansea signed as a right-back but I ended up playing left-back all season. "Wolves signed me to play as a centre-back but I spent most of my time there as a right-back.

“I don’t mind moving around to be honest, I’ve played in the Premier League in all the positions, at Wolves in a number of roles and also for Wales.”

4. He's cool, calm and collected - most of the time.

A quick look through social media and the internet will tell you that Ricketts is a widely popular individual.

Every professional footballer needs an edge, although Ricketts is very level-headed, worrying about very little it seems.

“I was told quite early on, probably ten years ago, that if you can’t control something there’s no point worrying about it,” he said.

“I was taught that as a player and have applied it to everything in my life."

5. Born on October 11.

Ricketts shares a birthday with footballing royalty Bobby Charlton, who is 44 years his senior.

Wrexham fans will be hoping Ricketts is certainly more like Sir Bobby than Dawn French, who he also shares a birthday with.