Rob Page plans to invite Michael Sheen to the World Cup after the actor’s spine-tingling Welsh battle cry went viral.
And the Wales boss reckons he has since had English-supporting pals claim they are envious of the pride and passion around the Dragons' national team which will raise the stakes ahead of the nations' Qatar clash in November.
Sheen delivered an impassioned speech, which has had over 13million views, to inspire Wales’ at this winter’s World Cup on Sky's A League of Their Own TV show.
Page and his players are now keen to meet the Damned United and Frost/Nixon star and want the Port Talbot-raised actor to help them at the nation’s first World Cup since 1958.
Page, speaking after signing a new four-year contract, said: "When you've got the passion to do that, we've got to use it to our benefit, absolutely. It's fantastic. I well up every time I watch it.
“I'd been in a meeting in Cardiff and my phone was going mad so I knew something significant had happened. When I watched it, wow, I was very emotional.
“I’ve already had messages from the players, they want to get him in straightaway. I want to let him know that I appreciate what he's done there. We're on the map, but he's taken it to another level for us.”
Wales booked their spot in Qatar in June with a tense play-off final win over Ukraine and they are preparing for Group B with America, Iran and England.
Page, who lives in Sheffield, reckons he has since even had England fans claiming to be envious of Wales’ passion despite the Three Lions being runners-up at Euro 2020.
Ryan Giggs’ successor, who was put in interim charge of Wales in November 2020 before being named permanent boss this summer, insisted: “Welsh football is in a good place at the moment.
“I’ve had pals that live in England going: ‘Wow, to be Welsh must be unbelievable.’ They are watching our games going: ‘Why can’t we have that?’
“It’s incredible, the atmosphere that we’ve got, that link we’ve got between supporters and the songs. I’ve got friends in England going: ‘I’d rather watch your games.’
Page now wants to set up a meeting with Sheen to show his gratitude for helping raise Wales’ profile. He added: “I will do, absolutely. Personally I want to thank him for doing that. I do.”
Page has named a 28-man Wales squad to visit Belgium in the Nations League next Thursday and host Poland next Sunday.
Wales squad: Hennessey, Ward, King, N Williams, Norrington-Davies, Davies, Cabango, Rodon, Mepham, Ampadu, Gunter, C Roberts, Thomas, Allen, Morrell, Levitt, Colwill, J Williams, Burns, Smith, James, Moore, M Harris, L Harris, Bale, Johnson, Matondo, T Roberts.
