Former England striker Andy Carroll has revealed the extent of his daily communications with YouTube star KSI as the two co-owners plot a miraculous rise for Dagenham & Redbridge. With the club currently in the sixth tier, the high-profile duo are working tirelessly behind the scenes to emulate Wrexham's success and ultimately bring Premier League football to East London.
Andy Carroll has started his Dagenham and Redbridge managerial career with a 1-0 victory over Torquay United on Saturday. Minority owner and YouTuber KSI was in the stands as the Daggers took three vital points, and Carroll, the former England striker, celebrated post-match with his family.
The "KSI era" at Dagenham & Redbridge has begun with a major clinical overhaul, as the National League South club confirmed the departure of manager Lee Bradbury. The decision comes just a fortnight after the high-profile YouTuber-turned-media personality was unveiled as a minority shareholder. In a sensational twist, former Liverpool and England striker Andy Carroll has been handed the reins on an interim basis.
Dagenham & Redbridge are officially "daring to dream" following the high-profile arrival of YouTube sensation and entrepreneur KSI as a major shareholder. The social media icon, whose real name is Olajide Olatunji, was unveiled as a key investor in the National League South side last week, marking a significant shift in the club's profile and ambitions as they look to climb back up the English football pyramid.
YouTube sensation KSI marked a surreal transition into football club ownership on Saturday as he watched Dagenham & Redbridge overcome National League South leaders Dorking Wanderers 1-0. In what served as a high-profile introduction to Victoria Road, the 32-year-old was spotted in the stands alongside a former England international striker.
KSI has, following his stunning move into football ownership, confirmed that Dagenham & Redbridge will be delivering a ‘Race To The Top’ documentary. Said production will initially be released on the social media star’s YouTube channel, allowing it to reach 17 million subscribers worldwide. The show will become a rival to the popular ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ series overseen by Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac in North Wales.
Since the Conference League's inception in 2021, three teams have lifted the trophy: Roma, West Ham United, and the current champions, Olympiacos.
How many teams are in the Conference League?
The newest format, introduced ahead of the 2024-25 season, features 36 teams, four more than in the previous format.
Who has made the most Conference League appearances ever?
Mainz 05 midfielder Hong Hyun-seok and Gent captain Sven Kums have made 39 appearances each in the Conference League, making them the players with the most appearances in the competition.
Who is the all-time top scorer of the Conference League?
As for top goalscorers, Arthur Cabral leads the list with 21 goals to his name, including those scored in the qualifying phase. However, without taking into account goals scored in the qualifying phase, three players have scored the joint-most goals in Conference League with 12 each to their names: Arthur Cabral, Eran Zahavi, and Vangelis Pavlidis.
Who has the most assists in the history of the Conference League?
Darian Males, Gavriel Kanichowsky, and Cristiano Biraghi have the most assists in Conference League history, registering eight assists each.
Who is the oldest player ever in the Conference League and how old was he?
Veteran Spanish goalkeeper Pepe Reina, while playing for Villarreal in 2023, became the oldest player to feature in the Conference League at 40 years and 175 days.
Who is the youngest player ever in the Conference League and how old was he?
Lille wonderkid Ayyoub Bouaddi holds the record as the Conference League's youngest-ever player at the tender age of 16 years and 3 days.
Which famous players have played in the Conference League?
Stars such as Paulo Dybala, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Tammy Abraham, Declan Rice, Harry Kane, Ollie Watkins,Co Mario Gotze, Kasper Schmeichel, Cody Gakpo, Stephan El Shaarawy, James Maddison, Jonathan David, and Edin Dzeko have played in the Conference League.
Which famous managers have managed in the Conference League?
Manuel Pellegrini, Jose Mourinho, Unai Emery, David Moyes, and Ange Postecoglou are among the most famous managers to have managed in the Conference League.