Ex-NFL player JJ Watt sought advice from Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds over his investment in Burnley FC.
JJ and his his soccer star wife Kealia recently became shareholders in the club who are due to return to the Premier League when the new season starts.
Mr Watt, a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, announced his retirement last year and has become a successful entrepreneur alongside Kealia, a former USWNT international soccer player.
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Kealia retains the record for scoring the fastest goal of any debutant for the women’s national team, after netting 48 seconds into her international debut in 2016.
Burnley’s majority shareholder and chairman Alan Pace, Watt’s compatriot, took over in December 2020 and has previously spoken about his own integration challenges.
American businessman Todd Boehly and his consortium acquired Chelsea last May, while Creed actor Michael B Jordan became part-owner of Bournemouth after Bill Foley’s December 2022 takeover.
The most immediate comparison to the Watts, however, might be with Wrexham owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, who are currently celebrating their own club’s promotion.
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The Welsh side’s rise under the Hollywood duo has largely been seen as an overwhelming success, though they too have detractors.
In an interview with the PA News agency, JJ said he has already sought out the advice of dual Canadian-American citizen Reynolds.
He said: "We talked a lot about the tribalism over here with the clubs and how much it means.
"Over in America we have the ability to watch every single match and it’s a little easier to have multiple teams.
"You don’t do that here (in England). You’re born somewhere, you support that club and that is your club, ride or die forever. That’s very, very, important.
"(Reynolds) talked a lot about honouring and respecting that coming in and knowing that this club has been here long, long before we got here and it's going to be here long after we’re gone, so it's just a matter of doing right by the supporters and doing what you can to help shepherd it into the next chapter in a better place than you found it."
JJ added that he is determined to win over doubters still sceptical of Americans who buy into English football.
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He watched his first Premier League match over a decade ago, soon finding himself fully drawn in thanks to an affinity for Didier Drogba, and completely appreciates why some may be wary of an upswing in US interest.
"I don’t blame them for having cynicism. I would if I was in their shoes. Think about it. You’ve had the best league in the world, and it’s been around for over 100 years, and it’s kind of your national treasure.
"I absolutely understand why you'd be sceptical of Americans coming in and wanting to be part of it, but having said that our experience has been unbelievable.
"We haven’t met one single person who hasn’t been incredibly welcoming, so we’re very thankful.
"But we understand the situation and we want to continue to earn that trust and show that we are going to honour and respect that tradition and history."
Earlier this month, BusinessLive reported that Burnley FC made a profit in the year they were relegated from the Premier League thanks to selling players.
The Turf Moor club have been under a transfer embargo since March after submitting their accounts late.
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