Why Mark Consuelos and Kelly Ripa Bought an Italian Soccer Team, And Brought a Doc Crew Along for the Ride

by

As a soccer enthusiast, I can’t help but notice the surge of celebrities diving headfirst into the world of football, with Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney (apologies for the nickname, Rob Mac) leading the charge at Wrexham since 2022. However, it seems that Ryan isn’t the only A-lister jumping on the bandwagon. The dynamic duo, Mark Consuelos and Kelly Ripa, who are known for their hosting gig on ABC’s Live with Kelly and Mark, have also made a splash. They were part of an ownership group that purchased the troubled Italian team Campobasso in 2022, and since then, it has been promoted to Serie C.

Indeed, a documentary team has accompanied them on this journey, recording not just the excitement in the stadiums and locker rooms, but also the decision-making processes behind coaching adjustments, player transfers, and the acquisition of some fresh Italian properties, as depicted in the ESPN original series titled “Running with the Wolves“, set to premiere on July 29.

The Hollywood Reporter caught up with Consuelos earlier this week to discuss the series.

Why did you want to invest in an Italian soccer team in the first place?

The question at hand is quite significant, given my strong roots in Italy. You see, I spent the initial five years of my life there, and we make annual trips back during summer. My childhood was intertwined with Italian football, and posters of those players adorned my walls. Through a local community here in New York City, someone reached out to me, asking if I’d like to join their endeavor, to which I agreed.

This team boasts a long and impressive history in football, primarily based in the less-frequented Molise region of Italy. They found themselves in the third division, but financial difficulties led to the ownership’s bankruptcy, resulting in their expulsion from the league and a demotion to the fifth division. Upon discussing this with my associate, I asked if we had a coach or players. The answers were both negative. When it came to a stadium, he thought we could regain control by ensuring the field was maintained. The season was set to begin in just 10 days. With no coach, no players, and a makeshift stadium, it seemed like an ambitious plan, but I loved it. We decided to take on the challenge, and amazingly, we managed to win the league and were promoted to the fourth division. The following year, another victory in the fourth division earned us a promotion to the third division. Investing in this community, helping them rebuild what was about to be lost, seemed too promising an opportunity to ignore. Its potential was immense, making it hard to resist.

From where did the concept of creating a docuseries originate? The initial episode features Ryan Reynolds on ABC’s platform, and he has his own docuseries (FX’s Welcome to Wrexham). So, how did the idea arise for cameras to document the team, including yourself?

In the fifth division, an idea sparked within us. However, it didn’t seem appealing enough as we were playing on fields that looked like high school grounds. It was during this time that we started shaping our concept. Our intention was to present this idea once we ascended to higher divisions. I found the idea intriguing because, you see, we’ve produced sports documentaries in the past—one about a high school wrestling team for ESPN and another about basketball for sports channels. To us, it felt symbolic of life’s journey. There was a sense of connectedness to this adventure that transcended our personal experiences. It seemed more than just about us; we believed it was the ultimate underdog story, deeply rooted in the town’s passion. In my opinion, the people here didn’t have many reasons to cheer for, but this soccer project struck me as a captivating tale. With determination, perseverance, and persistence, we managed to get it sold.

One aspect I found particularly intriguing about this documentary is its unique perspective on the inner workings of the team. It reveals not only the strategic aspects like team management, transfer negotiations, and coaching adjustments, but also delves into the personal side, showing conversations between you and Kelly about the struggles of owning a team, house-hunting experiences – a focus that is less common in many behind-the-scenes documentaries.

The concept was intentionally crafted, and when we proposed it to ESPN, they were thrilled about the opportunity to peek behind the curtains of our personal lives, beyond what viewers see on our daily talk show. The notion of Kelly and I starring in a reality show is something we would never do; however, this production comes close because it’s set against the backdrop of Italian football. For many years before the talk show, Kelly and I have been working together, starting on a soap opera. We make an excellent team, and I knew that my wife’s competitive spirit is unmatched in my opinion.

As a football enthusiast, I may not have extensive knowledge about Italian football, but I had faith that if we could immerse her into the scene and the project, her captivating presence on camera and infectious enthusiasm would prove to be a magical combination. And indeed, ESPN shared my excitement about our collaboration.

It seems clear that you’re well-known individuals, yet I’d like to point out that this aspect of you is typically hidden from the public eye.

As you mentioned, there’s another side to you that usually remains unseen by the public.

Or simply:
You’re known figures, but here we get a glimpse of an often-unseen part of you.

Absolutely, and while I’m quite fond of the series set in Wrexham, I do believe that Italian cuisine surpasses Welsh food, in my humble opinion.

How did you aim to both keep American fans updated on your team and help introduce them to Italian leagues, as well as some of its players, since many Americans might not be as familiar with it compared to other European leagues?

The series “Ted Lasso” significantly boosted our storyline as it resonated deeply with American audiences, shedding light on the thrilling dynamics of promotion and relegation found in European football leagues, which are not present in American professional football. Moreover, the Italian league, being more akin to a soap opera, added an extra layer of drama due to the substantial influence wielded by fans, agents, and players. We anticipated this would make for an intriguing narrative.

Would you consider doing future episodes?

In our recent season, we focused on acclimating our players to the presence of cameras off-stage, as this was a significant factor for us. After all, these players aren’t global superstars like Messi or Ronaldo; we were curious about their reactions and how long it would take them to feel at ease. To our delight, they adapted swiftly. We are eager to embark on another season.

Read More

2025-07-10 20:24