Parkinson has led Wrexham to a record-breaking three successive promotions since taking charge in July 2021, and now he’s brought together a squad that’s challenging for a Championship play-off spot and an unthinkable place in the Premier League.
But the Reds take a break from league action on Saturday when Chelsea arrive at The Racecourse for a mouthwatering FA Cup fifth round tie.
Parkinson will be looking for a repeat of the famous result he enjoyed when he was Bradford boss and his League One side won 4-2 against the Blues at Stamford Bridge in a round four clash.
It was a big upset, with the Bantams getting the better of Chelsea who were managed by Jose Mourinho and had the likes of Petr Čech, John Obi Mikel, Didier Drogba and Mohamed Salah in the staring XI, with Cesc Fàbregas and Eden Hazard coming on as substitutes.
What's even more remarkable was the fact that Bradford trailed two-nil after 38 minutes but pulled a goal back before half-time and then scored three times in the second period to progress to the fifth round against the odds.
At the time, Chelsea were comfortably sitting at the top of the Premier League table and on course to defend the title they won the previous season, had also finished at the top of their Champions League group and were in the semi-finals of the League Cup.
"I can't remember what our results were like prior to it, but we had a good look at Chelsea leading up to the game," said Parkinson.
"We decided how we were going to play and even at two-nil down, we were playing well and we'd had a chance before that.
"Just before half-time we got a goal back, and then second-half we were an absolutely brilliant kicking into the 6,000 Bradford fans.
"We were able to score four past a Mourinho team who very rarely conceded at home, and I think that was the key.
"Chelsea were league champions at the time and it was a day that everyone who was there will remember, but obviously Bradford fans in particular will never forget it."
Bradford were cheered on by a large travelling contingent in the crowd of more than 41,000 and Parkinson will never forget the reaction by Chelsea supporters following the final whistle.
"I remember after the game that the Chelsea fans were very respectful," he said.
"The ones who stayed in the ground clapped the Bradford players at the end and I thought that was a touch of class."
Mourinho also showed his class after the game when the 'Special One' visited the Bradford changing room and applauded the Bradford players and staff on their result., with Parkinson praising his opposite number for the respect he showed despite being on the losing side and out of the cup.
"Jose was brilliant. He actually came in the dressed room and shook everybody's hand," said Parkinson.
"Not in these words, but he said 'your boys played with courage today'.
"It doesn't matter what you've done in your career as a manager, nobody likes losing, but he came in and congratulated us, and wished us all the best."
Parkinson previously led Bradford to the 2013 League Cup final, beating the likes of Arsenal, Aston Villa, and Wigan Athletic, who were all in the Premier League at the time, on route to the showpiece where they lost 5-0 to Swansea City at Wembley Stadium.
Beating Chelsea in the FA Cup was another historic day for the club, with Bradford winning 2-0 against Sunderland at Valley Parade in the fifth round before losing 3–0 away to Reading in the quarter-finals as their run in the competition came to an end.
"It was an extraordinary day. I don't think you can describe it any other way," added Parkinson, whose Wrexham side are currently sixth in the Championship and will hope to make home advantage count against a Chelsea outfit who are sixth in the top-flight.
"Some of the quality of the goals we scored on the day, hopefully they'll get replayed leading into the weekend for those lads who had the highlights of their career in that game.
"Andy Halliday scored an unbelievable goal, Mark Yates came off the bench and scored the fourth, Filipe Morais started his career at Chelsea and scored against his old club, and Jon Stead scored the first goal.
"It was just a special day."
Parkinson has also treated Wrexham fans to some memorable FA Cup wins in his time at The Racecourse.
They knocked out Nottingham Forest in a thrilling penalty-shoot-out third round win after The Racecourse tie had ended 3-3.
Ipswich Town were next on their hit-list under The Racecourse floodlights and will it be third time lucky against Chelsea on Saturday night?