List of Wales international footballers

Last updated

The Wales national football team pose for a team photo prior to a match in 2016. Welsh starting team for match against Austria 2016-10-06.jpg
The Wales national football team pose for a team photo prior to a match in 2016.

The Wales national football team has represented Wales in international association football since 1876, making it the third oldest international football team. They played their first official match on 25 March 1876, [1] four years after England and Scotland played the first ever international football match. They are governed by the Football Association of Wales and compete as a member of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), which predominantly encompasses the countries of Europe. As of October 2023, Wales have played 706 international matches since their debut, winning 225, drawing 156 and losing 325. [2] They have played over 100 fixtures against England and Scotland, [3] regularly competing against both in the British Home Championship between 1884 and 1984, winning the competition on twelve occasions. In global and continental competitions, Wales have qualified for two FIFA World Cups in 1958 and 2022, reaching the quarter-finals in the former, and two UEFA European Championships in 2016 and 2020 in their history, reaching the semi-finals in the former. [4]

Contents

Wales were the last side from the Home Nations without a player reaching 100 caps. [5] Gareth Bale is Wales most capped player with 111 caps. Chris Gunter became the first player to earn 100 Wales caps, reaching the tally on 27 March 2021 in a friendly against Mexico. [6] Players who reach 50 appearances for Wales are awarded a golden cap. [5] Bale also holds the record for the most goals scored for Wales having scored 41 goals, overtaking Ian Rush's record in March 2018. [7]

Billy Meredith was the first Welsh player to reach 25 caps and went on to accumulate 48 caps in his career and score eleven goals, [8] both Welsh records at the time. [9] His appearance record stood for 42 years until it was beaten by Ivor Allchurch in 1962, [10] who finished his career with 68 caps. [11] Defender Joey Jones set a new record in the 1980s, amassing 72 caps, [12] before his record was overtaken by Peter Nicholas in 1991 by a single cap. On 23 May 1994, Neville Southall played in a 2–1 victory over Estonia to earn his 74th cap and overtake Nicholas, [13] eventually gaining 92 caps before retiring. [14] Gunter surpassed Southall's cap record on 20 November 2018 against Albania, [15] before he himself was overtaken when Bale made his 110th Wales appearance in their 2022 FIFA World Cup Group B match against Iran on 25 November 2022. [16]

List of players

Key
*
Still active for the national team [a]
GK Goalkeeper
DF Defender
MF Midfielder
FW Forward

Caps and goals sourced from: [14] [17] [18] [19]

Gareth Bale is Wales' top goalscorer of all-time with 41 goals and record cap holder. AUT vs. WAL 2016-10-06 (157).jpg
Gareth Bale is Wales' top goalscorer of all-time with 41 goals and record cap holder.
Chris Gunter was the first player to attain 100 caps for Wales. AUT vs. WAL 2016-10-06 (112).jpg
Chris Gunter was the first player to attain 100 caps for Wales.
Gary Speed gained 85 caps for Wales and managed the side between 2010 and 2011. Gary Speed 2011.jpg
Gary Speed gained 85 caps for Wales and managed the side between 2010 and 2011.
John Toshack gained 40 caps for Wales and managed the side for a single match in 1994 and between 2004 and 2010. John Toshack 2011.jpg
John Toshack gained 40 caps for Wales and managed the side for a single match in 1994 and between 2004 and 2010.

Caps and goals are correct as of 19 November 2024, after the match against Iceland.

Wales national team footballers with at least 25 appearances
#NamePositionNational team
career		CapsGoalsOther roles
1 Gareth Bale FW2006–2022111 41
2= Chris Gunter DF2007–20221090
Wayne Hennessey *GK2007–20231090
4= Ben Davies *DF2012–2024922
Neville Southall GK1982–1997920
6= Aaron Ramsey *MF2008–20248621
Ashley Williams DF2008–2019862
8 Gary Speed MF1990–2004857Manager [20]
9 Craig Bellamy FW1998–20137819Manager
10 Joe Ledley MF2006–2018774
11 Joe Allen *MF2009–2024762
12 Dean Saunders FW1986–20017522
13= Peter Nicholas MF1979–1991732
Ian Rush FW1980–199673 28
15= Mark Hughes FW1984–19997216Manager [20]
Joey Jones DF1975–1986721
17 Ivor Allchurch FW1950–19666823
18 Brian Flynn MF1974–1984667Manager [b]
19 Andy Melville DF1989–2004653
20= Ryan Giggs MF1991–20076412Manager [21]
Sam Vokes *FW2008–20196411
22 David Phillips MF1984–1996622
23= Connor Roberts *DF2018–2024603
Harry Wilson *MF2013–20246012
25= Barry Horne MF1987–1997592
Cliff Jones MF1954–19695916
Kevin Ratcliffe DF1980–1993590
Terry Yorath MF1969–1981592Manager [20]
29= Simon Davies MF2001–2010586
Robert Earnshaw FW2002–20125816
Leighton Phillips DF1971–1981580
32 Daniel James *MF2018–2024557
33= Ethan Ampadu *MF2017–2024540
Leighton James MF1971–19885410
Mark Pembridge MF1991–2003546
36= Dai Davies GK1975–1982520
Sam Ricketts DF2005–2014520
Carl Robinson MF1999–2009521
39= James Collins DF2004–2016513
John Hartson FW1995–20055114
John Mahoney MF1967–1983511
Mickey Thomas MF1977–1986514
43= Paul Jones GK1997–2006500
Andy King MF2009–2018502
Joe Rodon *DF2019–2024500
Rod Thomas MF1967–1977500
47 Danny Gabbidon DF2002–2014490
48 Billy Meredith FW1895–19204811
49= Robbie James MF1979–1988477
Chris Mepham *DF2018–2024470
Kieffer Moore *FW2019–20244713
52 Hal Robson-Kanu FW2010–2021465
53= Mike England DF1962–1975444Manager [20]
Danny Ward *GK2016–2024440
Neco Williams *DF2020–2024444
56= David Edwards MF2007–2017433
Neil Taylor DF2010–2019431
Stuart Williams DF1954–1965430
59 David Vaughan MF2003–2016421
60= Mark Bowen DF1986–1997413
Jack Kelsey GK1954–1962410
Rob Page DF1999–2005410Manager [20]
Alf Sherwood DF1947–1957410
64= Peter Rodrigues DF1965–1974400
John Toshack FW1969–19804013Manager [20]
66= Mark Aizlewood DF1986–1995390
Clayton Blackmore MF1985–1997391
Terry Hennessey DF1962–1973390
Ronnie Rees MF1965–1972393
Robbie Savage MF1995–2004392
71= John Charles FW1950–19653815
Simon Church FW2009–2016383
Trevor Ford FW1947–19573823
74= Joe Morrell *MF2019–2023370
Gary Sprake GK1964–1975370
Kit Symons DF1992–2004372
77= Mark Delaney DF1999–2006360
Carl Fletcher MF2004–2009361
79= James Chester *DF2014–2018350
Alan Curtis MF1976–1987356
81= Wyn Davies FW1964–1974346
Mel Hopkins DF1956–1963340
Jason Koumas MF2001–20093410
Lewin Nyatanga DF2006–2011340
85= Brennan Johnson *FW2020–2024335
Roy Paul DF1949–1956331
Jonny Williams MF2013–2022332
88= Ron Burgess MF1947–1954321Manager [c]
Chris Coleman DF1992–2002324Manager [20]
Fred Keenor DF1920–1932322
Roy Vernon FW1957–1968328
92= David Brooks *FW2017–2024314
Mel Charles DF1955–1963316
Kenny Jackett MF1983–1988310
95= Barrie Hole MF1963–1971300
Terry Medwin FW1953–1963306
John Robinson MF1995–2002303
98= Nathan Blake FW1994–2003294
Andrew Crofts MF2005–2017290
Ron Davies FW1964–1974298
Gil Reece MF1965–1975292
102 Malcolm Page DF1971–1979280
103= Alan Durban FW1966–1972272
Billy Lewis FW1885–1898278
Charlie Morris DF1900–1911270
106 Graham Williams DF1960–1968261
107 Paul Price DF1980–1984251

Notes

  1. ↑ Players who are still active for the national team are players who have not retired from international football and are, subsequently, eligible to be called up.
  2. ↑ Flynn was appointed caretaker manager for two matches in 2010. [20]
  3. ↑ Burgess was appointed caretaker manager for a single match in 1965. [20]

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References

  1. ↑ "Scotland v Wales, 25 March 1876". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 24 September 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  2. ↑ "Wales national football team: record v other sides". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  3. ↑ "Wales national football team statistics and records: all-time record". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 6 April 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  4. ↑ "Wales national football team". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 6 April 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  5. 1 2 Phillips, Rob (26 March 2015). "Euro 2016: Who are Gareth Bale's rivals to be Wales' first centurion?". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 4 January 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  6. ↑ Phillips, Rob (26 March 2021). "'Leader, machine, an absolute joy' - Chris Gunter's journey to 100 Wales caps". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  7. ↑ Abbandonato, Paul (22 March 2018). "Gareth Bale smashes Ian Rush's Wales goal scoring record with hat-trick in Ryan Giggs' debut game as boss". WalesOnline. Archived from the original on 6 April 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  8. ↑ "Billy Meredith". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 6 April 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  9. ↑ Carradice, Phil (13 December 2012). "Billy Meredith: football superstar". BBC Wales. Archived from the original on 14 May 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  10. ↑ Farmer, David; Stead, Peter (1998). Ivor Allchurch M.B.E. Swansea: Christopher Davies (Publishing) Ltd. p. 126. ISBN   978-0-7154-0733-2.
  11. ↑ "Ivor Allchurch". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 23 March 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  12. ↑ "Joey Jones retires from full-time role at Wrexham AFC". Daily Post. 6 July 2017. Archived from the original on 6 April 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  13. ↑ "Southall sets record in Welsh victory: Goals from Rush and Phillips secure win for Smith's team in Baltic friendly". The Independent. 23 May 1994. Archived from the original on 6 April 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  14. 1 2 Passo Alpuin, Luis Fernando. "Wales – Record International Players". The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 17 March 2009. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  15. ↑ Pritchard, Dafydd (20 November 2018). "Albania 1–0 Wales". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  16. ↑ Pritchard, Dafydd (25 November 2022). "World Cup 2022: Wales 0-2 Iran - Magic moments run out for Bale and Ramsey". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  17. ↑ "Wales national football team statistics and records: appearances". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 6 April 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  18. ↑ "Wales Mens Squads". Football Association of Wales. Archived from the original on 1 November 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  19. ↑ "Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Transfer Database". Neil Brown. Archived from the original on 17 October 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Wales' football managers". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 7 April 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  21. ↑ "Ryan Giggs: Manchester United legend named Wales manager". BBC Sport. 15 January 2018. Archived from the original on 7 April 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2018.

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