Wales national football team manager

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Chris Coleman was the manager of Wales from 2012 to 2017. He led the team to the UEFA Euro 2016 semi-finals. AUT vs. WAL 2016-10-06 (092).jpg
Chris Coleman was the manager of Wales from 2012 to 2017. He led the team to the UEFA Euro 2016 semi-finals.

The role of a Wales national football team manager was first established in 1876, when the Wales national football team was established, and the team was chosen by a panel of selectors. The team captain would at that point fulfil the role of match day coach. Since 1954 a manager has been appointed by the Football Association of Wales.

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Thirteen men have occupied the post since its inception; four more acted in short-term caretaker manager roles: Brian Flynn (two games in charge), Trevor Morris (one game), David Williams (one game), and Neville Southall (one game), alongside Mark Hughes.

The longest serving manager is Dave Bowen, who was manager for ten years before leaving in 1974. Bowen was in charge of the team for fifty-three games, winning ten. However, his win percentage of 20% is the lowest of all Wales managers. The most successful manager in terms of wins was John Toshack. Wales has never had a non-British manager but Mike Smith became the first English manager to lead Wales in 1974.

Jimmy Murphy, Chris Coleman and Rob Page are the only managers to have taken the team to any FIFA World Cup or UEFA European Championship finals. Murphy led his team to the 1958 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals, where they were knocked out by Brazil. Coleman led his team to the UEFA Euro 2016 semi-finals, where they were knocked out by eventual winners Portugal. Under Coleman, Wales peaked at eighth in the FIFA world rankings.

Position

Role

The Wales manager's role means he has sole responsibility for all on-the-field elements of the Wales team. Among other activities, this includes selecting the national team, starting lineup, captain, tactics, substitutes, and penalty-takers. Before 1954 a "panel of selectors" would manage all issues barring the actual match day team selection, formation, and tactics, which was left to the head coach for the event.

The manager is given a free hand in selecting his coaching ("back room") staff. The Wales manager may also involve himself in wider issues beyond the on-the-field team issues. On a more tactical level, a host of other details can be influenced. For example, current manager Ryan Giggs was given the choice by the FAW Chief Executive of whether to play fixtures at the team's current ground (the Cardiff City Stadium) or its previous venue (the Millennium Stadium). [1]

The national team manager is tasked with the role of continuing the club like relationship between players and fans, first brought in by Gary Speed.It is now part of the “Welsh Way”, which former assistant manager, Osian Roberts brought in via the FAW Coaching Program. It is taught to numerous of former players or aspiring coaches sitting their coaching badges with the FAW.

Appointment

The current process of appointing a new Wales manager is through an FAW panel, consisting of the CEO and six members of the board. [2]

List of managers

As of 19 November 2024
ImageNationalityNamePlayer capsStart yearEnd yearFirst gameFinal gamePldWinsDrawsLossGoals
for
Goals
against
Win
%
Flag of Wales (1953-1959).svg  Wales Walley Barnes 22195419569 May 1954 vs Flag of Austria.svg  Austria [3] 11 Apr 1956 vs Ulster Banner.svg  Northern Ireland [3] 9216101722
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Jimmy Murphy 151956196420 Oct 1956 vs Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland [3] 20 Nov 1963 vs Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland [3] 43111319597926
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Trevor Morris (c)015 Apr 1964 vs Ulster Banner.svg  Northern Ireland [3] 1001230
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Dave Bowen 19196419743 Oct 1964 vs Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland [3] 18 May 1974 vs Ulster Banner.svg  Northern Ireland [3] 53101330498420
Flag of England.svg  England Mike Smith N/A197419794 Sep 1974 vs Flag of Austria.svg  Austria [3] 21 Nov 1979 vs Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey [3] 40151114493938
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Mike England 441980198717 Mar 1980 vs Flag of England.svg  England [3] 11 Nov 1987 vs Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia [3] 56211817685238
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales David Williams (c)523 Mar 1988 vs Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg  Yugoslavia [3] 1001120
Terry Yorath, Wales Team, 1988.jpg Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Terry Yorath 591988199327 Apr 1988 vs Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden [3] 17 Nov 1993 vs Flag of Romania.svg  Romania [3] 4116817485439
John Toshack managing Tractor Sazi (cropped).jpg Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales John Toshack 409 Mar 1994 vs Flag of Norway.svg  Norway [3] 1001130
Flag of England.svg  England Mike Smith N/A1994199520 Apr 1994 vs Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden [3] 6 Sep 1995 vs Flag of Moldova.svg  Moldova [3] 1031691930
Flag of England.svg  England Bobby Gould N/A1995199911 Oct 1995 vs Flag of Germany.svg  Germany [3] 5 June 1999 vs Flag of Italy.svg  Italy [3] 247413324729
1 mark hughes 2015.jpg

NevilleSouthall.jpg

Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales

Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales

Mark Hughes

&
Neville Southall (c)

72

92

9 June 1999 vs Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 1001120
1 mark hughes 2015.jpg Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Mark Hughes 72199920044 Sep 1999 vs Flag of Belarus.svg  Belarus [3] 13 Oct 2004 vs Flag of Poland.svg  Poland [3] 41111515464927
John Toshack managing Tractor Sazi (cropped).jpg Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales John Toshack 40200520109 Feb 2005 vs Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary [3] 3 Sep 2010 vs Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro [3] 5322823615642
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Brian Flynn (c)668 Oct 2010 vs Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria [3] 12 Oct 2010 vs Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland [3] 2002150
Gary Speed 2011.jpg Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Gary Speed 85201020118 Feb 2011 v Flag of Ireland.svg  Republic of Ireland [3] 12 Nov 2011 v Flag of Norway.svg  Norway [3] 10505131350
Chris Coleman 2015.jpg Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Chris Coleman 322012201729 Feb 2012 v Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica [3] 14 Nov 2017 v Flag of Panama.svg  Panama [3] 49191317525639
Giggs PL trophy.jpg Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Ryan Giggs 642018202222 Mar 2018 v Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 14 Oct 2020 v Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 241248262050
2022 FIFA World Cup United States 1-1 Wales - (53) (cropped).jpg Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Rob Page 412020202412 Nov 2020 v Flag of the United States.svg  United States 9 Jun 2024 v Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia 45151614515334.1
Craig Bellamy 2014.jpg Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Craig Bellamy 7820246 September 2024 v Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 63309550.0

Managers at the World Cup/European Championship finals

FinalManagerPldWin(s)Draw(s) ^ Loss(s)Goals forGoals againstPosition
1958 Sweden Jimmy Murphy 513144Quarter-finals
2016 France Chris Coleman 6402106Semi-finals
2020 Europe Rob Page 411236Round of 16
2022 Qatar Rob Page 301216Group stage

^ Draws also include penalties.

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References

  1. "Ryan Giggs: FAW say new boss will decide where Wales play home games". BBC Sport. 25 January 2018. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  2. "FAW chief Jonathan Ford will not face any action over 'English' comment". BBC Sport. 14 December 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 "Manager's Record". WelshFootballOnline. 30 July 2010. Retrieved 30 July 2010.