Wales national under-21 football team

Last updated

Wales Under-21
Nickname(s) Young Dragons (Welsh: Dreigiau Ifanc)
Association Football Association of Wales (FAW)
Confederation UEFA (Europe)
Head coach Matt Jones
Most caps Shaun MacDonald (25)
Top scorer Ched Evans (13)
FIFA code WAL
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First colours
Kit left arm wal24a.png
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Second colours
First international
Flag of England.svg  England 0–0 Wales  Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
(Wolverhampton, England; 15 December 1976)
Biggest win
Flag of Gibraltar.svg  Gibraltar 0–7 Wales  Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
(Gibraltar; 12 November 2021)
Biggest defeat
Flag of Italy (2003-2006).svg  Italy 8–1 Wales  Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
(Pavia, Italy; 5 September 2003)
UEFA U-21 Championship
AppearancesNone (first in n/a)
Best result1st of 5 in qual.
group, 2009. Lost in play off.

The Wales national under-21 football team, also known as the Wales U21s, is the national under-21 football team of Wales and is controlled by the Football Association of Wales. The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years. To date Wales haven't yet qualified for the finals tournament but in recent years have shown good form, losing in a playoff (5–4) to England in the 2009 qualifying campaign and finishing second in their group two years later, after leading their group until their last game Wales only needed a draw to qualify for the play-offs but lost 1–0 away to Italy.

Contents

The under-21 team came into existence following the realignment of UEFA's youth competitions in 1976. A goalless draw in a friendly against England at Wolverhampton Wanderers' Molineux Stadium was Wales U21s' first result.

The national under-21 team is the highest level of youth football in Wales, and is open to any players who were born in Wales or whose parents or grandparents were born in Wales. This team is for Welsh players aged 21 or under at the start of a two-year European Under-21 Football Championship campaign, so players can be, and often are, up to 23 years old. Also in existence are teams for Under-20s (for non-UEFA tournaments), Under-19s and Under 17s. As long as they are eligible, players can play at any level, making it possible to play for the U21s, senior side and again for the U21s.

Recent history

Historically the team was viewed by the Welsh national management as a hole to be filled rather than a team to be used to nurture young international players. Many of the great Welsh players spent little time at the under-21 team level. Ryan Giggs only made one appearance for the under-21 team before making his senior debut against Germany the next day.

From 2004 onward however, the former Wales national football team manager John Toshack and former Wales Under 21 manager Brian Flynn used the under-21 team to create a pool of youthful Welsh talent. The team now has a much better tracking system of young Welsh players, and has seen a marked improvement in players and team results. Recent results have seen them achieve big wins against Estonia (5–1), Northern Ireland (4–0) and France (4–2).

Players who have made the step from the U21s to attain over 50 caps for the senior squad are Gary Speed, Simon Davies, Carl Robinson, Craig Bellamy, Robert Earnshaw, James Collins, John Hartson, Andy King, Joe Ledley, Sam Vokes, Wayne Hennessey, Chris Gunter, Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey, Joe Allen, Connor Roberts, Harry Wilson and Daniel James.

On 15 May 2008, they played a friendly against England U21s to mark the 100th match in the history of the side, losing 2–0.

A 3–0 victory against Romania in September 2008 meant that the Under-21 side finished top of their qualifying group for the first time in their history. It meant Wales would go into a two-legged play-off against England in October 2008 for a place in the finals of the 2009 UEFA Under-21 Championship to be played in Sweden. Wales lost the playoff 5–4 over the course of two legs. Losing 3–2 at home in the first leg and drawing 2–2 away in the second.

Wales started their qualifying campaign for the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship with a 1–0 away win against Andorra, a 3–1 away loss against Montenegro, a 1–0 home win against Montenegro, a 1–0 home defeat against Czech Republic and a 0–0 away draw against Armenia.

In May 2012 Brian Flynn vacated his position as Wales under-21 manager at the end of his contract and in July 2012 Geraint Williams was appointed team manager [1] Williams resigned as team manager on 5 December 2016. On 15 March 2017 it was announced that former Port Vale and Northampton Town manager Rob Page had left his position on the coaching staff at Nottingham Forest to become Wales under-21 manager. In August 2019 Page was appointed assistant coach to the senior Wales squad under Ryan Giggs with Paul Bodin stepping up from the Under 19's to manage the Under 21 team. [2]

In November 2021, Wales picked up their biggest ever win at under-21 level when they beat Gibraltar 7–0 in a qualifier for the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. [3] In July 2022 Bodin's contract with Wales Under-21 was terminated by mutual consent. [4] In September 2022, Matt Jones was appointed as manager. [5]

Players

Latest squad

Players born on or after 1 January 2002 are eligible for the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.

Wales squad for the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying match against Czech Republic and friendly match against Slovakia on 11 and 15 October 2024 respectively.

Caps and goals as of 15 October 2024. Players in bold have attained full international caps.

No.Pos.PlayerDate of birth (age)CapsGoalsClub
121 GK Evan Watts (2004-09-23) 23 September 2004 (age 20)30 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Swansea City
11 GK Lewys Benjamin (2006-11-28) 28 November 2006 (age 17)10 Flag of England.svg Wolverhampton Wanderers

22 DF Fin Stevens (2003-04-10) 10 April 2003 (age 21)201 Flag of Germany.svg St. Pauli
52 DF Luca Hoole (2002-06-02) 2 June 2002 (age 22)111 Flag of England.svg Shrewsbury Town
202 DF Zac Ashworth (2002-09-06) 6 September 2002 (age 22)90 Flag of England.svg Blackpool
42 DF Matt Baker (2003-02-06) 6 February 2003 (age 21)80 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Newport County
62 DF Ed Turns (2002-10-18) 18 October 2002 (age 21)40 Flag of England.svg Brighton & Hove Albion
192 DF Tom Davies (2003-11-11) 11 November 2003 (age 20)40 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Cardiff City
112 DF Alex Williams (2005-01-02) 2 January 2005 (age 19)10 Flag of England.svg Stratford Town (on loan from West Bromwich Albion)

73 MF Eli King (2002-12-23) 23 December 2002 (age 21)151 Flag of England.svg Stevenage (on loan from Cardiff City)
83 MF Oli Hammond (2002-11-13) 13 November 2002 (age 21)132 Flag of England.svg Oldham Athletic
143 MF Joel Cotterill (2004-10-10) 10 October 2004 (age 20)93 Flag of England.svg Swindon Town (on loan from Swansea City)
183 MF Charlie Crew (2006-06-15) 15 June 2006 (age 18)40 Flag of England.svg Leeds United
233 MF Joel Colwill (2004-10-27) 27 October 2004 (age 19)40 Flag of England.svg Cheltenham Town (on loan from Cardiff City)
133 MF Cameron Congreve (2004-01-24) 24 January 2004 (age 20)40 Flag of England.svg Bromley (on loan from Swansea City)
213 MF Owen Hampson (2004-11-17) 17 November 2004 (age 19)10 Flag of England.svg Sheffield United

94 FW Josh Thomas (2002-09-24) 24 September 2002 (age 22)102 Flag of England.svg Bromley (on loan from Swansea City)
174 FW Chris Popov (2004-10-26) 26 October 2004 (age 19)90 Flag of England.svg Barrow (on loan from Leicester City)
224 FW Josh Farrell (2003-06-27) 27 June 2003 (age 21)21 Flag of Spain.svg CF Villanovense

Recent call-ups

The following players have also been called up to the Wales under-21 squad and remain eligible. Players in bold have caps for the senior team.

Pos.PlayerDate of birth (age)CapsGoalsClubLatest call-up
GK Eddie Beach (2003-11-14) 14 November 2003 (age 20)70 Flag of England.svg Crawley Town (on loan from Chelsea)v. Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland, 10 September 2024
GK Ronnie Hollingshead (2004-09-09) 9 September 2004 (age 20)10 Flag of England.svg West Bromwich Albion v. Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark, 20 November 2023
GK Ben Hughes (2003-11-15) 15 November 2003 (age 20)10 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Swansea City v. Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania, 12 September 2023

DF Joe Low (2002-02-20) 20 February 2002 (age 22)63 Flag of England.svg Wycombe Wanderers v. Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland, 10 September 2024
DF Luey Giles (2006-08-04) 4 August 2006 (age 18)00 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Cardiff City v. Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland, 10 September 2024
DF Jay Williams (2003-02-26) 26 February 2003 (age 21)10 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Merthyr Town (on loan from Sutton United)v. Flag of Morocco.svg Morocco, 26 March 2024
DF Terence Miles (2004-09-12) 12 September 2004 (age 20)00 Flag of England.svg Liverpool v. Flag of Morocco.svg Morocco, 26 March 2024
DF James Sweet (2003-09-06) 6 September 2003 (age 21)00 Flag of England.svg Arsenal v. Flag of Morocco.svg Morocco, 26 March 2024
DF Owen Beck (2002-08-09) 9 August 2002 (age 22)141 Flag of England.svg Blackburn Rovers (on loan from Liverpool)v. Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic, 11 October 2024
DF Owen Bevan (2003-10-26) 26 October 2003 (age 20)50 Flag of England.svg Bournemouth v. Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark, 20 November 2023
DF Harry Leeson (2003-09-02) 2 September 2003 (age 21)10 Flag of England.svg Redditch United v. Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark, 20 November 2023
DF Oliver Denham (2002-05-04) 4 May 2002 (age 22)00 Flag of Ireland.svg Sligo Rovers v. Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland, 26 March 2023

MF Charlie Savage (2003-05-02) 2 May 2003 (age 21)80 Flag of England.svg Reading v. Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic, 11 October 2024 INJ
MF Rubin Colwill (2002-04-27) 27 April 2002 (age 22)95 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Cardiff City v. Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic, 11 October 2024 INJ
MF Luke Harris (2005-03-04) 4 March 2005 (age 19)61 Flag of England.svg Birmingham City (on loan from Fulham)v. Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland, 10 September 2024 INJ
MF Oliver Ewing (2003-01-03) 3 January 2003 (age 21)10 Flag of England.svg Leicester City v. Flag of Morocco.svg Morocco, 26 March 2024
MF Ben Lloyd (2005-03-14) 14 March 2005 (age 19)00 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Swansea City v. Flag of Morocco.svg Morocco, 26 March 2024
MF Tom Hill (2002-10-13) 13 October 2002 (age 22)10 Flag of England.svg Liverpool v. Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland, 16 November 2023INJ
MF Jadan Raymond (2003-10-15) 15 October 2003 (age 21)20 Flag of England.svg Crystal Palace v. Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic, 13 October 2023
MF Ryan Howley (2003-11-23) 23 November 2003 (age 20)10 Flag of Scotland.svg Ayr United (on loan from Coventry City)v. Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic, 13 October 2023

FW Pat Jones (2003-06-09) 9 June 2003 (age 21)70 Flag of England.svg Exeter City v. Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland, 10 September 2024 INJ
FW Lewis Koumas (2005-09-19) 19 September 2005 (age 19)11 Flag of England.svg Stoke City (on loan from Liverpool)v. Flag of Morocco.svg Morocco, 26 March 2024
FW Joe Taylor (2002-11-18) 18 November 2002 (age 21)30 Flag of England.svg Luton Town v. Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark, 20 November 2023
FW Cian Ashford (2004-09-24) 24 September 2004 (age 20)52 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Cardiff City v. Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic, 11 October 2024 INJ

Key

See also

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References

  1. Williams appointed to Wales Under 21
  2. Bodin appointed under 21 manager
  3. "Gibraltar U21s 0-7 Wales U21s". BBC Sport. 12 November 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  4. "Wales Under-21 boss Bodin leaves role". BBC Sport. 22 July 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  5. "Matthew Jones: Ex-international midfielder named Wales Under-21 boss". BBC Sport. 15 September 2022. Retrieved 14 October 2022.