:Wales national under-21 football team

{{Infobox national football team

| Name = Wales Under-21

| Badge =

| Badge_size = 175px

| Association = Football Association of Wales (FAW)

| Nickname = Young Dragons ({{langx|cy|Dreigiau Ifanc}})

| Confederation = UEFA (Europe)

| Coach = Matt Jones

| Captain =

| Most caps = Shaun MacDonald (25)

| Top scorer = Ched Evans (13)

| FIFA Trigramme = WAL

| pattern_la1 = _wal24h

| pattern_b1 = _wal24h

| pattern_ra1 = _wal24h

| pattern_sh1 = _wal24h

| pattern_so1 = _wal24h

| leftarm1 = EF0000

| body1 = EF0000

| rightarm1 = EF0000

| shorts1 = EF0000

| socks1 = EF0000

| pattern_la2 = _wal24a

| pattern_b2 = _wal24a

| pattern_ra2 = _wal24a

| pattern_sh2 = _wal24a

| pattern_so2 = _wal24a

| leftarm2 = F1FF91

| body2 = F1FF91

| rightarm2 = F1FF91

| shorts2 = F1FF91

| socks2 = 006633

| First game = {{fbu|21|ENG}} 0–0 {{fbu-rt|21|WAL}}
(Wolverhampton, England; 15 December 1976)

| Largest win = {{fbu|21|GIB}} 0–7 {{fbu-rt|21|WAL}}
(Gibraltar; 12 November 2021)

| Largest loss = {{fbu|21|ITA|2003}} 8–1 {{fbu-rt|21|WAL}}
(Pavia, Italy; 5 September 2003)

| UEFAu21Champ apps = None

| UEFAu21Champ first = n/a

| UEFAu21Champ best = 1st 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.

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 [http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/9807937.Geraint_Williams_handed_Wales_U21_reins/ Williams appointed to Wales Under 21] 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.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49414473 Bodin appointed under 21 manager]

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.{{cite news |title=Gibraltar U21s 0-7 Wales U21s |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59148738 |website=BBC Sport |date=12 November 2021 |accessdate=20 July 2022 }} In July 2022 Bodin's contract with Wales Under-21 was terminated by mutual consent.{{cite news |title=Wales Under-21 boss Bodin leaves role |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62258368 |access-date=24 July 2022 |work=BBC Sport |date=22 July 2022}} In September 2022, Matt Jones was appointed as manager.{{cite news |title=Matthew Jones: Ex-international midfielder named Wales Under-21 boss |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62903530 |website=BBC Sport |date=15 September 2022 |accessdate=14 October 2022 }}

Players

=Latest squad=

Players born on or after 1 January 2004 are eligible for the 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.

Wales squad for the friendly matches against Andorra and Sweden on 20 and 23 March 2025 respectively.

Caps and goals as of 23 March 2025. Players in bold have attained full international caps.

{{nat fs g player |no=1 |pos=GK |name=Evan Watts |age={{birth date and age|2004|9|23|df=y}} |caps=5 |goals=0 |club=Galway United (on loan from Swansea City) |clubnat=IRL}}

{{nat fs g player |no=12 |pos=GK |name=Ronnie Hollingshead |age={{birth date and age|2004|09|09|df=y}} |caps=2 |goals=0 |club= West Bromwich Albion |clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat fs g player |no=2 |pos=DF |name=Alex Williams |age={{birth date and age|2005|1|2|df=y}} |caps=4 |goals=0 |club=West Bromwich Albion |clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat fs g player |no=3 |pos=DF |name=Archie Harris |age={{birth date and age|2004|12|27|df=y}} |caps=2 |goals=0 |club=Bournemouth|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat fs g player |no=18 |pos=DF |name=Sebastian Dabrowski |age={{birth date and age|2005|9|11|df=y}} |caps=1 |goals=0 |club=Swansea City|clubnat=WAL}}

{{nat fs g player |no=5 |pos=DF |name=Zac Williams|age={{birth date and age|2004|3|27|df=y}}|caps=2 |goals=0 |club=Crewe Alexandra|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat fs g player |no=17 |pos=DF |name=Callum Tripp|age={{birth date and age|2006|8|28|df=y}}|caps=1 |goals=0 |club=Milton Keynes Dons|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat fs g player |no=6 |pos=DF |name=Ben Hammond |age={{birth date and age|2004|10|2|df=y}} |caps=1 |goals=0 |club=Nottingham Forest|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat fs g player |no=23 |pos=DF |name=Ed James |age={{birth date and age|2004|12|23|df=y}} |caps=2 |goals=0 |club=Exeter City|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat fs g player |no=14 |pos=DF |name=Thierry Katsukunya |age={{birth date and age|2005|11|30|df=y}} |caps=2 |goals=0 |club=Aston Villa|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat fs g player |no=8 |pos=MF |name=Joel Cotterill |age={{birth date and age|2004|10|10|df=y}} |caps=12 |goals=3 |club= Swansea City|clubnat=WAL}}

{{nat fs g player |no=13 |pos=MF |name=Luke Harris|age= {{birth date and age|2005|3|4|df=y}} |caps=8 |goals=1 |club= Fulham |clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat fs g player |no=7 |pos=MF |name=Joel Colwill |age={{birth date and age|2004|10|27|df=y}} |caps=6 |goals=0 |club= Cardiff City|clubnat=WAL}}

{{nat fs g player |no=10 |pos=MF |name=Cameron Congreve|age={{birth date and age|2004|1|24|df=y}} |caps=6 |goals=0 |club= Swansea City|clubnat=WAL}}

{{nat fs g player|no=4 |pos=MF |name=Owen Hampson |age={{birth date and age|2004|11|17|df=y}} |caps=2 |goals=0 |club= Sheffield United |clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat fs g player |no=21 |pos=MF |name= Ben Lloyd |age={{birth date and age|2005|3|14|df=y}} |caps=2 |goals=0 |club=Swansea City |clubnat=WAL}}

{{nat fs g player |no=16 |pos=MF|name=Calum Agius|age={{birth date and age|2005|9|5|df=y}}|caps=1 |goals=0 |club=Crewe Alexandra|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat fs g player |no=22 |pos=MF|name=Logan Briggs|age={{birth date and age|2006|2|7|df=y}}|caps=1 |goals=0 |club=Leicester City|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat fs g player |no=19 |pos=MF |name=Daniel Watts |age={{birth date and age|2005|12|16|df=y}} |caps=1 |goals=0 |club=Swansea City|clubnat=WAL}}

{{nat fs g player |no=9 |pos=FW |name=Chris Popov |age={{birth date and age|2004|10|26|df=y}} |caps=12 |goals=1 |club= Leicester City|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat fs g player |no=11 |pos=FW |name=Cian Ashford |age={{birth date and age|2004|9|24|df=y}} |caps=7 |goals=3|club=Cardiff City|clubnat=WAL}}

{{nat fs g player |no=20 |pos=FW |name=Alex Roberts |age={{birth date and age|2005|10|17|df=y}} |caps=2 |goals=0 |club=Norwich City |clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat fs g player |no=15 |pos=FW |name=Tom Tweedy |age={{birth date and age|2004|9|15|df=y}} |caps=2 |goals=0 |club=Burnley |clubnat=ENG}}

=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.

{{nat fs r player |no= |pos=GK |name=Lewys Benjamin |age={{birth date and age|2006|11|28|df=y}} |caps=1 |goals=0 |club= Wolverhampton Wanderers |clubnat=ENG|latest=v. {{fbu|21|Slovakia}}, 15 October 2024}}

{{nat fs r player |no= |pos=DF |name=Luey Giles |age={{birth date and age|2006|8|4|df=y}} |caps=0 |goals=0 |club=Cardiff City |clubnat=WAL |latest=v. {{fbu|21|Iceland}}, 10 September 2024}}

{{nat fs r player |no= |pos=DF |name=Terence Miles |age={{birth date and age|2004|9|12|df=y}} |caps=1 |goals=0 |club=Liverpool |clubnat=ENG |latest=v. {{flagicon|MAR}} Morocco, 26 March 2024}}

{{nat fs r player|no= |pos=MF |name=Charlie Crew |age={{birth date and age|2006|6|15|df=y}} |caps=4 |goals=0 |club= Leeds United |clubnat=ENG|latest=v. {{fbu|21|Slovakia}}, 15 October 2024}}

{{nat fs r player |no= |pos=FW |name=Omari Benjamin |age={{birth date and age|2005|12|4|df=y}} |caps=0 |goals=0 |club=Everton |clubnat=ENG|latest=v. {{fbu|21|Andorra}}, 20 March 2025}}^INJ

{{nat fs r player |no= |pos=FW |name= Lewis Koumas |age={{birth date and age|2005|9|19|df=y}} |caps=2 |goals=1 |club= Liverpool |clubnat=ENG |latest=v. {{flagicon|MAR}} Morocco, 26 March 2024}}

Key

^SUS = Suspended for next match.
^SEN = Called up to senior squad.
^INJ = Withdrew from the squad due to injury.
^WD = Withdrew from the squad for non injury issue.

References

External links

[https://www.uefa.com/under21/ UEFA Under-21 website] Contains full results archive.
[https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/europe-u21.html The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation] Contains full record of U21/U23 Championships.
[https://www.faw.cymru/en/ FAW official site] Contains fixtures/results and news for every Wales national football team.

Under-21

Category:European national under-21 association football teams