Spain national under-21 football team
Shirt badge/Association crest | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nickname(s) | La Rojita (The Little Red [One]) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Association | Royal Spanish Football Federation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Confederation | UEFA (Europe) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Head coach | Luis de la Fuente | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Most caps | Gerard Deulofeu (36) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Top scorer | Gerard Deulofeu (17) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
FIFA code | ESP | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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First international | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() ![]() (Zagreb, Yugoslavia; 9 October 1976) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Biggest win | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() ![]() (El Ejido, Spain; 8 February 2005) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Biggest defeat | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() ![]() (Utrecht, Netherlands; 16 February 1983) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
UEFA U-21 Championship | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Appearances | 13 (first in 1982) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Best result | Winners (1986, 1998, 2011, 2013, 2019) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ad/Spain_national_under-21_football_team_2011.jpg/300px-Spain_national_under-21_football_team_2011.jpg)
The Spain national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Spain and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation. The team, nicknamed La Rojita (The Little Red [One]),[1] competes in the biennial UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
Following the realignment of UEFA's youth competitions in 1976, the Spanish under-21 team was formed. Spain has a fantastic record (competition winners five times and runners-up twice); having consecutively won the 2011 and 2013 Championships. They hold the joint record with Italy for the most wins of the competition.
Since the under-21 competition rules insist that players must be 21 or under at the start of a two-year competition, technically it is an U-23 competition. For this reason, Spain's brief record in the preceding U-23 competitions is also shown, though in actuality, Spain played only three competitive U-23 matches. The first was in the "under-23 Challenge", which they lost, while the next two were in a two-team qualification "group" for the 1972 competition (facing the Soviet Union team, they lost 2–1 at home then drew 1–1 away and failed to qualify. Spain did not enter a team in the other two U-23 competitions, but have been ever present in under-21 competitions).
Spain's youth development programs has been challenging the South American dominance in the FIFA U-17 World Championship and the FIFA U-20 World Cup. In fact, 20 of the Spanish 23-man squad that won the Euro 2008 came through the ranks of the youth teams; most of them had won titles at the youth level as well.
Competitive record
Year | Round | GP | W | D* | L | GS | GA |
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1978 | Qualifying Stage | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 8 |
1980 | Qualifying Stage | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
1982 | Quarter-Finals | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 5 |
1984 | Runners-up | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 11 |
1986 | Champions | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 18 | 9 |
1988 | Quarter-Finals | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 4 |
1990 | Quarter-Finals | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 4 |
1992 | Qualifying Stage | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 5 |
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Third Place | 12 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 21 | 9 |
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Runners-up | 14 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 34 | 14 |
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Champions | 11 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 6 |
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Third Place | 14 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 31 | 7 |
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Qualification Playoffs | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 9 |
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Qualification Playoffs | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 5 |
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Qualifying Stage | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 37 | 8 |
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Qualification Playoffs | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 4 |
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Group Stage | 13 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 27 | 7 |
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Champions | 15 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 31 | 8 |
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Champions | 15 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 47 | 5 |
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Qualification Playoffs | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 25 | 8 |
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Runners-up | 17 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 44 | 13 |
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Champions | 15 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 45 | 16 |
Total | 14/22 | 225 | 157 | 34 | 33 | 476 | 167 |
*Denotes draws including knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
- Gold background color indicates first-place finish. Silver background color indicates second-place finish. Bronze background color indicates third-place finish.
- Red border color indicates tournament was held on home soil.
Individual awards
In addition to team victories, Spanish players have won individual awards at UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship.
Year | Golden Player | Golden Boot |
---|---|---|
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Manolo Sanchís | |
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Francesc Arnau | |
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Juan Mata | Adrián |
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Thiago | Álvaro Morata |
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Dani Ceballos | Saúl |
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Fabián Ruiz |
Player records
Top appearances
Rank | Player | Club(s) | Year(s) | U-21 Caps |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Gerard Deulofeu | Barcelona, Everton, Sevilla, Milan | 2012–2017 | 36 |
2 | Borja Mayoral | Real Madrid, VfL Wolfsburg, Levante | 2015–2019 | 31 |
Jorge Meré | Sporting Gijón, FC Köln | 2015–2019 | 31 | |
Iker Muniain | Athletic Bilbao | 2011–2014 | 31 | |
5 | Dani Ceballos | Betis, Real Madrid | 2015–2019 | 29 |
6 | Santiago Denia | Albacete, Atlético Madrid | 1992–1996 | 27 |
David de Gea | Atlético Madrid, Manchester United | 2009–2013 | 27 | |
8 | Diego Capel | Sevilla | 2007–2011 | 25 |
Mikel Oyarzabal | Real Sociedad | 2017–2019 | 25 | |
Saúl | Atlético Madrid, Rayo Vallecano | 2013–2017 | 25 | |
Xavi | Barcelona | 1998–2001 | 25 |
Note: Club(s) represents all the clubs that players played in at the time they did it too in the Under-21s.
Top goalscorers
Rank | Player | Club(s) | Year(s) | U-21 Goals |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Gerard Deulofeu | Barcelona, Everton, Sevilla, Milan | 2012–2017 | 17 |
2 | Borja Mayoral | Real Madrid, VfL Wolfsburg, Levante | 2015–2019 | 16 |
3 | Rodrigo | Benfica | 2011–2013 | 15 |
4 | Isco | Málaga, Real Madrid | 2011–2014 | 14 |
5 | Álvaro Morata | Real Madrid, Juventus | 2013–2014 | 13 |
6 | Óscar | Barcelona, Albacete | 1992–1996 | 12 |
7 | Munir | Barcelona | 2014–2016 | 10 |
8 | Pablo Couñago | Celta, Recreativo, Ipswich Town | 1999–2001 | 9 |
Adrián | Deportivo, Alavés, Málaga, Atlético Madrid | 2007–2011 | 9 | |
Saúl | Atlético Madrid, Rayo Vallecano | 2013–2017 | 9 |
Note: Club(s) represents all the clubs that players played in at the time they did it too in the Under-21s.
- Caps and goals correct as of 30 June 2019
Recent results
Forthcoming fixtures
Date | Competition | Location | Opponent |
---|---|---|---|
26 March 2020 | 2021 UEFA U-21 qualification | TBD, Faroe Islands | ![]() |
31 March 2020 | 2021 UEFA U-21 qualification | TBD, Spain | ![]() |
2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship
Group phase
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | ![]() |
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1 | ![]() |
10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 1 | +19 | 28 | Final tournament | — | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | |
2 | ![]() |
10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 20 | 12 | +8 | 18 | 0–1 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 7–1 | 2–1 | ||
3 | ![]() |
10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 12 | 14 | −2 | 13 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 1–2 | 3–1 | 0–0 | ||
4 | ![]() |
10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 12 | 21 | −9 | 10 | 0–1 | 1–4 | 1–2 | — | 2–3 | 0–4 | ||
5 | ![]() |
10 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 11 | 25 | −14 | 9 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | — | 1–0 | ||
6 | ![]() |
10 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 11 | 13 | −2 | 7 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 3–0 | — |
Players
Current squad
The following players were called up for the 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification matches against North Macedonia and Israel on 14 and 19 November 2019.
No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
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1 | GK | Álvaro Fernández | 13 April 1998 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
13 | GK | Josep Martínez | 27 May 1998 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
23 | GK | Iñaki Peña | 2 March 1999 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
2 | DF | Pedro Porro | 13 September 1999 | 4 | 0 | ![]() |
3 | DF | Francisco Montero | 14 January 1999 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
4 | DF | Eric García | 9 January 2001 | 5 | 0 | ![]() |
5 | DF | José Amo | 9 April 1998 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
12 | DF | Aitor Buñuel | 10 February 1998 | 4 | 1 | ![]() |
17 | DF | Marc Cucurella (Captain) | 22 July 1998 | 5 | 1 | ![]() |
18 | DF | Adrià Pedrosa | 13 May 1998 | 4 | 1 | ![]() |
19 | DF | Enrique Clemente | 4 March 1999 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
6 | MF | Manu Garcia | 2 January 1998 | 3 | 2 | ![]() |
7 | MF | Alejandro Pozo | 22 February 1999 | 6 | 0 | ![]() |
8 | MF | Fran Beltrán | 3 February 1999 | 7 | 0 | ![]() |
10 | MF | Óscar Rodríguez | 28 June 1998 | 4 | 1 | ![]() |
14 | MF | Pepelu | 11 August 1998 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
16 | MF | Gonzalo Villar | 23 March 1998 | 4 | 0 | ![]() |
20 | MF | Ferrán Torres | 29 February 2000 | 6 | 0 | ![]() |
21 | MF | Pol Lozano | 6 October 1999 | 4 | 0 | ![]() |
9 | FW | Abel Ruiz | 28 January 2000 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
11 | FW | Andrés Martín | 11 July 1999 | 6 | 0 | ![]() |
15 | FW | Ansu Fati | 31 October 2002 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
22 | FW | Sergio Gómez | 4 September 2000 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
Recent callups
The following players have been called up for the team within the last 12 months and still eligible for 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GK | Dani Martín | 8 July 1998 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Jorge CuencaINJ | 17 November 1999 | 4 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Juan Miranda | 19 January 2000 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Gonzalo Ávila | 26 January 1998 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Dani Olmo | 7 May 1998 | 14 | 6 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Oihan Sancet | 15 April 2000 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Carles Aleñá | 5 January 1998 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Manu Morlanes | 12 January 1999 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Oriol Busquets | 20 January 1999 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Dani Gómez | 30 July 1998 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Carles PérezINJ | 16 February 1998 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Javi Puado | 25 May 1998 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
- Notes
- Players in italics are still active at international level.
- INJ = Not part of the current squad due to injury.
- PRE = Not part of the current squad but present in a preliminary list.
Former squads
- 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship squads – Spain
- 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship squads – Spain
- 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship squads – Spain
- 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship squads – Spain
- 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship squads – Spain
- 2000 UEFA European Under-21 Championship squads – Spain
- 1998 UEFA European Under-21 Championship squads – Spain
- 1996 UEFA European Under-21 Championship squads – Spain
- 1994 UEFA European Under-21 Championship squads – Spain
See also
- Spain national football team
- Spain national under-23 football team
- Spain national under-20 football team
- Spain national under-19 football team
- Spain national under-18 football team
- Spain national under-17 football team
- Spain national under-16 football team
- Spain national under-15 football team
- Spain national youth football team
Notes
References
- ^ "La sub 21 regresa al lugar donde nació el 'tiqui-taca'" [The under-21 team returns to the birthplace of tiki-taka] (in Spanish). MARCA. 2011-06-09.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)