Spain national under-21 football team
Nickname(s) | La Rojita (The Little Red [One]) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Association | Royal Spanish Football Federation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Confederation | UEFA (Europe) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Head coach | Santi Denia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Captain | Bryan Gil | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Most caps | Gerard Deulofeu (36) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Top scorer | Gerard Deulofeu (17) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
FIFA code | ESP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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First international | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Yugoslavia 4–1 Spain (Zagreb, Yugoslavia; 9 October 1976) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Biggest win | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Spain 14–0 San Marino (El Ejido, Spain; 8 February 2005) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Biggest defeat | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Netherlands 5–0 Spain (Utrecht, Netherlands; 16 February 1983) Records for competitive matches only. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
UEFA U-21 Championship | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Appearances | 16 (first in 1982) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Best result | Winners (1986, 1998, 2011, 2013, 2019) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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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 Spain under-21 team was formed. Spain has a strong 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
UEFA European Under-21 Championship record
Year | Round | GP | W | D* | L | GS | GA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
1994 | Third Place | 12 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 21 | 9 |
1996 | Runners-up | 14 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 34 | 14 |
1998 | Champions | 11 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 6 |
2000 | Third Place | 14 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 31 | 7 |
2002 | Qualification Playoffs | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 9 |
2004 | Qualification Playoffs | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 5 |
2006 | Qualifying Stage | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 37 | 8 |
2007 | Qualification Playoffs | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 4 |
2009 | Group Stage | 13 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 27 | 7 |
2011 | Champions | 15 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 31 | 8 |
2013 | Champions | 15 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 47 | 5 |
2015 | Qualification Playoffs | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 25 | 8 |
2017 | Runners-up | 15 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 43 | 12 |
2019 | Champions | 15 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 45 | 16 |
2021 | Semifinals | 15 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 27 | 3 |
2023 | Runners-up | 13 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 50 | 10 |
2025 | To be determined | ||||||
Total | 15/23 | 238 | 170 | 34 | 34 | 502 | 169 |
*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
Spanish players have won individual awards at UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship.
Year | Golden Player | Golden Boot |
---|---|---|
1986 | Manolo Sanchís | |
1998 | Francesc Arnau | |
2011 | Juan Mata | Adrián |
2013 | Thiago | Álvaro Morata |
2017 | Dani Ceballos | Saúl |
2019 | 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 | Santi 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 3 September 2020.
Recent results
Date | Competition | Location | Opponent | Result | Scorers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 September 2021 | 2023 UEFA U-21 qualification | Almendralejo, Spain | Russia | 4–1 | Fer Niño 13', 54', Pino 47', 86' |
7 September 2021 | 2023 UEFA U-21 qualification | Vilnius, Lithuania | Lithuania | 2–0 | Francés 32', Pino 78' |
8 October 2021 | 2023 UEFA U-21 qualification | Seville, Spain | Slovakia | 3–2 | Guillamón 58', Sergio Gómez 80' (pen.), Miranda 88' (pen.) |
12 October 2021 | 2023 UEFA U-21 qualification | Seville, Spain | Northern Ireland | 3–0 | Sergio Gómez 26' (pen.), 32', Abel Ruiz 56' |
12 November 2021 | 2023 UEFA U-21 qualification | Ta' Qali, Malta | Malta | 5–0 | Sergio Gómez 23', Abel Ruiz 24', 88', Guillamón 40', Lobete 50' |
16 November 2021 | 2023 UEFA U-21 qualification | Khimki, Russia | Russia | 0–1 | |
25 March 2022 | 2023 UEFA U-21 qualification | Huelva, Spain | Lithuania | 8–0 | Rodri 16', 37', Sergio Gómez 35', Bryan Gil 40', Abel Ruiz 43', Manu Sánchez 61', Baena 65', Turrientes 70' |
29 March 2022 | 2023 UEFA U-21 qualification | Žilina, Slovakia | Slovakia | 3–2 | Bryan Gil 4', Sergio Gómez 66', Navarro 81' |
3 June 2022 | 2023 UEFA U-21 qualification | Larne, Northern Ireland | Northern Ireland | 6–0 | Ruiz 22', Gil 50', 61', Miranda 64', Riquelme 76', V. Gómez 87' |
7 June 2022 | 2023 UEFA U-21 qualification | Melilla, Spain | Malta | 7–1 | Navarro 8', 69', Ruiz 8 47', 64', Manu Sánchez 55', Lobete 73', 78' |
23 September 2022 | Friendly | Cluj-Napoca, Romania | Romania | 4–1 | Ruiz 8', 18', Riquelme 80', 89' |
27 September 2022 | Friendly | Huesca, Spain | Norway | 3–0 | Gragera 40', Ruiz 51', Novoa 90' |
18 November 2022 | Friendly | Seville, Spain | Japan | 2–0 | Turrientes 47', Manu Sánchez 69' |
21 June 2023 | 2023 UEFA U-21 | Bucharest, Romania | Romania | 3–0 | Baena 55', Miranda 62', Sergio Gómez 90+5' |
24 June 2023 | 2023 UEFA U-21 | Giulești, Romania | Croatia | 1–0 | Abel Ruiz 1' |
27 June 2023 | 2023 UEFA U-21 | Giulești, Romania | Ukraine | 2–2 | Ivan Zhelizko 49' (o.g.), Abel Ruiz 90' |
1 July 2023 | 2023 UEFA U-21 | Giulești, Romania | Switzerland | 2–1 | Sergio Gómez 68', Miranda 103' |
5 July 2023 | 2023 UEFA U-21 | Bucharest, Romania | Ukraine | 5–1 | Ruiz 17', Sancet 24', Blanco 54', Aimar Oroz 68', Sergio Gómez 78' |
8 July 2023 | 2023 UEFA U-21 | Batumi, Georgia | England | 0–1 | |
8 September 2023 | 2025 UEFA U-21 qualification | Paola, Malta | Malta | 6–0 | Diego López 5', Gabri Veiga 14', 18', Ilias 49', Pablo Torre 70', Turrientes 88' |
11 September 2023 | 2025 UEFA U-21 qualification | Jaén, Spain | Scotland | 1–0 | Turrientes 83' |
13 October 2023 | Friendly | Tashkent, Uzbekistan | Uzbekistan | 0–0 | |
17 October 2023 | 2025 UEFA U-21 qualification | Astana, Kazakhstan | Kazakhstan | 4–0 | Fermín López 11', Diego López 54', Fran Pérez 56', Omorodion 90' |
17 November 2023 | 2025 UEFA U-21 qualification | Huelva, Spain | Hungary | 2–0 | Carlos Martín 36', Pablo Torre 67' |
21 November 2023 | 2025 UEFA U-21 qualification | Leuven, Belgium | Belgium | 1–1 | Omorodion 66' |
21 March 2024 | Friendly | Jerez, Spain | Slovakia | 0–2 | |
26 March 2024 | 2025 UEFA U-21 qualification | Almería, Spain | Belgium | 1–0 | Joseph 88' |
Forthcoming fixtures
Date | Competition | Location | Opponent |
---|
2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship
Group phase
Pos | Team
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Spain | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 1 | +14 | 16 | Final tournament | — | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 10 Oct '24 | 15 Oct '24 | |
2 | Scotland | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 4 | +7 | 13 | Play-offs | 6 Sep '24 | — | 11 Oct '24 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 2–1 | |
3 | Belgium | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 5 | +3 | 13 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 15 Oct '24 | 1–0 | 3–1 | ||
4 | Hungary | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 6 | +3 | 10 | 10 Sep '24 | 0–0 | 0–1 | — | 2–0 | 10 Oct '24 | ||
5 | Kazakhstan (Y) | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 14 | −11 | 3 | 0–4 | 15 Oct '24 | 10 Sep '24 | 0–3 | — | 5 Sep '24 | ||
6 | Malta (E) | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 18 | −16 | 0 | 0–6 | 10 Sep '24 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 0–2 | — |
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(E) Eliminated; (Y) Cannot qualify directly, but may still qualify through play-offs
Players
Current squad
The following players were called up for a friendly against Slovakia and a 2025 UEFA U-21 qualification match against Belgium.[2][3]
Caps and goals as of 26 March 2024, after the match against Belgium.
No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
23 | 1GK | Pablo Cuñat | (2002-04-28) 28 April 2002 (age 21) | 5 | 0 | Amorebieta |
1 | 1GK | Alejandro Iturbe | (2003-09-02) 2 September 2003 (age 20) | 3 | 0 | Atlético Madrid |
13 | 1GK | Álvaro Aceves | (2003-07-26) 26 July 2003 (age 20) | 2 | 0 | Eldense |
5 | 2DF | Alejandro Francés | (2002-08-01) 1 August 2002 (age 21) | 17 | 1 | Zaragoza |
2 | 2DF | Hugo Novoa | (2003-01-24) 24 January 2003 (age 21) | 12 | 1 | Villarreal |
4 | 2DF | Rafa Marín | (2002-05-19) 19 May 2002 (age 21) | 7 | 0 | Alavés |
15 | 2DF | Álvaro Carreras | (2003-03-23) 23 March 2003 (age 21) | 7 | 0 | Benfica |
14 | 2DF | Dean Huijsen | (2005-04-14) 14 April 2005 (age 19) | 2 | 0 | Roma |
19 | 2DF | Javi López | (2002-03-25) 25 March 2002 (age 22) | 1 | 0 | Alavés |
3 | 2DF | Cristhian Mosquera | (2004-06-27) 27 June 2004 (age 19) | 2 | 0 | Valencia |
18 | 2DF | Marc Pubill | (2003-06-20) 20 June 2003 (age 20) | 2 | 0 | Almería |
8 | 3MF | Beñat Turrientes (captain) | (2002-01-31) 31 January 2002 (age 22) | 19 | 4 | Real Sociedad |
16 | 3MF | Pablo Torre | (2003-04-03) 3 April 2003 (age 21) | 9 | 2 | Girona |
17 | 3MF | Pablo Barrios | (2003-06-15) 15 June 2003 (age 20) | 8 | 0 | Atlético Madrid |
6 | 3MF | Javi Guerra | (2003-05-13) 13 May 2003 (age 20) | 8 | 0 | Valencia |
10 | 3MF | Fermín López | (2003-05-11) 11 May 2003 (age 20) | 6 | 1 | Barcelona |
22 | 3MF | Unai Gómez | (2003-05-25) 25 May 2003 (age 20) | 1 | 0 | Athletic Bilbao |
7 | 4FW | Diego López | (2002-05-13) 13 May 2002 (age 21) | 8 | 2 | Valencia |
20 | 4FW | Samu Omorodion | (2004-05-05) 5 May 2004 (age 19) | 7 | 2 | Alavés |
21 | 4FW | Fran Pérez | (2002-09-09) 9 September 2002 (age 21) | 7 | 1 | Valencia |
11 | 4FW | Robert Navarro | (2002-04-12) 12 April 2002 (age 22) | 6 | 3 | Cádiz |
12 | 4FW | Alberto Moleiro | (2003-09-30) 30 September 2003 (age 20) | 4 | 0 | Las Palmas |
9 | 4FW | Mateo Joseph | (2003-10-19) 19 October 2003 (age 20) | 2 | 1 | Leeds United |
Recent call-ups
The following players have been called up within the last twelve months are still eligible for selection.
Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DF | Arnau Martínez | (2003-04-25) 25 April 2003 (age 20) | 12 | 0 | Girona | v. Belgium, 21 November 2023 |
DF | David Torres | (2003-03-05) 5 March 2003 (age 21) | 1 | 0 | Valladolid | v. Belgium, 21 November 2023 |
DF | Juanlu Sánchez | (2003-08-15) 15 August 2003 (age 20) | 1 | 0 | Sevilla | v. Belgium, 21 November 2023 |
DF | Hugo Bueno | (2002-09-18) 18 September 2002 (age 21) | 1 | 0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | v. Scotland, 11 September 2023 |
DF | Álvaro Carrillo | (2002-04-06) 6 April 2002 (age 22) | 0 | 0 | Real Madrid | v. Scotland, 11 September 2023 |
MF | Nico González | (2002-01-03) 3 January 2002 (age 22) | 9 | 0 | Porto | v. Slovakia, 21 March 2024 |
MF | Gabri Veiga | (2002-05-27) 27 May 2002 (age 21) | 13 | 2 | Al-Ahli | v. Belgium, 21 November 2023 |
MF | Iker Muñoz | (2002-11-05) 5 November 2002 (age 21) | 2 | 0 | Osasuna | v. Kazakhstan, 17 October 2023 |
MF | Stefan Bajčetić | (2004-10-22) 22 October 2004 (age 19) | 1 | 0 | Liverpool | v. Scotland, 11 September 2023 |
FW | Carlos Martín | (2002-04-22) 22 April 2002 (age 21) | 4 | 1 | Mirandés | v. Belgium, 21 November 2023 |
FW | Assane Diao | (2005-09-07) 7 September 2005 (age 18) | 4 | 0 | Betis | v. Belgium, 21 November 2023 |
FW | Iván Azón | (2002-12-24) 24 December 2002 (age 21) | 2 | 0 | Real Zaragoza | v. Scotland, 11 September 2023 |
Honours
Titles
Former squads
- 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship squads – Spain
- 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship squads – Spain
- 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. 9 June 2011.
- ^ "Convocatoria para los partidos frente a Eslovaquia y Bélgica" (in Spanish). Real Federación Española de Fútbol. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
- ^ "Pablo Torre sustituye por lesión a Nico González para los partidos frente a Eslovaquia y Bélgica" (in Spanish). Real Federación Española de Fútbol. 17 March 2024. Retrieved 17 March 2024.