Spain national under-21 football team

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Spain Under-21
Nickname(s)La Rojita (The Little Red [One])
AssociationRoyal Spanish Football Federation
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Head coachSanti Denia
CaptainBryan Gil
Most capsGerard Deulofeu (36)
Top scorerGerard Deulofeu (17)
FIFA codeESP
First colours
Second colours
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
Appearances16 (first in 1982)
Best resultWinners (1986, 1998, 2011, 2013, 2019)
The 2011 winning team

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[edit]

UEFA European Under-21 Championship record[edit]

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
France 1994 Third Place 12 9 2 1 21 9
Spain 1996 Runners-up 14 10 3 1 34 14
Romania 1998 Champions 11 10 1 0 21 6
Slovakia 2000 Third Place 14 11 3 0 31 7
Switzerland 2002 Qualification Playoffs 10 6 1 3 15 9
Germany 2004 Qualification Playoffs 10 6 2 2 17 5
Portugal 2006 Qualifying Stage 10 6 2 2 37 8
Netherlands 2007 Qualification Playoffs 4 2 1 1 8 4
Sweden 2009 Group Stage 13 10 1 2 27 7
Denmark 2011 Champions 15 12 2 1 31 8
Israel 2013 Champions 15 14 1 0 47 5
Czech Republic 2015 Qualification Playoffs 10 7 2 1 25 8
Poland 2017 Runners-up 15 11 2 2 43 12
Italy 2019 Champions 15 13 0 2 45 16
HungarySlovenia 2021 Semifinals 15 12 2 1 27 3
RomaniaGeorgia (country) 2023 Runners-up 13 12 1 1 50 10
Slovakia 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[edit]

Spanish players have won individual awards at UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship.

Year Golden Player Golden Boot
Europe 1986 Manolo Sanchís
Romania 1998 Francesc Arnau
Denmark 2011 Juan Mata Adrián
Israel 2013 Thiago Álvaro Morata
Poland 2017 Dani Ceballos Saúl
Italy San Marino 2019 Fabián Ruiz

Player records[edit]

Top appearances[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Date Competition Location Opponent

2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship[edit]

Group phase[edit]

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
Updated to match(es) played on 26 March 2024. Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(E) Eliminated; (Y) Cannot qualify directly, but may still qualify through play-offs

Players[edit]

Current squad[edit]

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 Spain Amorebieta
1 1GK Alejandro Iturbe (2003-09-02) 2 September 2003 (age 20) 3 0 Spain Atlético Madrid
13 1GK Álvaro Aceves (2003-07-26) 26 July 2003 (age 20) 2 0 Spain Eldense

5 2DF Alejandro Francés (2002-08-01) 1 August 2002 (age 21) 17 1 Spain Zaragoza
2 2DF Hugo Novoa (2003-01-24) 24 January 2003 (age 21) 12 1 Spain Villarreal
4 2DF Rafa Marín (2002-05-19) 19 May 2002 (age 21) 7 0 Spain Alavés
15 2DF Álvaro Carreras (2003-03-23) 23 March 2003 (age 21) 7 0 Portugal Benfica
14 2DF Dean Huijsen (2005-04-14) 14 April 2005 (age 18) 2 0 Italy Roma
19 2DF Javi López (2002-03-25) 25 March 2002 (age 22) 1 0 Spain Alavés
3 2DF Cristhian Mosquera (2004-06-27) 27 June 2004 (age 19) 2 0 Spain Valencia
18 2DF Marc Pubill (2003-06-20) 20 June 2003 (age 20) 2 0 Spain Almería

8 3MF Beñat Turrientes (captain) (2002-01-31) 31 January 2002 (age 22) 19 4 Spain Real Sociedad
16 3MF Pablo Torre (2003-04-03) 3 April 2003 (age 20) 9 2 Spain Girona
17 3MF Pablo Barrios (2003-06-15) 15 June 2003 (age 20) 8 0 Spain Atlético Madrid
6 3MF Javi Guerra (2003-05-13) 13 May 2003 (age 20) 8 0 Spain Valencia
10 3MF Fermín López (2003-05-11) 11 May 2003 (age 20) 6 1 Spain Barcelona
22 3MF Unai Gómez (2003-05-25) 25 May 2003 (age 20) 1 0 Spain Athletic Bilbao

7 4FW Diego López (2002-05-13) 13 May 2002 (age 21) 8 2 Spain Valencia
20 4FW Samu Omorodion (2004-05-05) 5 May 2004 (age 19) 7 2 Spain Alavés
21 4FW Fran Pérez (2002-09-09) 9 September 2002 (age 21) 7 1 Spain Valencia
11 4FW Robert Navarro (2002-04-12) 12 April 2002 (age 21) 6 3 Spain Cádiz
12 4FW Alberto Moleiro (2003-09-30) 30 September 2003 (age 20) 4 0 Spain Las Palmas
9 4FW Mateo Joseph (2003-10-19) 19 October 2003 (age 20) 2 1 England Leeds United

Recent call-ups[edit]

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 Spain Girona v.  Belgium, 21 November 2023
DF David Torres (2003-03-05) 5 March 2003 (age 21) 1 0 Spain Valladolid v.  Belgium, 21 November 2023
DF Juanlu Sánchez (2003-08-15) 15 August 2003 (age 20) 1 0 Spain Sevilla v.  Belgium, 21 November 2023
DF Hugo Bueno (2002-09-18) 18 September 2002 (age 21) 1 0 England Wolverhampton Wanderers v.  Scotland, 11 September 2023
DF Álvaro Carrillo (2002-04-06) 6 April 2002 (age 21) 0 0 Spain Real Madrid v.  Scotland, 11 September 2023

MF Nico González (2002-01-03) 3 January 2002 (age 22) 9 0 Portugal Porto v.  Slovakia, 21 March 2024
MF Gabri Veiga (2002-05-27) 27 May 2002 (age 21) 13 2 Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli v.  Belgium, 21 November 2023
MF Iker Muñoz (2002-11-05) 5 November 2002 (age 21) 2 0 Spain Osasuna v.  Kazakhstan, 17 October 2023
MF Stefan Bajčetić (2004-10-22) 22 October 2004 (age 19) 1 0 England Liverpool v.  Scotland, 11 September 2023

FW Carlos Martín (2002-04-22) 22 April 2002 (age 21) 4 1 Spain Mirandés v.  Belgium, 21 November 2023
FW Assane Diao (2005-09-07) 7 September 2005 (age 18) 4 0 Spain Betis v.  Belgium, 21 November 2023
FW Iván Azón (2002-12-24) 24 December 2002 (age 21) 2 0 Spain Real Zaragoza v.  Scotland, 11 September 2023

Honours[edit]

Titles[edit]

Former squads[edit]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "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.
  2. ^ "Convocatoria para los partidos frente a Eslovaquia y Bélgica" (in Spanish). Real Federación Española de Fútbol. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  3. ^ "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.

External links[edit]