Spain national under-21 football team

Spain U-21
Nickname(s)La Rojita (The Little Red One)
La Furia Roja (the red fury)
AssociationRoyal Spanish Football Federation
(Real Federación Española de Fútbol – RFEF)
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
CaptainBeñat Turrientes
Most capsGerard Deulofeu (36)
Top scorerGerard Deulofeu (17)
FIFA codeESP
First colours
Second colours
First international
 Yugoslavia 4–1  
(Zagreb, Yugoslavia; 9 October 1976)
Biggest win
  14–0 San Marino 
(El Ejido, Spain; 8 February 2005)
Biggest defeat
 Netherlands 5–0  
(Utrecht, Netherlands; 16 February 1983)
Records for competitive matches only.
UEFA U-21 Championship
Appearances17 (first in 1982)
Best resultWinners (1986, 1998, 2011, 2013, 2019)
Medal record
Spain national under-21 football team
Medal record
U-21 European Championship
Gold medal – first place 1986 Team
Gold medal – first place 1998 Romania Team
Gold medal – first place 2011 Denmark Team
Gold medal – first place 2013 Israel Team
Gold medal – first place 2019 Italy Team
Silver medal – second place 1984 Team
Silver medal – second place 1996 Spain Team
Silver medal – second place 2017 Poland Team
Silver medal – second place 2023 Georgia–Romania Team
Bronze medal – third place 1994 France Team
Bronze medal – third place 2000 Slovakia Team
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),[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
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 Quarter-finals 14 11 2 1 35 12
Total 17/25 252 181 36 35 537 181

*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
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

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
  Beñat Turrientes Real Sociedad 2021–2025 29
7 Santi Denia Albacete, Atlético Madrid 1992–1996 27
  David de Gea Atlético Madrid, Manchester United 2009–2013 27
  Abel Ruiz Barcelona, Sporting Braga 2019–2023 27
10 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
  Abel Ruiz Barcelona, Sporting Braga 2019–2023 13
7 Óscar Barcelona, Albacete 1992–1996 12
8 Munir Barcelona 2014–2016 10
9 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 21 June 2025.

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 Abel 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', Abel Ruiz 8 47', 64', Manu Sánchez 55', Lobete 73', 78'
23 September 2022 Friendly Cluj-Napoca, Romania  Romania 4–1 Abel Ruiz 8', 18', Riquelme 80', 89'
27 September 2022 Friendly Huesca, Spain  Norway 3–0 Gragera 40', Abel 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'
6 September 2024 2025 UEFA U-21 qualification Edinburgh, Scotland  Scotland 2–1 Huijsen 59', Joseph 69'
10 September 2024 2025 UEFA U-21 qualification Szeged, Hungary  Hungary 1–0 Navarro 20'
10 October 2024 2025 UEFA U-21 qualification La Línea, Spain  Kazakhstan 4–3 Joseph 15', 23', 44', Turrientes 20'
15 October 2024 2025 UEFA U-21 qualification Algeciras, Spain  Malta 6–0 Omorodion 5', 37', 39', 45+1', Peque 56', Fernández 76'
15 November 2024 Friendly La Línea, Spain  England 0–0
19 November 2024 Friendly Albacete, Spain  Denmark 2–1 Javi Guerra 13', Joseph 26'
21 March 2025 Friendly Lorca, Spain  Czech Republic 2–2 Joseph 10', Tárrega 81'
25 March 2025 Friendly Darmstadt, Germany  Germany 1–3 Gabri Veiga 19'
6 June 2025 Friendly Alcorcón, Spain  Ukraine 0–1
11 June 2025 2025 UEFA U-21 Bratislava, Slovakia  Slovakia 3–2 Pubill 10', Joseph 18', Tárrega 90'
14 June 2025 2025 UEFA U-21 Bratislava, Slovakia  Romania 2–1 Jauregizar 85', Fernández 88'
17 June 2025 2025 UEFA U-21 Trnava, Slovakia  Italy 1–1 Rodríguez 53'
21 June 2025 2025 UEFA U-21 Trnava, Slovakia  England 1–3 Javi Guerra 39' (pen.)

Forthcoming fixtures

Date Competition Location Opponent

2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship

Group phase

Main article: 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification Group B
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   10 9 1 0 28 5 +23 28 Final tournament — 1–0 1–0 2–0 4–3 6–0
2  Belgium 10 6 1 3 13 6 +7 19 Play-offs 1–1 — 0–2 0–1 1–0 3–1
3  Scotland 10 5 1 4 19 11 +8 16[a] 1–2 0–2 — 3–1 4–1 2–1
4  Hungary 10 5 1 4 12 8 +4 16[a] 0–1 0–1 0–0 — 2–0 2–1
5  Kazakhstan 10 3 0 7 13 24 −11 9 0–4 0–3 3–2 0–3 — 4–1
6  Malta 10 0 0 10 4 35 −31 0 0–6 0–2 0–5 0–3 0–2 —
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Head-to-head points: Scotland 4, Hungary 1.

Players

Current squad

The following players were named in the squad for the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, to be played June 2025.

Caps and goals as of 21 June 2025, after the match against England.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Alejandro Iturbe (2003-09-02) 2 September 2003 12 0 Spain Atlético Madrid
13 1GK Aitor Fraga (2003-03-12) 12 March 2003 2 0 Spain Real Sociedad
23 1GK Pablo Campos (2002-04-28) 28 April 2002 8 0 Spain Levante
2 2DF Marc Pubill (2003-06-20) 20 June 2003 9 1 Spain Almeria
3 2DF Cristhian Mosquera (2004-06-27) 27 June 2004 11 0 Spain Valencia
4 2DF Rafa Marín (2002-05-19) 19 May 2002 12 0 Spain Villareal
5 2DF César Tárrega (2002-02-26) 26 February 2002 7 2 Spain Valencia
12 2DF Andrés García (2003-02-07) 7 February 2003 3 0 England Aston Villa
15 2DF Juanma Herzog (2004-05-13) 13 May 2004 4 0 Spain Las Palmas
16 2DF Juanlu Sánchez (2003-08-15) 15 August 2003 13 0 Spain Sevilla
18 2DF Gerard Martín (2002-02-26) 26 February 2002 3 0 Spain Barcelona
22 2DF Hugo Bueno (2002-09-18) 18 September 2002 8 0 England Wolves
6 3MF Javi Guerra (2003-05-13) 13 May 2003 21 2 Spain Valencia
8 3MF Beñat Turrientes (captain) (2002-01-31) 31 January 2002 29 5 Spain Real Sociedad
10 3MF Pablo Torre (2003-04-03) 3 April 2003 21 2 Spain Barcelona
14 3MF Mikel Jauregizar (2003-11-13) 13 November 2003 8 1 Spain Athletic Bilbao
20 3MF Alberto Moleiro (2003-09-30) 30 September 2003 14 0 Spain Villareal
21 3MF Pablo Marín (2003-07-03) 3 July 2003 2 0 Spain Real Sociedad
7 4FW Diego López (2002-05-13) 13 May 2002 19 2 Spain Valencia
9 4FW Mateo Joseph (2003-10-19) 19 October 2003 13 8 England Leeds United
11 4FW Raúl Moro (2002-12-05) 5 December 2002 12 0 Netherlands Ajax
17 4FW Jesús Rodríguez (2005-11-21) 21 November 2005 6 1 Italy Como
19 4FW Roberto Fernández (2002-07-03) 3 July 2002 6 2 Spain Espanyol

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
GK Fran González (2005-06-24) 24 June 2005 0 0 Spain Real Madrid Castilla v.  Denmark, 19 November 2024
DF Álex Valle (2004-04-25) 25 April 2004 2 0 Italy Como v.  Germany, 25 March 2025
DF Dean Huijsen (2005-04-14) 14 April 2005 7 1 Spain Real Madrid v.  Czech Republic, 21 March 2025
DF Pau Cubarsí (2007-01-22) 22 January 2007 2 0 Spain Barcelona v.  England, 15 November 2024
MF Stefan Bajčetić (2004-10-22) 22 October 2004 5 0 England Liverpool v.  Germany, 25 March 2025
FW Eliezer Mayenda (2005-05-05) 5 May 2005 2 0 England Sunderland v. EURO U-21 pre-list, 4 June 2025
FW Matias Fernandez-Pardo (2005-02-03) 3 February 2005 0 0 France Lille v. EURO U-21 pre-list, 4 June 2025
FW Iker Bravo (2005-01-13) 13 January 2005 2 0 Italy Udinese v.  Denmark, 19 November 2024
FW Samu Aghehowa (2004-05-05) 5 May 2004 11 6 Portugal Porto v.  Malta, 15 October 2024

Honours

Titles

Former squads

See also

Notes

References

  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.
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