Spain national under-21 football team
| Nickname | La Rojita (The Little Red One) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Association | Real Federación Española de Fútbol (RFEF) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Confederation | UEFA (Europe) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Head coach | David Gordo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Captain | Cristhian Mosquera | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 | 17 (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),[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
| 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 | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Manolo Sanchís | |
| 1998 | Francesc Arnau | |
| 2011 | Juan Mata | Adrián |
| 2013 | Thiago | Álvaro Morata |
| 2017 | Dani Ceballos | Saúl |
| 2019 | Fabián Ruiz | |
| 2023 | Sergio Gómez |
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
Forthcoming fixtures
| Date | Competition | Location | Opponent |
|---|
2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship
Group phase
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spain | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 2 | +15 | 15 | Final tournament | — | 2–1 | 31 Mar '26 | 6 Oct '26 | 3–0 | 7–0 | |
| 2 | Finland | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 2 | +13 | 10 | Play-offs | 25 Sep '26 | — | 0–0 | 2–0 | 31 Mar '26 | 7–0 | |
| 3 | Kosovo | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 3 | +9 | 8 | 1–3 | 6 Oct '26 | — | 27 Mar '26 | 30 Sep '26 | 7–0 | ||
| 4 | Romania | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0–2 | 30 Sep '26 | 0–0 | — | 2–0 | 31 Mar '26 | ||
| 5 | Cyprus | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 14 | −9 | 3 | 27 Mar '26 | 0–5 | 0–4 | 25 Sep '26 | — | 6 Oct '26 | ||
| 6 | San Marino | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 28 | −28 | 0 | 30 Sep '26 | 26 Mar '26 | 25 Sep '26 | 0–2 | 0–5 | — |
Players
Players born in 2004 or later are eligible for the 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. Players in bold have been already capped with the senior team.
Current squad
The following players were named in the squad for the 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification match against San Marino and Romania on 14 and 18 November 2025, respectively.[2]
Caps and goals as of 18 November 2025, after the match against Romania.
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Salvi Esquivel | 30 September 2005 | 2 | 0 | Atlético Madrid | |
| GK | Fran González | 24 June 2005 | 2 | 0 | Real Madrid | |
| GK | Bruno Iribarne | 18 August 2004 | 1 | 0 | Almería | |
| DF | Cristhian Mosquera (captain) | 27 June 2004 | 15 | 0 | Arsenal | |
| DF | Rafael Obrador | 24 February 2004 | 5 | 1 | Benfica | |
| DF | Álex Valle | 25 April 2004 | 5 | 0 | Como | |
| DF | Yarek Gasiorowski | 12 January 2005 | 4 | 1 | PSV | |
| DF | Iván Fresneda | 28 September 2004 | 3 | 1 | Sporting | |
| DF | Jacobo Ramón | 6 January 2005 | 3 | 0 | Como | |
| DF | Jon Martín | 23 April 2006 | 2 | 0 | Real Sociedad | |
| MF | Chema Andrés | 25 April 2005 | 5 | 0 | Stuttgart | |
| MF | Peio Canales | 17 January 2005 | 4 | 0 | Racing Santander | |
| MF | Mario Martín | 5 March 2004 | 4 | 0 | Getafe | |
| MF | Rodri Mendoza | 15 March 2005 | 4 | 0 | Elche | |
| MF | Miguel Carvalho | 9 March 2005 | 3 | 2 | Al-Hazem | |
| FW | Eliezer Mayenda | 8 May 2005 | 8 | 1 | Sunderland | |
| FW | Jesús Rodríguez | 21 November 2005 | 8 | 2 | Como | |
| FW | Iker Bravo | 13 January 2005 | 6 | 2 | Udinese | |
| FW | Gonzalo García | 24 March 2004 | 6 | 3 | Real Madrid | |
| FW | Pablo García | 13 June 2006 | 4 | 2 | Real Betis | |
| FW | Marc Guiu | 4 January 2006 | 2 | 1 | Chelsea | |
| FW | Jan Virgili | 26 July 2006 | 2 | 2 | Mallorca | |
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 | Ander Astralaga | 3 March 2004 | 2 | 0 | Granada | v. Finland, 14 October 2025 |
| DF | Álex Jiménez | 8 May 2005 | 3 | 0 | Bournemouth | v. Romania, 18 November 2025 INJ |
| DF | Simo Keddari | 3 February 2005 | 3 | 1 | Al-Arabi | v. Finland, 14 October 2025 |
| DF | Juanma Herzog | 13 May 2004 | 4 | 0 | Las Palmas | v. England, 21 June 2025 |
| DF | Dean Huijsen | 14 April 2005 | 7 | 1 | Real Madrid | v. Czech Republic, 21 March 2025 |
| MF | Gerard Hernández | 31 May 2005 | 4 | 0 | Al-Arabi | v. Finland, 14 October 2025 |
| MF | Fer López | 24 May 2004 | 3 | 0 | Wolverhampton | v. Finland, 14 October 2025 |
| MF | Pau Prim | 22 February 2006 | 1 | 0 | Al-Sadd | v. Finland, 14 October 2025 |
| MF | Marc Bernal | 26 May 2007 | 0 | 0 | Barcelona | v. Norway, 10 October 2025 INJ |
| MF | Stefan Bajčetić | 22 October 2004 | 5 | 0 | Liverpool | v. Germany, 25 March 2025 |
| FW | Ángel Ortiz | 25 July 2004 | 3 | 1 | Real Betis | v. Finland, 14 October 2025 |
| FW | Dani Rodríguez | 9 August 2005 | 2 | 0 | Barcelona B | v. Finland, 14 October 2025 |
| FW | Sergio Rodelas | 1 December 2004 | 2 | 0 | Granada | v. Finland, 14 October 2025 |
| FW | Matias Fernandez-Pardo | 3 February 2005 | 0 | 0 | Lille | v. Norway, 10 October 2025 INJ |
| FW | Adrián Niño | 19 June 2004 | 1 | 1 | Málaga | v. Kosovo, 9 September 2025 |
| FW | Joel Roca | 7 June 2005 | 2 | 1 | Girona | v. Kosovo, 9 September 2025 |
Honours
Titles
Former squads
- 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship squads – Spain
- 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.
- ^ "Esta es la lista de David Gordo para los compromisos de Noviembre" (in Spanish). Royal Spanish Football Federation. 7 November 2025.