England national under-21 football team

England Under-21

Nickname(s)	The Young Lions
Association	The Football Association
Head coach	Stuart Pearce (2007-)
Most caps	James Milner (46)
Top scorer	Alan Shearer & Francis Jeffers (13)
Home colours Away colours
First international
England U-21 0-0 Wales U-21 (Molineux, Wolverhampton; 15 December 1976)
Biggest win
England U-21 8-1 Finland U-21 (Boothferry Park, Hull; 12 October 1977) & England U-21 7-0 Azerbaijan U-21 (stadium:mk, Milton Keynes; 9 June 2009)
Biggest defeat
Romania U-21 4-0 England U-21 (Ploieşti, Romania; 14 October 1980) & England U-21 0-4 Spain U-21 (St Andrews, Birmingham; 27 February 2001) & Germany U-21 4-0 England U-21 (Malmö New Stadium, Malmö; 29 June 2009)
UEFA U-21 Championship
Appearances	10 (First in 1978)
Best result	Winners 1982, 1984

England's national Under-21 football team, also known as England Under-21s or England U21(s), is considered to be the feeder team for the England national football team.

This team is for English players aged 21 or under at the start of a two-year European Under-21 Football Championship campaign, so players can be, and often are, up to 23 years old. Also in existence are teams for Under-20s (for non-UEFA tournaments), Under-19s and Under 17s. As long as they are eligible, players can play at any level, making it possible to play for the U21s, senior side and again for the U21s, as Aaron Lennon, Micah Richards and Theo Walcott have done recently. It is also possible to play for one country at youth level and another at senior level (providing the player is eligible). Nigel Quashie is a former (2004-2006) Scotland international and former England U21 player.

The U-21 team came into existence, following the realignment of UEFA's youth competitions, in 1976. A goalless draw in a friendly against Wales at Wolves' Molineux Stadium was England U21s' first result.

England U21s do not have a permanent home. They play in stadia dotted all around England, in an attempt to encourage younger fans in all areas of the country to get behind England. Because of the smaller demand compared to the senior national team, smaller grounds can be used. The record attendance for an England U21 match was set on 24 March 2007, when England U21 played Italy U21 in front of a crowd of just under 60,000 at the brand new Wembley Stadium, also a world record attendance for a U21 game.^[1] The match was one of the required two "ramp up" events the stadium hosted in order to gain its safety certificate in time for its full-capacity opening for the 2007 FA Cup Final in May.^[2][3]

Competition History

As a European U21 team, England compete for the European Championship, with the finals every odd-numbered year, formerly even-numbered years. There is no Under-21 World Cup, although there is an Under-20 World Cup. For the first six (1978–1988) European Under-21 Football Championships, England did well, getting knocked out in the semi-finals on four occasions and winning the competition in 1982 and 1984. Then, as one might expect with a rapid turnover of players, followed a lean period.

After losing to France in the 1988 semi final, England then failed to qualify for the last eight for five whole campaigns. In the qualifying stages for the 1998 tournament, England won their group, but fate was not on their side. Because there were nine groups, and only eight places, the two group-winning nations with worst records had to play-off to eliminate one of them. England lost the away leg of this extra qualifying round and were eliminated on away goals to Greece. In effect, England finished ninth in the competition despite losing only one of their ten matches.

England qualified for the 2000 finals comfortably. Under the 1996-appointed Peter Taylor England won every match without conceding a goal. But with 3 matches to play, Taylor was replaced in a controversial manner by Howard Wilkinson, who won the next two matches. The three goals conceded in the 3-1 defeat to group runners-up Poland were the only blemish on the team's qualifying record. England got knocked out in the group stage of the European Championship finals in 2000 under Wilkinson.

After enlisting former international star David Platt as manager, England qualified for the 2002 tournament in Switzerland. Again England did poorly in the group stage. Platt's England failed to qualify for the 2004 tournament and he was replaced by the returning Peter Taylor. Taylor's England qualified from the group but lost to a strong France team in a two-legged playoff and failed to qualify for the 2006 tournament.

The next campaign started shortly after the 2006 finals - the qualification stage of the 2007 competition. UEFA decided to shift the tournament forward to avoid a clash with senior tournaments taking place in even-numbered years. The qualification stage was heavily reduced, being completed in a year's less time. In a 3-team qualification group, England qualified over Switzerland and Moldova, and then won a two-legged play-off with Germany to qualify for the finals to be held in the Netherlands. At the tournament, England progressed through to the semi-finals where they led for the majority of the match against the hosts. However, after a late equaliser and a marathon penalty shootout, England were eliminated.

In 2009, England finished as runners-up, losing 4-0 to Germany in the final.

Note: The year of the tournament represents the year in which it ends.

Coaching staff

Head coach

Tenure	Head Coach/Manager
1977–1990	Dave Sexton
1990–1993	Lawrie McMenemy
1994–1996	Dave Sexton
1996–1999	Peter Taylor
1999	Peter Reid
1999–2001	Howard Wilkinson
2001–2004	David Platt
2004–2007	Peter Taylor
2007-	Stuart Pearce

The original and most successful coach is Dave Sexton, who led the U21s from 1977 to 1990. In this period he combined his duties with managing the top-flight clubs Manchester United (1977–1981) and Coventry City (1981–1983). After Coventry he took a position within the FA as their first Technical Director, at Lilleshall. He handed over U21 responsibilities to England manager Graham Taylor's assistant Lawrie McMenemy for three years before resuming control from 1994 to 1996.

Peter Taylor took over in 1996, and although never winning the tournament, his teams had an excellent record. He was controversially removed from the position in early 1999 however, and replaced initially by Peter Reid, who resigned after just one match in charge to dedicate more time to his other job as manager of Sunderland. Howard Wilkinson took over afterwards, yet could only produce four wins in ten competitive matches and quit after a year and a half in charge. David Platt was in charge from 2001 to 2004, but had little success before Taylor's return. Taylor left in January 2007, as the senior national manager Steve McClaren wanted the U21s to have a full-time manager. Taylor, at the time was combining his duties with his role as Crystal Palace boss.

On 1 February 2007, Manchester City manager Stuart Pearce was appointed as head coach on a part-time basis until after the European Championships in the summer of 2007. Nigel Pearson, Newcastle United's assistant manager, agreed to become Pearce's assistant. Their first match in charge was a 2-2 draw against Spain on 6 February 2007 at Derby County's Pride Park Stadium.

For the match against Italy Nigel Pearson took charge as Stuart Pearce had club commitments. Steve Wigley assisted Pearson.

Pearce was dismissed as Manchester City manager on 14 May 2007, before the 2007 European Championships, but on 19 July 2007 he was named full-time U21s coach.^[4] His contract was extended in the summer of 2009.

Other staff

Assistant Coach	Steve Wigley
Coach	Brian Eastick
Goalkeeping Coach	Martin Thomas
Physiotherapists	Dave Galley
	Mike Healy
Doctor	Dr. Mark Waller
Masseur	Paul Small
Exercise Scientist	Gary Phillips
Video Analyst	Steve O'Brien
Kit Manager	Mike Skoullos

Players

Leading Appearances

Note: Club(s) represents the permanent clubs during the player's time in the Under-21s. Those players in bold are still eligible to play for the team at the moment.

Statistics up to and including England vs Lithuania, 17 November 2009.

Leading Goalscorers

Note: Club(s) represents the permanent clubs during the player's time in the Under-21s. Those players in bold are still eligible to play for the team at the moment.

Statistics up to and including England vs Spain, 18 June 2009.

Current squad

Players born in or after 1988 are eligible for the next UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship.

The following players were named in the squad for the European Championship qualification matches against Portugal on 3 September 2010 and Lithuania on 7 September 2010.^[5]

Name	DOB	Club	Caps (goals)
Goalkeepers
Frank Fielding	4 April 1988 (1988-04-04) (age 22)	Blackburn Rovers	3 (0)
Alex Smithies	5 March 1990 (1990-03-05) (age 20)	Huddersfield Town	0 (0)
Jason Steele	18 August 1990 (1990-08-18) (age 20)	Middlesbrough	0 (0)
Defenders
Michael Mancienne	8 January 1988 (1988-01-08) (age 23)	Wolverhampton Wanderers	22 (1)
Ryan Bertrand	5 August 1989 (1989-08-05) (age 21)	Nottingham Forest	5 (0)
Chris Smalling	22 November 1989 (1989-11-22) (age 21)	Manchester United	5 (0)
Kyle Walker	28 May 1990 (1990-05-28) (age 20)	Tottenham Hotspur	2 (0)
Martin Kelly	27 April 1990 (1990-04-27) (age 20)	Liverpool	1 (1)
Phil Jones	21 February 1992 (1992-02-21) (age 18)	Blackburn Rovers	1 (0)
Midfielders
Fabrice Muamba	6 April 1988 (1988-04-06) (age 22)	Bolton Wanderers	25 (0)
Danny Rose	2 July 1990 (1990-07-02) (age 20)	Tottenham Hotspur	9 (2)
Tom Cleverley	12 August 1989 (1989-08-12) (age 21)	Wigan Athletic	7 (0)
Jack Wilshere	1 January 1992 (1992-01-01) (age 19)	Arsenal	5 (0)
Jack Cork	25 June 1989 (1989-06-25) (age 21)	Burnley	4 (0)
Marc Albrighton	18 November 1989 (1989-11-18) (age 21)	Aston Villa	1 (0)
Jordan Henderson	17 May 1990 (1990-05-17) (age 20)	Sunderland	1 (0)
Forwards
Daniel Sturridge	1 September 1989 (1989-09-01) (age 21)	Chelsea	6 (1)
Danny Welbeck	26 November 1990 (1990-11-26) (age 20)	Sunderland	5 (0)
Nathan Delfouneso	2 February 1991 (1991-02-02) (age 20)	Aston Villa	1 (1)

Recent call-ups

The following players have also been called up to the England under-21 squad and remain eligible:

Name	DOB	Club	Caps (goals)	Most recent call-up
Goalkeepers
Scott Loach	27 May 1988 (1988-05-27) (age 22)	Watford	12 (0)	v  Portugal, 3 September 2010
Alex McCarthy	3 December 1989 (1989-12-03) (age 21)	Brentford	1 (0)	v  Uzbekistan, 10 August 2010
Defenders
Micah Richards	24 June 1988 (1988-06-24) (age 22)	Manchester City	14 (3)	v  Portugal, 3 September 2010
James Tomkins	23 September 1989 (1989-09-23) (age 21)	West Ham United	7 (0)	v  Greece, 3 March 2010
Kyle Naughton	11 November 1988 (1988-11-11) (age 22)	Tottenham Hotspur	6 (0)	v  Greece, 3 March 2010
Kieran Gibbs	26 September 1989 (1989-09-26) (age 21)	Arsenal	14 (3)	v  Portugal, 14 November 2009
Ciaran Clark	26 September 1989 (1989-09-26) (age 21)	Aston Villa	0 (0)	v  Portugal, 14 November 2009
Miles Addison	7 January 1989 (1989-01-07) (age 22)	Derby County	1 (0)	v  Macedonia, 4 September 2009
Joe Mattock	15 May 1990 (1990-05-15) (age 20)	West Bromwich Albion	4 (0)	v  Poland, 25 March 2008
Midfielders
Jack Rodwell	11 March 1991 (1991-03-11) (age 19)	Everton	12 (2)	v  Portugal, 3 September 2010
Henri Lansbury	12 October 1990 (1990-10-12) (age 20)	Arsenal	2 (0)	v  Portugal, 3 September 2010
Victor Moses	12 December 1990 (1990-12-12) (age 20)	Wigan Athletic	1 (0)	v  Portugal, 3 September 2010
Lee Cattermole	21 March 1988 (1988-03-21) (age 22)	Sunderland	16 (3)	v  Greece, 3 March 2010
Fabian Delph	21 November 1989 (1989-11-21) (age 21)	Aston Villa	4 (0)	v  Greece, 3 March 2010
Dan Gosling	2 February 1990 (1990-02-02) (age 21)	Newcastle United	2 (0)	v  Greece, 3 March 2010
Michael Johnson	24 February 1988 (1988-02-24) (age 22)	Manchester City	2 (0)	v  Portugal, 14 November 2009
Junior Stanislas	26 November 1989 (1989-11-26) (age 21)	West Ham United	2 (0)	v  Portugal, 14 November 2009
Mark Davies	18 February 1988 (1988-02-18) (age 22)	Bolton Wanderers	0 (0)	v  Ecuador, 16 February 2009
Adam Lallana	10 May 1988 (1988-05-10) (age 22)	Southampton	1 (0)	v  Czech Republic, 18 November 2008
Forwards
Andy Carroll	6 January 1989 (1989-01-06) (age 22)	Newcastle United	5 (2)	v  Portugal, 3 September 2010
Zavon Hines	27 December 1988 (1988-12-27) (age 22)	West Ham United	2 (2)	v  Portugal, 14 November 2009
Theo Walcott	16 March 1989 (1989-03-16) (age 21)	Arsenal	21 (6)	v  Macedonia, 9 October 2009
James Vaughan	4 July 1988 (1988-07-04) (age 22)	Everton	3 (0)	v  Macedonia, 4 September 2009
Freddie Sears	27 November 1989 (1989-11-27) (age 21)	West Ham United	3 (1)	v  Macedonia, 4 September 2009

Note: Names in italics denote players that have been capped for the Senior team

Results and fixtures 2009–2011

2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Qualification Group 9

Current table

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Greece	7	5	1	1	11	6	+5	16
England	6	3	2	1	11	7	+4	11
Portugal	6	3	1	2	9	6	+3	10
Lithuania	7	1	2	4	3	8	−5	5
Macedonia	6	0	2	4	7	14	−7	2

Key: Pts Points, Pld Matches played, W Won, D Drawn, L Lost, GF Goals for, GA Goals against, GD Goal Difference

Matches

4 September 2009 15:30 UTC+2	Macedonia	1 – 2	England	Goce Delčev Stadium, Prilep, Republic of Macedonia Referee: Hubert Siejewicz
	Ibraimi  34'	Report	Sears  68' Cattermole  82' (pen.)

8 September 2009 19:00 UTC+3	Greece	1 – 1	England	Asteras Tripolis Stadium, Tripoli, Greece Referee: Mauro Bergonzi
	Ninis  41'	Report	Sturridge  5'

9 October 2009 19:45 UTC+1	England	6 – 3	Macedonia	Ricoh Arena, Coventry, England Attendance: 20,047 Referee: Fredy Fautrel
	Gibbs  22' Richards  30' Carroll  54', 87' Hines  67', 90'	Report	Muarem  42' Ibraimi  53' Gibbs  58' (o.g.)

14 November 2009 12:30 UTC	England	1 – 0	Portugal	Wembley Stadium, London, England Attendance: 33,833 Referee: Thorsten Kinhöfer
	Rose  40'	Report

17 November 2009 18:00 UTC+2	Lithuania	0 – 0	England	Vėtra Stadium, Vilnius, Lithuania Referee: Jiri Jech
		Report

3 March 2010 18:00 UTC	England	1 – 2	Greece	Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster, England Attendance: 9,708 Referee: Marijo Strahonja
	Delfouneso  80'	Report	K. Papadopoulos   28' G. Papadopoulos  49'

3 September 2010	Portugal	v	England	Estádio Cidade de Barcelos, Barcelos, Portugal Referee: TBD

7 September 2010	England	v	Lithuania	Weston Homes Community Stadium, Colchester, England Referee: TBD

Friendlies

11 August 2009 19:30 UTC+1	Netherlands	0 – 0	England	Euroborg Stadion, Groningen, Netherlands Referee: Babak Rafati
		Report

10 August 2010 19:30 UTC+1	England	2 – 0	Uzbekistan	Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol, England Referee: Georgios Daloukas
	Rose  64' Kelly  77'	Report

See also

• European Under-21 Football Championship
• England's European Under-21 Football Championship Record
• England (Senior) team
• England Under-20 team
• England Under-19 team
• England Under-18 team
• England Under-17 team
• England Under-16 team

References

External links

• Official FA England Under-21 website Contains listings of current England U-21 players.
• Uefa Under-21 website Contains full results archive
• The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation Contains full record of U-21 Championship hosts and additional statistics, such as the Group Winners table for the 1998 qualifiers.