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England national under-21 football team

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 current 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 March 24 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. 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.

Competition History

Year	Progress
1978	Semi Final
1980	Semi Final
1982	Champions
1984	Champions
1986	Semi Final
1988	Semi Final
1990	Failed to qualify
1992	Failed to qualify
1994	Failed to qualify
1996	Failed to qualify
1998	Failed to qualify
2000	Group Stage
2002	Group Stage
2004	Failed to qualify
2006	Failed to qualify
2007	Semi Final
2009	Qualification in progress

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.

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. Howard Wilkinson took over in 1999 yet could only produce four wins in ten competitive matches and was sacked. 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 May 14 2007, before the 2007 European Championships, but on 19 July 2007 he was named full-time U21s coach. His contract runs until the summer of 2009.

Other staff

Assistant Coach	Nigel Pearson
Coach	Steve Wigley
Goalkeeping Coaches	Martin Thomas
Goalkeeping Coaches	Eric Steele
Physiotherapists	Dave Galley
Physiotherapists	Mike Healy
Doctor	Dr. Mark Waller
Masseur	Paul Small
Exercise Scientist	Gary Phillips
Video Analyst	Steve O'Brien
Kit Manager	Mark Simkin

Players

Most Appearances - Top Ten

Because of the age restriction, a player can't be in the team for very long and the most promising young players spend little time, if any, with the U-21s before winning senior caps. James Milner currently holds the record for the most England Under-21 caps.

Rank	Player	Club(s)	U-21 Caps
1	James Milner	Leeds United, Newcastle United, Aston Villa	39
=2	Scott Carson	Leeds United, Liverpool	29
=2	Tom Huddlestone	Derby County, Tottenham Hotspur	29
=4	Jamie Carragher	Liverpool	27
=4	Gareth Barry	Aston Villa	27
=4	Steven Taylor	Newcastle United	27
7	David Prutton	Leeds United,Nottingham Forest, Southampton	25
8	Jermaine Pennant	Arsenal	24
=9	Jermain Defoe	West Ham United	23
=9	Nigel Reo-Coker	West Ham United	23

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 Wales vs England October 10, 2008.

Most Goals - Top Ten

Rank	Player	Club(s)	U-21 Goals
=1	Alan Shearer	Southampton	13
=1	Francis Jeffers	Everton, Arsenal	13
=3	Frank Lampard	West Ham United	9
=3	Darren Bent	Ipswich Town, Charlton Athletic	9
=5	Mark Hateley	Coventry City, Portsmouth	8
=5	Carl Cort	Wimbledon	8
=5	James Milner	Leeds United, Newcastle United, Aston Villa	8
=8	Mark Robins	Manchester United	7
=8	Shola Ameobi	Newcastle United	7
=8	Jermain Defoe	West Ham United	7

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 Wales vs England October 10, 2008.

Current players

Currently eligible players who have won caps or received call-ups to the squad.

Current Squad	Position	Date of birth and age	Caps	Goals	Club	Last cap
1	GK	()	12	0	Manchester City	v Wales, friendly
2	DF	()	6	0	Portsmouth	v Wales, friendly
3	DF	()	7	0	Middlesbrough	v Wales, friendly
4	MF	()	3	0	Wigan	v Wales, friendly
5	DF	()	4	0	Chelsea	v Wales, friendly
6	DF	()	6	1	Middlesbrough	v Wales, friendly
7	FW	()	15	6	Arsenal	v Wales, friendly
8	MF	()	26	3	Tottenham Hotspur	v Wales, friendly
9	FW	()	10	2	Aston Villa	v Wales, friendly
10	MF	()	3	0	Sunderland	v Wales, friendly
11	MF	()	7	2	Middlesbrough	v Wales, friendly
12	MF	()	1	0	Stoke City	v Wales, friendly
13	GK	()	2	0	Peterborough United	v Wales, friendly
14	DF	()	2	0	Coventry City	v Wales, friendly
15	MF	()	8	0	Bolton Wanderers	v Wales, friendly
16	MF	()	2	0	Tottenham Hotspur	v Wales, friendly
17	FW	()	2	0	Queens Park Rangers	v Wales, friendly
Unused sub	GK	()	1	0	Cardiff City (loaned from Man. United)	v Poland, qualifier
Unused sub	DF	()	0	0	Queens Park Rangers	Uncapped
Unused sub	DF	()	1	0	Coventry City	v Poland, qualifier
Unused sub	MF	()	1	0	Manchester City	v Romania, friendly
Unused sub	MF	()	3	0	Wolverhampton Wanderers	v Montenegro, qualifier
Unused sub	MF	()	10	3	West Ham United	v Republic of Ireland, qualifier
Unused sub	FW	()	1	0	Tottenham Hotspur (loaned from Man. United)	v Poland, qualifier
No call	GK	()	1	0	Tottenham Hotspur	v Romania, qualifier
No call	DF	()	0	0	Preston North End	Uncapped
No call	DF	()	4	0	Leicester City	v Republic of Ireland, qualifier
No call	DF	()	14	1	Manchester City	v Poland, qualifier
No call	DF	()	3	0	Manchester City	v Germany, play-off
No call	DF	()	0	0	Wolverhampton Wanderers	Uncapped
No call	DF	()	25	4	Newcastle United	v Republic of Ireland, qualifier
No call	MF	()	6	0	Aston Villa	v Republic of Ireland, qualifier
No call	MF	()	3	0	Tottenham Hotspur	v Republic of Ireland, qualifier
No call	MF	()	35	6	Aston Villa	v Republic of Ireland, qualifier
No call	MF	()	4	0	Stoke City	v Norway, friendly
No call	MF	()	4	1	Southampton	v Republic of Ireland, qualifier
No call	FW	()	11	4	Blackburn Rovers	v Poland, qualifier
No call	FW	()	10	0	Birmingham City	v Poland, qualifier
No call	FW	()	0	0	West Bromwich Albion	Uncapped
No call	FW	()	5	1	West Bromwich Albion	v Poland, qualifier
No call	FW	()	1	0	Everton	v Italy, finals

Note: Names in italics denote players that have been capped for the Senior team Statistics up to and including Wales vs England May 15 2008.

Recent results and forthcoming fixtures

2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Qualification Group 3

Current table

Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
8	7	1	0	17	1	+16	22
8	4	2	2	13	7	+6	14
8	2	2	4	5	12	−7	8
8	2	1	5	4	9	−5	7
8	1	2	5	4	14	−10	5

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

Matches

Play-off

Friendlies

Recent Friendlies

Future Friendlies

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.