La Rojita aims to lift another trophy, hoping to add to the collection after their last triumph in 2019.
In Romania and Georgia, a new chapter unfolds for players under 21 as the European Under-21 Championship returns. The final tournament opens on June 21 with 16 teams battling for supremacy across the continent.
Regardless of where the action happens, it’s useful to know which nations have climbed the podium most often. Below are the champions and runners-up who have defined the history of the European Under-21 Championship.
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Under-21 European Palmares: The nations with the most titles
The European Under-21 Championship began officially in 1976 as a competition for players under 21, replacing the previous format for players under 23. Yugoslavia was crowned the first champion under the new rules.
Spain and Italy lead the way with five titles each. Italy managed to win the trophy three times in a row, a remarkable streak. Spain, meanwhile, has reached the final on three occasions as runners-up, in addition to their five triumphs.
- Spain: 5 titles (1986, 1998, 2011, 2013, 2019) and 3 runners-up (1984, 1996, 2017)
- Italy: 5 titles (1992, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2004) and 2 runners-up (1986, 2013)
- Germany: 3 titles (2009, 2017, 2021) and 2 runners-up (1982, 2019)
- England: 2 titles (1982, 1984) and 1 runner-up (2009)
- Netherlands: 2 titles (2006, 2007)
- Russia: 2 titles (1980, 1990)
- Serbia: 1 title (1978) and 3 runners-up (1990, 2004, 2007)
- France: 1 title (1988) and 1 runner-up (2002)
- Sweden: 1 title (2015) and 1 runner-up (1992)
- Czech Republic: 1 title (2002) and 1 runner-up (2000)
- Portugal: 0 titles and 3 runners-up (1994, 2015, 2021)
- Greece: 0 titles and 2 runners-up (1988, 1998)
- Democratic Germany: 0 titles and 2 runners-up (1978, 1980)
- Switzerland: 0 titles and 1 runner-up (2011)
Source: Goal