La Rojita and Its European Under-21 Championship Legacy
La Rojita shares with Italy the distinction of being the most decorated team in the European Under-21 Championship. The Spain Under-21 squad looks to add another title to its record as the 2023 edition unfolds. In the continental hierarchy, Spain sits at the top, tied with Italy for the most championships won in this age category.
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Palmarés de La Rojita: how many times has the Spanish national team won the European Under-21 title?
The Under-21 prize has gone to Spain on five occasions. The national team’s official history recounts each triumph with vivid detail:
The first title arrived in 1986.
On 29 October 1986, Spain’s Under-21s captured their first European Championship at José Zorrilla Stadium, overcoming Italy in a penalty shootout. Their path to the final began with wins over France, 1-3 in Auxerre on March 12, 1986, and 3-1 in Murcia on March 26, 1986.
In the semi-finals, Hungary posed a stern test. After a 3-1 deficit from the first leg, Spain leveled in the second leg in La Coruña on April 23, 1986, thanks to a stoppage-time goal by Eloy Olaya (102nd minute), earning a place in the final against a strong Italian side featuring players such as Zenga, Donadoni, Giannini, De Napoli, Matteoli, Vialli and Mancini. The first leg in Italy ended 2-1 for Italy, despite a Calderé goal. In the return match at Nuevo Zorrilla in Valladolid, Spain won 2-1, with Eloy and Roberto finding the net, forcing extra time and penalties to decide the champion.
Spain then seized the title in the deciding shootout, thanks to Ablanedo’s four saves and two crucial saves from the spot. The Spaniards converted their penalties as Roberto, Eusebio and Ramón scored, sealing the triumph.
The second title arrived in 1998, as the Under-21s defended their crown in Romania. Under the guidance of Iñaki Sáez, Spain went undefeated in the campaign and defeated Russia in the quarter-finals, Norway in the semis, and Greece in the final after beating Greece 1-0 in the last match. The team that lifted the trophy included notable players such as Benjamín, Roger, Guerrero, Rekarte, Michel, Salgado, García Calvo, Guti, Valerón, Iván Pérez and Arnau, with Francesc Arnau serving as the tournament’s goalkeeper and earning the “golden player” award for his performances. Iván Pérez finished as top scorer, including the winning goal in the final against Greece.
Arnau later reflected on his journey, recalling a period with table tennis before donning the gloves again and contributing decisively to the win. Iván Pérez’s insistence and scoring prowess delivered the championship-winning moments, including the pivotal final goal.
The third title came in 2011, achieved with a 2-0 victory over Switzerland in Denmark. Ander Herrera opened the scoring with a header, and Thiago completed the tally with a late goal. The squad under Luis Milla featured De Gea in goal, a defensive line including Montoya, Botía, Domínguez, and Didac Vilá, and a midfield and attack that included Javi Martínez, Ander Herrera, Thiago, Mata, Muniain, and Adrián, with late substitutions by Parejo and others shaping the performance.
Delving into the details, Adrián López emerged as the top scorer of the tournament, while Thiago Alcántara earned recognition as the best player in the final. Mata contributed as the tournament’s top assist provider, underscoring a generation known for its technical flair and versatile forward play.
The fourth title arrived in 2013 under Julen Lopetegui, who had steered the team since 2012. Spain dominated the campaign, winning every match in the group stage and continuing with decisive wins through knockout rounds. The semi-final against Norway ended 3-0, and the final against Italy saw Spain fall 2-4, with Thiago scoring twice in the final. The UEFA technical team later highlighted Thiago’s leadership, ball control, and pivotal role in driving the team’s progression to continental glory.
Spain claimed a fifth title in 2019. After a challenging start in Poland 2017 under Albert Celades, the 2019 squad, guided by Luis de la Fuente, built a resilient path. The group stage began with a loss to Italy but included important victories that kept the campaign alive. The team’s dramatic 5-0 win in the knockout phase against Poland demonstrated dominance, setting the stage for a semi-final victory over France and a final against Germany at the Friuli Stadium in Udine. A powerful early strike by Fabián Ruiz, followed by Dani Olmo and Borja Mayoral’s goals, sealed the triumph and extended Spain’s U-21 dynasty.
Captaincy by Jesús Vallejo and Dani Ceballos crowned the moment as the team cemented its status among the competition’s most successful nations.
What is the list of winners of the European Sub-21?
- 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