Italy national under-21 football team
The Italy national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Italy and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation.
The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, held every two years. Italy is the most successful nation in the history of the competition, with five Championships won. Italy has also been twice runner-up of the competition, in 1986 and 2013.
From 1990 to 2004 the team established near-total dominance of European Under-21 football, winning five of the seven tournaments.
Italy's Under-21s played the first match at the new Wembley Stadium, on 24 March 2007, against England Under-21s. The game resulted in a 3–3 draw, with Giampaolo Pazzini scoring all 3 goals for the Azzurrini.
Prior to the 2008 Olympic games, Italy U-21s went on to win the 2008 Toulon Tournament by beating Chile in the final. It was the first time they had won this tournament, previously their best had been runner-up on two occasions.
UEFA European Under-21 Championship
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, Italy's record in the preceding U-23 competitions is also shown.- 1972: Did not qualify. Finished 2nd of 3 in qualification group.
- 1974: Losing quarter-finalists.
- 1976: Did not qualify. Finished 2nd of 3 in qualification group.
UEFA U-21 Championship Record">UEFA European Under-21 Championship">UEFA U-21 Championship Record
Olympics football Record
Since 1992 Olympic football changed to a U-23 event, and the European U-21 teams are technically U-23 teams. European national teams qualify for the Olympic football tournament through the UEFA European U-21 Championship.- Before 1992: See Italy national football team
- 1992: Losing quarter-finalists
- 1996: Group stage
- 2000: Losing quarter-finalists
- 2004: Bronze Medal
- 2008: Losing quarter-finalists
- 2012: Did not qualify
- 2016: Did not qualify
- 2020: Did not qualify
Mediterranean Games Record
- 1993: 4th place
- 1997: Winners
- 2001: a U20 event
- 2005: filled with B team
Honours
- UEFA European Under-21 Championship
Coaches
- 1976–1986: Azeglio Vicini
- 1986–1996: Cesare Maldini
- 1996–1997: Rossano Giampaglia
- 1997–2000: Marco Tardelli
- 2000–2006: Claudio Gentile
- 2006–2010: Pierluigi Casiraghi
- 2010–2012: Ciro Ferrara
- 2012–2013: Devis Mangia
- 2013–2019: Luigi Di Biagio
- 2019–present: Paolo Nicolato
Coaching staff
Position | Name |
Head Coach | Paolo Nicolato |
Assistant Coach | Mirco Gasparetto |
Goalkeeping Coach | Matteo Mareggini |
Team Manager | Massimo Paganin |
Athletic Trainers | Vincenzo Pincolini |
Match Analyst | Francesco Bordin |
Doctors | Angelo De Carli Vincenzo Santoriello |
Physiotherapists | Nicola Sanna Emiliano Bozzetti |
Physiologist | Christian Osgnach |
Accompanying Manager | Vincenzo Marinelli |
Secretary | Manfredi Martino |
Recent results and forthcoming fixtures
Only official matches are listed.2019
2020
Players
Players born in 1998 or later are eligible for the 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. Players in bold have been already capped with the senior team.Current squad
The following players have been called up the UEFA Euro 2021 qualifying matches against Iceland on 16 November 2019 and Armenia on 19 November 2019.Caps and goals updated as of 19 November 2019, after the match against Armenia.
Recent call-ups
Following are listed players called up in the previous 12 months that are still eligible to represent the Under-21 team.Records
Top appearances
Top goalscorers
- Caps and goals correct as of 1 April 2020