Wales football team

men's association football team representing Wales

The Wales football team is the football team of Wales or the Welsh football team. Unlike England and Scotland, the Welsh football team is not the most followed version of the game. In Wales, the Welsh rugby team is the most followed. In this circumstance, it is not surprising that the Welsh football team is usually ranked lower than the English and Scottish teams.

Wales
Nickname(s)The Dragons (Welsh: Y Dreigiau)
AssociationFootball Association of Wales (FAW)
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Head coachRyan Giggs
CaptainAshley Williams
Most capsChris Gunter (93)
Top scorerGareth Bale (31)
Home stadiumCardiff City Stadium
FIFA codeWAL
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 28 Decrease 9 (22 December 2022)[1]
Highest8 (October 2015)
Lowest117 (August 2011)
First international
 Scotland 4–0 Wales 
(Glasgow, Scotland; 26 March 1876)
Biggest win
 Wales 11–0 Ireland 
(Wrexham, Wales; 3 March 1888)
Biggest defeat
 Scotland 9–0 Wales 
(Glasgow, Scotland; 23 March 1878)
World Cup
Appearances1 (first in 1958)
Best resultQuarter-finals, 1958
European Championship
Appearances1 (first in 2016)
Best resultSemi-finals, 2016

Recently, the team has been more highly ranked. The team recorded the biggest rise in the history of the FIFA World Rankings, moving from 117th in 2011 to 8th place in 2015.[3] They are also the smallest nation by population to ever reach the semi-finals of the UEFA European Championship, after reaching the UEFA Euro 2016 semi-finals.[4]

Most appearances change

As of 3 July 2016
# Name Wales career Caps Goals
1 Neville Southall 1982–1998 92 0
2 Gary Speed 1990–2004 85 7
3 Craig Bellamy 1998–2013 78 19
4 Dean Saunders 1986–2001 75 22
5 Peter Nicholas 1979–1991 73 2
= Ian Rush 1980–1996 73 28
7 Mark Hughes 1984–1999 72 16
= Joey Jones 1975–1986 72 1
= Chris Gunter 2007- 72 0
10 Ivor Allchurch 1950–1966 68 23

Top scorers change

As of 18 November 2020 (players still active in bold):
 
Gareth Bale is Wales' top goalscorer of all time
# Name Goals Matches Average
1 Gareth Bale 33 87 0.38
2 Ian Rush 28 73 0.38
3 Trevor Ford 23 38 0.61
Ivor Allchurch 23 68 0.34
5 Dean Saunders 22 75 0.29
6 Craig Bellamy 19 78 0.24
7 Robert Earnshaw 16 59 0.27
Cliff Jones 16 59 0.27
Mark Hughes 16 72 0.22
Aaron Ramsey 16 61 0.26

Managers change

Prior to 1954 the Welsh team was chosen by a panel of selectors with the team captain fulfilling the role of coach.

Name Career
  Walley Barnes 1954–1955
  Jimmy Murphy 1956–1964
  Dave Bowen 1964–1974
  Ronnie Burgess 1965 (caretaker manager for one match due to unavailability of Dave Bowen)
  Mike Smith 1974–1979
  Mike England 1979–1987
  David Williams 1988 (caretaker manager for one match)
  Terry Yorath 1988–1993
  John Toshack 1994
  Mike Smith 1994–1995
  Bobby Gould 1995–1999
  Neville Southall 1999 (caretaker manager for one match)
  Mark Hughes 1999–2004
  John Toshack 2004–2010
  Brian Flynn 2010 (caretaker manager for two matches)
  Gary Speed 2010–2011
  Chris Coleman 2012–present

References change

  1. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 22 December 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  2. Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 3 March 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  3. "Wales one behind Brazil in Fifa rankings; Northern Ireland 35th". BBC Sport. 1 October 2015.
  4. "Forget Denmark '92 and Greece '04, Wales can eclipse both Euro fairytales". Eurosport UK. 4 July 2016.