Wikipedia

Wales football team

men's association football team representing Wales
(Redirected from Wales national football team)

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]

In April 2017, Jess Fishlock became the first player to earn 100 caps for the Wales national football team.[5]

Most appearances

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Men's team

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As of 6 April 2024
Rank Player Years Caps Goals
1 Gareth Bale 2006–2022 111 41
2 Chris Gunter 2007–2022 109 0
Wayne Hennessey 2007–present 109 0
4 Neville Southall 1982–1997 92 0
5 Ashley Williams 2008–2019 86 2
Ben Davies 2012–present 86 2
6 Gary Speed 1990–2004 85 7
8 Aaron Ramsey 2008–present 84 21
9 Craig Bellamy 1998–2013 78 19
10 Joe Ledley 2005–2018 77 4

Women's team

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In April 2017, Jess Fishlock became the first player to earn 100 caps for the Wales national football team.[5]
As of 6 April 2024
# Player Years Caps Goals
1 Jess Fishlock 2006–present 149 42
2 Sophie Ingle 2009–present 120 3
3 Loren Dykes 2007–2021[6] 105 3
4 Helen Ward 2008–2023 105 44
5 Angharad James 2011–present 102 4
6 Tash Harding 2008–present 100 26

Top scorers

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Men's team

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As of 6 April 2024 (players still active in bold):
 
Gareth Bale is Wales' men's top goalscorer of all time
# Name Goals Matches Average
1 Gareth Bale 41 111 0.37
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 Aaron Ramsey 21 84 0.25
7 Craig Bellamy 19 78 0.24
8 Robert Earnshaw 16 59 0.27
Cliff Jones 16 59 0.27
Mark Hughes 16 72 0.22

Women's team

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As of 6 April 2024 (players still active in bold):
# Name Goals Matches Average
1 Helen Ward 44 105 0.43
2 Jess Fishlock 42 149 0.28

Managers

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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

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  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.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Mitchelmore, Ian (5 April 2017). "Jess Fishlock becomes first player to hit 100-cap milestone as Wales Women beat Northern Ireland at Ystrad Mynach". WalesOnline. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  6. ↑ "LOREN DYKES RETIRES FROM PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL". FA Wales. 8 February 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
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