Nickname(s) | La Roja (The Red One) La Furia Roja (The Red Fury) [1] | ||
---|---|---|---|
Association | Royal Spanish Football Federation (Real Federación Española de Fútbol – RFEF) | ||
Confederation | UEFA (Europe) | ||
Head coach | Santi Denia | ||
Most caps | Luis Enrique (14) | ||
Top scorer | Kiko (7) | ||
FIFA code | ESP | ||
| |||
First international | |||
Yugoslavia 3–0 Spain (Novi Sad, Yugoslavia; 18 June 1969) | |||
Biggest win | |||
Spain 5–0 Libya (El Ejido, Spain; 1 July 2005) | |||
Biggest defeat | |||
Argentina 4–0 Spain (Birmingham, United States; 27 July 1996) Records for competitive matches only. | |||
Olympic Games | |||
Appearances | 5 (first in 1992) | ||
Best result | Gold medalists (1992) | ||
Mediterranean Games | |||
Appearances | 4 (first in 1997 ) | ||
Best result | Gold medalists (2005, 2009, 2018) | ||
The Spain Olympic football team (also known as Spain Under-23, or Spain U-23) represents Spain in international football competitions in the Olympic Games. The selection is limited to players under the age of 23, except for the Olympics which allows the men's team up to three overage players. The team is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation. Having qualified for five Olympic competitions since 1992, Spain has won one gold medal (1992) and two silver medals (2000 and 2020). It is one of the most successful Olympic teams.
Unlike later tournaments, the Summer Olympics used to be represented by senior or amateur teams. Spain's first participation in the Olympics was in Antwerp, Belgium, in 1920. Fourteen teams entered the competition which was organized on a knockout basis. Twelve teams entered the first round, with the six winners joining the host nation (Belgium) and France, in the quarter-finals. Czechoslovakia, participating in their first international tournament, cruised to the final, inflicting heavy defeats on Yugoslavia (who played their first ever international match in the competition), Norway, and France. Belgium beat a talented Spain and then the Netherlands on their way to the final. Belgium won the gold medal by default after Czechoslovakia walked off in protest during the final, unhappy with the performance of the English referee, John Lewis. The Bergvall System was used to determine second and third places. The beaten quarter-finalists played-off, Spain emerged triumphant overcoming Sweden 2–1 and Italy 2–0. Ordinarily, Spain would then have played the beaten finalists, but Czechoslovakia had been disqualified from the tournament. Spain thus advanced straight to the silver medal match against Holland, beaten in the semi-finals by gold medallists Belgium. Spain won 3–1.
1924 was not as successful, Spain bowed out of competition in the first round after losing to Italy 1–0.
At the 1928 Summer Olympics things would go from good to worse. Spain were, potentially, much to be feared. Defeated once since the last Olympic Games tournament their traditional tournament nerves would handicap them here, a key note that would strike throughout the coming years. The unavoidable loss of their experienced captain Pedro Vallana after their first game, though, would cost them dearly. Spain started with a 7–1 win over Mexico, then a 1–1 draw against Italy which would cause the match to go on a reply. There Spain were eventually eliminating with a 1–7 defeat.
Spain would not compete in another Olympic tournament until the 1968 edition held in Mexico. There the team fielded an under-21 amateur squad and reached the quarter-finals, losing only to the host nation. Meanwhile, communist nations entered their top professional teams using a loophole in the rules.
The team's final two tournaments came in 1976 and 1980, where they failed to make it out of the group stage, being powerless against first teams of the Eastern Bloc.
The football competition at the 1992 Summer Olympics was the first under-23 competition. Spain were awarded a place at the tournament because they were the host nation. Expectations were high for the Spanish team and they did not disappoint: The team was able to win their first gold medal after winning their group stage, defeating long-time rivals Italy in the quarter-finals and lastly Poland in the finals, 3–2.
Spain were able to qualify for the following Olympics, managed by then coach Javier Clemente. La Rojita failed to repeat their past success and were eliminated in the quarter-finals by eventual runners-up Argentina.
Spain qualified for their third consecutive tournament in 2000. The squad, managed by head coach Iñaki Sáez, reached their second final but were not able to take gold, losing to Cameroon. Spain had a 2–0 lead at half time but things changed in the second half when an own goal from Iván Amaya (who also missed a penalty), and a goal from Samuel Eto'o five minutes later, levelled the scores at 2–2. The score was unchanged after extra time and the match was decided via penalty shootout, with Spain losing 5–3.
After eight years without participation, Spain qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympics after winning the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship under head coach Luis Milla. They were scheduled to play against Japan, Morocco and Honduras in the group stage. Before the start of the tournament, Spain scheduled three friendly matches against teams that would be competing at the Olympics: The first was a 3–1 victory over Egypt, followed by a 2–0 defeat against Senegal and a 1–0 victory over Mexico five days later. At the Olympics, Spain was eliminated in the group stage after falling shockingly 1–0 to Japan and a controversial loss to Honduras. This was followed by a 0–0 draw to Morocco, forcing Spain's exit from the tournament at the group stage for the first time, and without scoring a single goal. Luis Milla was sacked from both the under-23 and under-21 teams the following day and replaced by Julen Lopetegui.
Spain qualified to the 2020 Olympics after winning the 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. Six Spanish players: Unai Simón, Pau Torres, Eric García, Pedri, Mikel Oyarzabal and Dani Olmo who had participated in the UEFA Euro 2020 played a major role for Spain in the 2020 Olympics under coach Luis de la Fuente. La Rojita reached the final, but they lost 2–1 against Brazil after extra time. [3]
The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
Win Draw Lose Fixture
17 July Kirin Challenge Cup (Under-24) | Japan | 1–1 | Spain | Hyogo, Japan |
19:20 UTC+9 |
| Source (JFA) Report (JFA) |
| Stadium: Noevir Stadium Kobe Attendance: 4,909 Referee: Yusuke Araki (Japan) |
22 July 2020 Summer Olympics GS Group C | Egypt | 0–0 | Spain | Sapporo, Japan |
16:30 UTC+9 | Report (FIFA) | Stadium: Sapporo Dome Referee: Adham Makhadmeh (Jordan) |
25 July 2020 Summer Olympics GS Group C | Australia | 0–1 | Spain | Sapporo, Japan |
19:30 UTC+9 | Report (FIFA) |
| Stadium: Sapporo Dome Referee: Bamlak Tessema Weyesa (Ethiopia) |
28 July 2020 Summer Olympics GS Group C | Spain | 1–1 | Argentina | Saitama, Japan |
20:00 UTC+9 |
| Report (FIFA) |
| Stadium: Saitama Stadium 2002 Referee: Ismail Elfath (United States) |
31 July 2020 Summer Olympics Quarter-finals | Spain | 5–2 (a.e.t.) | Ivory Coast | Rifu, Japan |
17:00 UTC+9 | Stadium: Miyagi Stadium Referee: Jesus Valenzuela (Venezuela) |
3 August 2020 Summer Olympics Semi-finals | Japan | 0–1 (a.e.t.) | Spain | Saitama, Japan |
20:00 UTC+9 | Report |
| Stadium: Saitama Stadium 2002 Referee: Kevin Ortega (Peru) |
7 August 2020 Summer Olympics Final | Brazil | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | Spain | Yokohama, Japan |
20:30 UTC+9 | Report |
| Stadium: International Stadium Yokohama Referee: Chris Beath (Australia) |
Rank | Player | Club(s) | Year(s) | U-23 Caps |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Luis Enrique | Sporting Gijón, Real Madrid | 1991–1992 | 14 |
2 | Mikel Lasa | Real Sociedad, Real Madrid | 1991–1992 | 13 |
3 | Abelardo | Sporting Gijón | 1991–1992 | 12 |
Pep Guardiola | Barcelona | 1991–1992 | 12 | |
Kiko | Cádiz | 1991–1992 | 12 | |
Roberto Solozábal | Atlético Madrid | 1991–1992 | 12 | |
7 | Alfonso | Real Madrid | 1991–1992 | 11 |
Paco Soler | Mallorca | 1991–1992 | 11 | |
9 | Joaquín | Sporting Gijón | 1979–1982 | 8 |
Juan Manuel Asensi | Elche, Barcelona | 1969–1971 | 8 | |
Rafael Berges | Córdoba, Tenerife | 1991–1992 | 8 | |
Toni | Figueres | 1992 | 8 | |
Antonio Pinilla | Mallorca | 1991–1992 | 8 | |
Note:Club(s) represents the permanent clubs during the player's time in the Under-23s.
Rank | Player | Club(s) | Year(s) | U-23 Goals |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Kiko | Cádiz | 1991–1992 | 7 |
2 | Alfonso | Real Madrid | 1991–1992 | 6 |
3 | Abelardo | Sporting Gijón | 1991–1992 | 5 |
4 | Ramón Vázquez | Sevilla | 1987–1988 | 4 |
5 | Gabri | Barcelona | 2000 | 3 |
Luis Enrique | Sporting Gijón, Real Madrid | 1991–1992 | 3 | |
Mikel Oyarzabal | Real Sociedad | 2021 | 3 | |
Carles Rexach | Condal, Barcelona | 1967–1970 | 3 | |
José Mari | Milan | 2000 | 3 | |
Rafa Mir | Wolverhampton | 2021 | 3 | |
Vavá | Elche | 1967 | 3 | |
Note:Club(s) represents the permanent clubs during the player's time in the Under-23s.
The following players were named to the squad for the 2020 Summer Olympics. [4]
Players who were also called up for Euro 2020 are marked with asterisk (*).
Tournament | Player 1 | Player 2 | Player 3 |
---|---|---|---|
did not select | |||
did not select | |||
Juan Mata (MF) | Javi Martínez (MF) | Adrián López (FW) | |
Mikel Merino (MF) | Dani Ceballos (MF) | Marco Asensio (FW) |
Olympic Games record | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Host | Round | Pos. | Pld. | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
1900 | Did not enter | |||||||||
1904 | ||||||||||
1908 | ||||||||||
1912 | ||||||||||
1920 | Silver medalists | 2nd | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 5 | ||
1924 | First round | 17th | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||
1928 | Quarter-finals | 6th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 9 | ||
1936 | Withdrew | |||||||||
1948 | Did not qualify | |||||||||
1952 | ||||||||||
1956 | ||||||||||
1960 | ||||||||||
1964 | ||||||||||
1968 | Quarter-finals | 5th | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | ||
1972 | Did not qualify | |||||||||
1976 | Group stage | 13th | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | ||
1980 | Group stage | 10th | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | ||
1984 | Did not qualify | |||||||||
1988 | ||||||||||
1992 | Gold medalists | 1st | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 2 | ||
1996 | Quarter-finals | 6th | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 | ||
2000 | Silver medalists | 2nd | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 6 | ||
2004 | Did not qualify | |||||||||
2008 | ||||||||||
2012 | Group stage | 14th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | ||
2016 | Did not qualify | |||||||||
2020 | Silver medalists | 2nd | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 5 | ||
2024 | Qualified | |||||||||
2028 | to be determined | |||||||||
2032 | ||||||||||
Total | 1–3–0 | 12/30 | 43 | 22 | 10 | 11 | 65 | 44 |
This was competed for on a basis similar to a boxing title belt. The holders played a randomly chosen opponent for the championship.
Date | Winners | Runners-up | Venue |
18 June 1969 | Yugoslavia | Spain | Novi Sad, Yugoslavia |
Year | Round | GP | W | D | L | GS | GA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1972 | Qualifying stage | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
1974 | did not enter | ||||||
1976 | |||||||
Total | 0/3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Mediterranean Games record | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA |
2005 | Gold medalists | 1st | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 1 |
Total | 1 Gold medal | 1/1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 1 |
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