The role of a Wales national football team manager was first established in 1876, when the Wales national football team was established, and the team was chosen by a panel of selectors. The team captain would at that point fulfil the role of match day coach. Since 1954 a manager has been appointed by the Football Association of Wales.
Sixteen men have occupied the post since its inception; four more acted in short-term caretaker manager roles: Brian Flynn (two games in charge), Trevor Morris (one game), David Williams (one game), and Neville Southall (one game), alongside Mark Hughes.
The longest serving manager is Dave Bowen, who was manager for ten years before leaving in 1974. Bowen was in charge of the team for fifty-three games, winning ten. However, his win percentage of 20% is the lowest of all Wales managers. The most successful manager in terms of wins was John Toshack. Wales has never had a non-British manager but Mike Smith became the first English manager to lead Wales in 1974.
Jimmy Murphy, Chris Coleman and Rob Page are the only managers to have taken the team to any FIFA World Cup or UEFA European Championship finals. Murphy led his team to the 1958 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals, where they were knocked out by Brazil. Coleman led his team to the UEFA Euro 2016 semi-finals, where they were knocked out by eventual winners Portugal. Under Coleman, Wales peaked at eighth in the FIFA world rankings.
Position
Role The Wales manager's role means he has sole responsibility for all on-the-field elements of the Wales team. Among other activities, this includes selecting the national team, starting lineup, captain, tactics, substitutes, and penalty-takers. Before 1954 a "panel of selectors" would manage all issues barring the actual match day team selection, formation, and tactics, which was left to the head coach for the event.
The manager is given a free hand in selecting his coaching ("back room") staff. The Wales manager may also involve himself in wider issues beyond the on-the-field team issues. On a more tactical level, a host of other details can be influenced. For example, former manager Ryan Giggs was given the choice by the FAW Chief Executive of whether to play fixtures at the team's current ground (the Cardiff City Stadium) or its previous venue (the Millennium Stadium).
The national team manager is tasked with the role of continuing the club like relationship between players and fans, first brought in by Gary Speed.It is now part of the “Welsh Way”, which former assistant manager, Osian Roberts brought in via the FAW Coaching Program. It is taught to numerous of former players or aspiring coaches sitting their coaching badges with the FAW.
Appointment The current process of appointing a new Wales manager is through an FAW panel, consisting of the CEO and six members of the board.
List of managers Caretaker manager is indicated with a (c). BOLD names indicates that the manager has taken the team to a FIFA World Cup or UEFA European Championship finals.
ImageNationalityNamePlayer capsStart yearEnd yearFirst gameFinal gamePldWinsDrawsLossGoalsforGoalsagainstWin%221954 1956 9 May 1954 vs 11 Apr 1956 vs 151956 1964 20 Oct 1956 vs 20 Nov 1963 vs (c)01964196415 Apr 1964 vs 191964 1974 3 Oct 1964 vs 18 May 1974 vs 53 10 13 30 49 84 20N/A1974 1979 4 Sep 1974 vs 21 Nov 1979 vs 441980 1987 17 Mar 1980 vs 11 Nov 1987 vs 56 21 18 17 68 52 38 (c)51988198823 Mar 1988 vs 591988 1993 27 Apr 1988 vs 17 Nov 1993 vs 40199419949 Mar 1994 vs N/A1994 1995 20 Apr 1994 vs 6 Sep 1995 vs N/A1995 1999 11 Oct 1995 vs 5 June 1999 vs & (c)72 92199919999 June 1999 vs 721999 2004 4 Sep 1999 vs 13 Oct 2004 vs 402005 2010 9 Feb 2005 vs 3 Sep 2010 vs 53 22 8 23 61 56 42 (c)6620102010 8 Oct 2010 vs 12 Oct 2010 vs 852010 2011 8 Feb 2011 v 12 Nov 2011 v 322012 2017 29 Feb 2012 v 14 Nov 2017 v 6420182022 22 Mar 2018 v 14 Oct 2020 v 4120202024 12 Nov 2020 v 9 Jun 2024 v 7820246 September 2024 v
Managers at the World Cup/European Championship finals Final Manager Pld Win(s) Draw(s) Loss(s) Goals for Goals against Position 1958 Sweden 5 1 3 1 4 4 Quarter-finals2016 France6402106 Semi-finals2020 Europe411236 Round of 16 2022 Qatar 3 0 1 2 1 6 Group stage
Draws also include penalties.
References