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 (along with Spain) is the most successful nation in the history of the competition, with five Championships won (1992, 1994, 1996, 2000 and 2004). 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 (1–0) in the final. It was the first time they had won this tournament, previously their best had been runner-up on two occasions.
Honours UEFA European Under-21 Championship Winner: 1992, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2004 Runner-up: 1986, 2013
Summer Olympics Third place: 2004
Mediterranean Games Winner: 1997
Maurice Revello Tournament Winner: 2008 Third place: 2011, 2024
Competitive record
UEFA European Under-21 Championship record YearRoundGPWD*LGSGA 1978Quarter-finals201112 1980201113 1982201101 1984Semi-finals430143 1986Runners-up6330106 1988Quarter-finals201134 1990Semi-finals211254 1992Champions650192 1994421141 1996421142 1998 Did not qualify 2000Champions431083 2002Semi-finals412155 2004Champions5401104 2006Group stage311144 2007311154 2009Semi-finals421143 2011 Did not qualify 2013Runners-up531195 2015Group stage311143 2017Semi-finals420256 2019 Group stage320163 2021Quarter-finals412186 2023Group stage310245 2025Quarter-finals421154 2027To be determinedTotal23/258340212211883
Mediterranean Games Record YearRoundGPWD*LGSGA 1951 to 1991Senior and U23 tournament 1993Semifinals420254 1997Champions4310111 2001Runners-up430153 2005 to 2026U18/U19/U20/U23 tournamentTotal3/312813218 *Denotes draws including knockout matches decided on penalty kicks. Gold background color indicates first-place finish. Silver background color indicates second-place finish. Bronze background color indicates third-place finish. Red border color indicates tournament was held on home soil.
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 2019–2023: Paolo Nicolato 2023–2025: Carmine Nunziata 2025–present: Silvio Baldini
Coaching staff
PositionName Head coach Silvio Baldini Assistant coach Andrea Barzagli Technical assistant Mattia Baldini Diego Labricciosa Mauro Nardini Goalkeeping coach Stefano Pardini Fitness coach Vito Azzone Match analyst Gianluca Mazziotti Doctors Daniele Mazza Vincenzo Santoriello Physiotherapists Nicola Sanna Tommaso Cannata Source:
Results and fixtures The following is a list of matches played in the past 12 months and future matches that have been scheduled. Only official matches are listed.
2025
2026
Players Players born in 2004 or later are eligible for the 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. Players in bold have been already capped with the senior team.
Current squad The following players were called up for the 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification matches against Armenia and Poland on 1 and 5 October 2026 respectively.
Caps and goals as of 5 October 2026, after the match against Poland.
Recent call-ups Following are listed players called up in the previous twelve months who are still eligible to represent the under-21 team.
INJ Withdrew due to injury PRE Preliminary squad
Records Players in bold are still eligible to represent the Under-21 team. Caps and goals with the Olympic team are included.
Most appearances The following is the top 10 most capped under-21 players: RankPlayerPeriodCapsGoals 1Andrea Pirlo 1998–2002 46 162Marco Motta 2005–2009 42 13Francesco Bardi 2011–2015 37 0 4Matteo Brighi 2000–2004 35 25Daniele Bonera 2001–2004 34 0 6Matteo Ferrari 1999–2002 33 37Luca Marrone 2009–2013 32 1Alessandro Rosina 2004–2007 32 49Luca Caldirola 2010–2013 31 1Marco Donadel 2004–2006 31 1
Top goalscorers The following is the top 10 under-21 goalscorers: RankPlayerPeriodGoalsCapsRatio1Alberto Gilardino 19 30 0.632Andrea Pirlo 1998–2002 16 46 0.34 3Manolo Gabbiadini 2010–2013 12 24 0.54Massimo Maccarone 2000–2002 11 15 0.73Gianluca Vialli 1983–1986 11 20 0.55Patrick Cutrone 2017–2021 11 25 0.447Cristiano Lucarelli 1996–1997 10 10 1Robert Acquafresca 2007–2009 10 16 0.62Christian Vieri 1992–1996 10 19 0.5210Gianluca Scamacca 2018–2021 9 15 0.6Ciro Immobile 2009–2013 9 16 0.56Andrea Belotti 2013–2015 9 18 0.5Roberto Mancini 1982–1986 9 26 0.34Alberto Paloschi 2008–2013 9 29 0.31
See also Italy national football team Italy national under-20 football team UEFA European Under-21 Championship Football at the Summer Olympics
Notes
References
External links
Official website, Italian language Official website, English language The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation Contains full record of U-21/U-23 Championships.