Wales 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)
Association	Football Association of Wales (FAW)
Confederation	UEFA (Europe)
Head coach	Ryan Giggs
Captain	Ashley Williams
Most caps	Chris Gunter (93)
Top scorer	Gareth Bale (31)
Home stadium	Cardiff City Stadium
FIFA code	WAL
First colours Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	28 9 (22 December 2022)[1]
Highest	8 (October 2015)
Lowest	117 (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
Appearances	1 (first in 1958)
Best result	Quarter-finals, 1958
European Championship
Appearances	1 (first in 2016)
Best result	Semi-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.^[2] 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.^[3]

In April 2017, Jess Fishlock became the first player to earn 100 caps for the Wales national football team.^[4]

Most appearances

Men's team

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

In April 2017, Jess Fishlock became the first player to earn 100 caps for the Wales national football team.^[4]

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[5]	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

Men's team

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

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

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

1. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 22 December 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
2. "Wales one behind Brazil in Fifa rankings; Northern Ireland 35th". BBC Sport. 1 October 2015.
3. "Forget Denmark '92 and Greece '04, Wales can eclipse both Euro fairytales". Eurosport UK. 4 July 2016.
4. 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.
5. "LOREN DYKES RETIRES FROM PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL". FA Wales. 8 February 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.