Italy national under-21 football team

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


 * Mediterranean Games
 * Winner: 1997


 * Maurice Revello Tournament
 * Winner: 2008
 * Third place: 2011, 2024


 * Summer Olympics
 * Third place: 2004

UEFA European Under-21 Championship
Since the under-21 competition rules insist that players must be 21 or under at the start of a two-year competition, technically it is an U-23 competition. For this reason, Italy's record in the preceding U-23 competitions is also shown.
 * 1972: Did not qualify. Finished 2nd of 3 in qualification group.
 * 1974: Losing quarter-finalists.
 * 1976: Did not qualify. Finished 2nd of 3 in qualification group.

UEFA U-21 Championship Record

 * *Red border colour indicates tournament was held on home soil.

Olympics football Record
Since 1992 Olympic football changed to a U-23 event, and the European U-21 teams are technically U-23 teams. European national teams qualify for the Olympic football tournament through the UEFA European U-21 Championship.


 * Before 1992: See Italy national football team
 * 1992: Quarter-finals
 * 1996: Group stage
 * 2000: Quarter-finals
 * 2004: Bronze medal
 * 2008: Quarter-finals
 * 2012: Did not qualify
 * 2016: Did not qualify
 * 2020: Did not qualify
 * 2024: Did not qualify

Mediterranean Games Record
Mediterranean Games Football tournament was U-23 event in 1993 and 1997.
 * 1993: 4th place
 * 1997: Winners
 * 2001: a U20 event
 * 2005: filled with B team

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–present: Carmine Nunziata

Coaching staff
Current technical staff:

Recent results and forthcoming fixtures
Only official matches are listed.

Players
Players born in 2002 or later are eligible for the 2025 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 2024 Toulon Tournament.

Caps and goals as of 13 June 2024, after the match against France U20.

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

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:

Top goalscorers
The following is the top 10 under-21 goalscorers: