Soviet Union national under-21 football team

The Soviet national youth football team was the under-21 football team of the Soviet Union. Before 1978 it was known as under-23 team. It ceased to exist on the breakup of the Union.

Nickname(s)Youth
(Russian: Молодежная, romanized: Molodyozhnaya)

AssociationFootball Federation of the Soviet Union

ConfederationUEFA (Europe)

Head coachBoris Ignatyev (last; 1991–1992)

Quick facts 1963–1991, Nickname(s) ...

Soviet Union U-21/23

1963–1991
Nickname(s)	Youth (Russian: Молодежная, romanized: Molodyozhnaya)
Association	Football Federation of the Soviet Union
Confederation	UEFA (Europe)
Head coach	Boris Ignatyev (last; 1991–1992)
FIFA code	URS
First colours Second colours
First international
Soviet Union (lads) 1–3 Soviet Union (youth)  (Moscow, Soviet Union; 21 May 1963)
Last international
Soviet Union 1–1 Italy  (Simferopol, Ukrainian SSR; 16 October 1991)
Biggest win
Soviet Union 6–0 Czechoslovakia  (Yerevan, Armenian SSR; 10 April 1974)
Biggest defeat
West Germany 5–0 Soviet Union  (Aachen, West Germany; 30 March 1982)
UEFA U-21 Championship
Appearances	3 (first in 1980)
Best result	Winners: 1976 (as U23) 1980 and 1990 (as U21)

Close

Following the realignment of UEFA's youth competitions in 1976, the Soviet Union Under-21 team was formed. The team had a good record, winning the competition twice, reaching the last four once, but failing to qualify for the last eight on five occasions.

After the dissolution of the Soviet Union (on 26 December 1991), the senior team played out its remaining fixtures, which were the finals of Euro 92. Because the Soviet Union U21s had, by 26 December, already failed to qualify for their version of the 1992 European Championship, the former Soviet states did not play as a combined team at under-21 level ever again.

Of the former Soviet states, only Russia entered the 1992–1994 competition. A total of 15 former Soviet states play international football today; 11 in Europe under UEFA, 4 in Asia under the AFC.