Netherlands national under-21 football team
National youth football team.
The Netherlands national under-21 football team, nicknamed Jong Oranje (Young Orange), represents the Netherlands in international under-21 football competitions. The team is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) and competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
The Dutch U21 team has a notable history in youth football, having won the UEFA European Under-21 Championship twice, in 2006 and 2007. Their success in these tournaments was particularly impressive, with players like Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, who became the top scorer and player of the 2006 tournament, breaking the all-time goalscoring record with 18 goals.
The team's competitive record in the UEFA U-21 Championship includes nine appearances since 1988, with their best results being the championship wins in 2006 and 2007. In recent years, they reached the semi-finals in 2013 and 2021, demonstrating their continued competitiveness at this level.
Currently, the team is coached by Michael Reiziger, with Quinten Timber serving as captain. Arnold Bruggink and Leroy Fer share the record for most caps with 31 appearances each, while Klaas-Jan Huntelaar holds the top scorer title with 18 goals.