Spain national under-17 football team
National youth football team.
The Spain national under-17 football team, known as La Rojita (The Little Red One), represents Spain in international youth competitions and is governed by the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). The team is considered one of the strongest at the under-17 level, having participated in 10 FIFA U-17 World Cups since their debut in 1991. They have finished as runners-up on four occasions: in 1991, 2003, 2007, and 2017, holding the record for the most finals played without a championship win.
In the UEFA European Under-17 Championship, Spain has been particularly successful, winning the tournament three times: in 2007, 2008, and 2017. The team has also reached the finals on several other occasions, consistently demonstrating their competitive edge in European youth football.
Spain's U-17 team has produced notable players, including Abel Ruiz, who holds records for both the most caps (38) and goals (25) for the team. Their largest victory came in a remarkable 13-0 win against New Zealand in 1997, while their biggest defeat was a 1-6 loss to France in 2019.
The current head coach is Hernán Pérez, who leads a squad filled with young talents from various clubs across Spain. As they prepare for upcoming competitions, including future editions of both the FIFA U-17 World Cup and the UEFA U-17 Championship, there is optimism that La Rojita will continue to build on its rich legacy and contribute significantly to Spanish football's future success.