Five Players Who Launched Their Careers at the U21 Euros

As the Under-21 European Championships approach, we reflect on five players whose ascent to stardom began at this prestigious tournament.

This competition has been graced by many emerging talents who have already made their mark as some of the world’s best young footballers, often dazzling crowds as expected. However, for others, it has signified a pivotal moment in their careers.

Since gaining prominence in the 1990s and evolving into a month-long event hosted by a single nation, much like other major international tournaments, it has become a launching pad for numerous aspiring stars.

Andrea Pirlo emerged as one of Italy’s greatest footballers, but at the dawn of the new millennium, few could have predicted his future. He entered the U21 EURO 2000 after a fairly average season on loan at Reggina from Inter, where he struggled to solidify his place.

In Slovakia, however, Pirlo showcased his immense potential. As the captain of Italy, he impressed throughout the tournament, netting two goals in the final against the Czech Republic, including a signature free-kick that helped secure the title for his country. His remarkable performance earned him the Player of the Tournament award.

Despite returning to Inter without a guaranteed starting position, Pirlo’s newfound reputation facilitated a mid-season loan to Brescia, where his life took a transformative turn.

Shifted from a number 10 role to a deep-lying playmaker, partly due to the presence of Italian legend Roberto Baggio, he thrived in his new position, leading to a €17 million transfer to AC Milan at the end of the season.

Petr Čech was already Sparta Prague’s first-choice goalkeeper and a Czech international prior to U21 EURO 2002, having earned his first cap just three months before the tournament. However, his performance during his nation’s title run in Switzerland catapulted him to international fame.

In the final against a formidable French team, which had previously defeated the Czechs 2-0 in their opening match, Čech delivered an outstanding display, keeping a clean sheet for 120 minutes. He then made two crucial saves in the penalty shootout, securing his nation’s first-ever youth title.

France’s manager, Raymond Domenech, remarked, “They had a great goalkeeper, great not only in size but also in the way he played, and that made the difference.” This performance caught the attention of Rennes, who signed him in the summer.

Čech quickly asserted himself as Rennes’ goalkeeper and, just two years later, earned a move to Chelsea, where he etched his place in football history.

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar came into U21 EURO 2006 determined to make a statement after being overlooked for the senior squad at the World Cup, despite being named Ajax’s Player of the Season and the Netherlands’ Talent of the Year shortly after joining the Amsterdam club. And he certainly made an impact.

The striker was the standout player of the tournament, scoring four goals, including two in the final and a stunning lob over France’s Steve Mandanda in the semi-finals. The Oranje emerged as champions, and Huntelaar received the Player of the Tournament accolade.

Following that triumph, he became Ajax’s vice-captain and caught the eye of national team manager Marco van Basten, contributing two goals and two assists on his debut against the Republic of Ireland. Despite competition from established stars like Ruud van Nistelrooy and Robin van Persie, he cemented his place in the squad and became Ajax’s chief star.

After two brilliant seasons in the Eredivisie and a noteworthy performance at EURO 2008, he signed with Real Madrid.

Manuel Neuer, who would come to be regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers ever, laid the groundwork for his career at Bayern Munich during his performances at U21 EURO 2009.

Representing Schalke at the time, Neuer conceded just one goal in five matches throughout Germany’s title run, with a particularly impressive showing in the semi-final against Italy, where he made remarkable saves to thwart Mario Balotelli and Thiago Motta.

“I believe that Manuel Neuer is interested in coming to FC Bayern. Should Schalke give us a signal that they are ready to talk, we will start negotiations,” Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge stated during the tournament. Following such impressive displays, Bayern intensified their pursuit.

While Schalke retained Neuer for an additional two seasons, Bayern finally acquired him in 2011.

Another standout from the tournament was Xherdan Shaqiri, who caught Bayern’s attention with his dazzling performances in the 2011 edition.

Making his mark on the bigger stage, the Basel winger scored once—one of his many spectacular goals—during Switzerland’s unexpected run to the final. He posed a constant threat to defenders and was named in the Team of the Tournament.

Just six months later, he completed a transfer from Basel to Bayern for around €12 million and went on to enjoy a decade of success at the top levels of European football with clubs such as Inter, Liverpool, and Lyon.