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.

Soviet Union U-21/23

Nickname(s)	-
Association	Football Federation of the Soviet Union
Head coach	-
Most caps	?
Top scorer	?
First colours Second colours
First international
Spain 1–2 Soviet Union (Málaga, Spain; 30 March 1971) 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 U-23), 1980 & 1990

Following the realignment of UEFA's youth competitions in 1976, the USSR 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 USSR (on 26 December 1991), the senior team played out its remaining fixtures, which were the finals of Euro 92. Because the USSR U-21s had, by 26 December, already failed to qualify for their version of the 1992 European Championship, the former Soviet states didn't play as a combined team at U-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.

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. USSR's unparalleled record in U-23 competitions is also shown.