The Football Association of Wales (FAW) celebrates 150 years of Welsh football in 2026 and supporters across the nation are being offered the opportunity to help shape history by voting for the Cymru All-Time XI (1876–2026).
Since 1876, more than 700 players have had the honour of wearing the Welsh Draig on their chest. Now it’s your chance to decide which legends deserve a place in the ultimate Cymru XI.
Working alongside leading Welsh football historians, the FAW has created a shortlist of iconic players whose contributions have helped define generations of Welsh football.
Supporters can cast their votes to choose their greatest-ever XI in the traditional 4-4-2 formation selecting 11 players. The full shortlist of nominees along with a snippet about them and their careers is listed below.
To have your say, simply vote inside the article or follow the Campaign link to begin choosing your line-up. And don’t forget to share your all-time Cymru XI on social media to join fans across Wales in celebrating 150 years. Pick your team and be entered in to a prize draw to win a shirt signed by our Cymru Men’s National Team.
Cymru All-Time XI
Goalkeeper
Dai Davies was Cymru’s most-capped goalkeeper for many years, winning 52 caps between 1975 and 1982. Born in Glanamman, Davies enjoyed a 17-year club career that included spells with Swansea City, Everton, Tranmere Rovers, Bangor City and Wrexham, as well as two spells at the Vetch Field.
Jack Kelsey won 41 caps between 1954 and 1962 and was Cymru’s goalkeeper at the 1958 World Cup, helping the side reach the quarter-finals before Brazil ended their run. A legendary Arsenal figure, Kelsey made 327 league appearances and 548 in all competitions during 13 years in north London.
Leigh Roose was one of the great pioneers of goalkeeping, winning 24 caps between 1900 and 1911 and captaining his country. Regarded as one of the finest players of his era, Roose was known for his adventurous style and bravery. That courage was later displayed during the First World War, when he rescued a wounded comrade under heavy fire.
Neville Southall won 92 caps between 1982 and 1999 and held the record for Cymru appearances until it was surpassed by Chris Gunter. He also kept a record 385 minutes without conceding an international goal. A legend at Everton, Southall won two First Division titles and two FA Cups during a hugely successful club career.
Wayne Hennessey is Cymru’s record men’s goalkeeper, winning 109 caps between 2007 and 2023. He played a key role in the historic EURO 2016 campaign and in the victory over Ukraine that ended Cymru’s 64-year wait to qualify for the World Cup. A long-serving Premier League goalkeeper with Wolves, Crystal Palace, Burnley and Nottingham Forest, Hennessey also surpassed Southall’s appearance and clean-sheet records for his country.
Right-Back
Chris Gunter is the most-capped player on the right-back shortlist, winning 109 caps between 2007 and 2022. The former Reading and Tottenham Hotspur defender featured at EURO 2016 and was named in the squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and remains Cymru’s second-most-capped men’s player.
Mark Delaney won 36 caps between 1999 and 2006 and made more than 150 appearances for Aston Villa during a distinguished club career. He also featured for Carmarthen Town in the Novira Cymru Premier.
Mark Bowen made 41 appearances for Cymru between 1986 and 1997, with much of his club career spent at Norwich City.
Rod Thomas won 50 caps from 1967 to 1977. Thomas spent the majority of his career at Swindon Town, but also played for Derby County and Cardiff City, and was part of the Derby County side that won the First Division title in 1974-75.
Stuart Williams, who won 43 caps between 1954 and 1965 and played in all three of Cymru’s group matches at the 1958 World Cup. Williams made a lasting impression on Brazil great Pele, who later included him among the players he fondly remembered from the quarter-final between the two nations.
Centre-Back
There are 10 centre-backs in contention for the Cymru All-Time XI, with fans able to select two players for the heart of the defence.
Ben Davies is the most-capped player on the shortlist, reaching 100 appearances since making his debut in 2012. A product of Swansea City’s academy, Davies has spent the past 12 years at Tottenham Hotspur and has become a senior figure for Cymru, taking on the captaincy following the international retirements of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey. He also produced one of the defining moments of EURO 2016, making a crucial goal-line block in the opening victory over Slovakia.
Andy Melville won 65 caps between 1989 and 2004 and spent much of his club career with Sunderland, Swansea City, Oxford United and Fulham. He scored three international goals, including twice against San Marino, and started Cymru’s first match at the Millennium Stadium.
Chris Coleman made 32 appearances for Cymru between 1992 and 2002, enjoying long spells with Swansea City, Crystal Palace and Fulham. He later moved into management and guided Cymru to EURO 2016, where his side reached the semi-finals after producing one of the greatest tournament runs in the nation’s history.
Danny Gabbidon earned 49 caps between 2002 and 2014, making the majority of his club appearances for Cardiff City. He also played in the Premier League with West Ham, Queens Park Rangers and Crystal Palace.
Fred Keenor was a Cardiff City legend, making more than 400 appearances for the club and captaining the Bluebirds to FA Cup and Welsh Cup success. He won 32 caps between 1920 and 1932 and was part of Cymru sides that won the British Home Championship in 1920 and 1924.
James Collins won 51 caps between 2004 and 2016, with his final appearance coming in the EURO 2016 semi-final defeat by Portugal. The defender played for Cardiff City, West Ham and Aston Villa during his club career.
Kevin Ratcliffe earned 59 caps between 1981 and 1993 and spent 12 years at Everton, making more than 400 appearances for the club. A commanding presence at the back, Ratcliffe was a key figure for both club and country during his career.
Mark Aizlewood won 39 caps between 1986 and 1994, playing for clubs including Charlton Athletic, Leeds United, Bristol City and Cardiff City. He later moved into management, taking charge of Carmarthen Town in the Novira Cymru Premier.
Mike England represented Cymru 44 times between 1962 and 1974, spending much of his club career with Tottenham Hotspur before a spell with Seattle Sounders in the United States. He later managed Cymru for eight years and came close to guiding the nation to the 1982 and 1986 World Cups, as well as EURO 1984.
Left-Back
Alf Sherwood won 41 caps between 1946 and 1956 and enjoyed an outstanding club career, making more than 350 appearances for Cardiff City and over 200 for Newport County. He played in all three of Cymru’s matches during the 1951-52 British Championship campaign, which ended with Cymru sharing the title with England, and later captained his country to a famous 2-1 victory over England in front of 60,000 fans at Ninian Park. Sherwood was inducted into the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame in 2006.
Joey Jones earned 72 caps between 1975 and 1986 and became a hugely popular figure for both club and country. The Wrexham-born defender played for Wrexham, Liverpool and Chelsea, winning two top-flight titles and two European Cups during his time at Anfield. At the time of his death, Jones was joint-15th on Cymru’s all-time appearance list alongside Mark Hughes.
Mel Hopkins won 34 caps between 1956 and 1963 and was part of the squad that represented Cymru at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, where Cymru reached the quarter-finals before narrowly losing to Brazil. His club career was largely spent at Tottenham Hotspur, where he made more than 200 appearances, and he received a merit award from the Football Association of Wales in 2003.
Neil Taylor made 43 appearances for Cymru between 2010 and 2019, beginning his club career at Wrexham before establishing himself in the Premier League with Swansea City and Aston Villa. He finished his career at Middlesbrough and was a key figure at EURO 2016, playing every minute as Cymru reached their first major tournament semi-final. Taylor also scored in the famous 3-0 victory over Russia.
Ron Burgess won 32 caps between 1946 and 1956 and spent two decades with Tottenham Hotspur before finishing his playing career with Swansea City. He later returned to the club as manager, adding another chapter to a career that saw him become an important figure for both club and country.
Right-Midfield
Gareth Bale is the standout modern-day name, winning 111 caps and scoring a record 41 goals between 2006 and 2022. Cymru’s all-time appearance maker and leading goalscorer, Bale enjoyed a glittering club career with Real Madrid, winning five Champions League titles and three league titles, while becoming the defining figure of a golden generation for Welsh football.
Billy Meredith was one of the early superstars of the game, winning 48 caps for Cymru between 1895 and 1920. The legendary winger played for both Manchester City and Manchester United and helped Cymru win the Home Nations Championship in 1907 and 1920. At the age of 45 years and 229 days, he remains the oldest player to have won a Cymru cap.
Alan Curtis earned 35 caps between 1976 and 1987, scoring six goals for his country. A hugely influential figure in Welsh football, Curtis enjoyed a long club career and remains closely associated with Swansea City.
Simon Davies won 58 caps between 2001 and 2010, with much of his club career spent in the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur, Everton and Fulham. He was named Welsh Footballer of the Year in 2002 and became a key member of the Cymru side during the 2000s.
Terry Medwin earned 30 caps between 1953 and 1963 and played for both Swansea City and Tottenham Hotspur, making more than 340 club appearances. He featured in four of Cymru’s five matches at the 1958 World Cup and, for decades, held the distinction of being the last Welshman to score at a major tournament – a record that stood until Gareth Bale’s penalty against the USA at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Centre-Midfield
Aaron Ramsey earned 86 caps and scored 21 goals between 2008 and 2024, captaining Cymru on several occasions. A key figure in the golden generation, Ramsey inspired Arsenal to three FA Cup triumphs and won Serie A with Juventus. He has since moved into management with Oxford United in League One, having come through the FAW’s Coach Education system.
Gary Speed won 85 caps between 1990 and 2004 and enjoyed a distinguished club career, winning the First Division with Leeds United before spells with Everton, Newcastle United and Bolton Wanderers. He later managed Sheffield United and Cymru, where he laid important foundations for the success that followed under Chris Coleman.
Joe Ledley earned 77 caps between 2005 and 2018, scoring four goals, and was a key member of the EURO 2016 squad. The midfielder spent much of his career with Cardiff City, Celtic and Crystal Palace before finishing his playing days with Derby County and other clubs. His determination to feature in France was underlined by his remarkable recovery from a fractured fibula.
Joe Allen also won 77 caps, representing Cymru between 2009 and 2025. A product of Swansea City, Allen went on to play for Liverpool and Stoke City, with a brief spell at Wrexham, and became another integral member of the side that reached the EURO 2016 semi-finals.
Brian Flynn won 66 caps between 1974 and 1984, scoring seven goals, and played for Burnley, Leeds United and Wrexham among others. He later managed Wrexham and had a spell as interim Cymru manager, but perhaps his greatest contribution came through his work with the under-21s, helping develop a generation of young players who would go on to represent the senior side.
Barry Horne earned 59 caps between 1988 and 1996 and enjoyed a successful club career that included Wrexham, Southampton, Portsmouth and Everton. His time at Goodison Park brought FA Cup success and established him as an important figure in English football.
Terry Yorath won 59 caps between 1969 and 1981, scoring twice from midfield. He was part of the successful Leeds United side that won the First Division title in 1974 and became the first Welshman to play in a European Cup final the following year. He later managed Cymru, securing memorable victories over Germany and Brazil.
Peter Nicholas represented Cymru 73 times between 1979 and 1992, scoring twice. He spent much of his club career with London sides Crystal Palace, Arsenal and Chelsea, as well as enjoying a spell at Luton Town, before later moving into management with Llanelli.
Robbie James is another name with a compelling claim to a place in the side, with the Swansea City great one of the few footballers to make more than 1,000 competitive appearances. He won 46 caps between 1978 and 1988, scoring seven goals, and spent much of his club career with Swansea, while also featuring for Cardiff City, Stoke City and QPR. His contribution to Welsh football has been recognised with a bust at the Swansea.com Stadium, while the stadium’s Wall of Fame is named in his honour.
Robbie Savage won 39 caps between 1995 and 2004 and made more than 500 club appearances, predominantly with Leicester City and Derby County. Now a manager with Forest Green Rovers, Savage remains a familiar figure in Welsh football, with his son Charlie having also represented the senior national side.
Left-Midfield
Cliff Jones won 59 caps between 1954 and 1969, scoring 16 goals for his country. After beginning his career with Swansea City, where he made more than 160 appearances, Jones moved to Tottenham Hotspur for a then-record £35,000 fee. He played in all five of Cymru’s matches at the 1958 World Cup, having played a crucial role in qualification by scoring three goals across the two-legged play-off against Israel. Jones helped Cymru reach the quarter-finals in Sweden and won two British Home Championships, while his club honours included three FA Cups and a First Division title with Spurs.
Craig Bellamy earned 78 caps and scored 19 goals between 1998 and 2013. His club career included spells with some of the Premier League’s biggest clubs, including Liverpool, Manchester City and West Ham, as well as two spells with Cardiff City. Bellamy moved into management and became Cymru boss in 2024.
Leighton James won 54 caps and scored 10 goals between 1971 and 1983, with much of his club career spent at Burnley. He also played for Derby County, QPR, Sunderland and Swansea City before later moving into management in the Novira Cymru Premier. James produced one of Cymru’s most famous results when his goal helped secure a 1-0 victory over England at Wembley in May 1977 – Cymru’s only win over their neighbours on English soil.
Mickey Thomas won 51 caps between 1976 and 1986, scoring four goals. A key figure for Wrexham during the 1970s, Thomas later played for Manchester United, Everton and Chelsea. He also found the net in a famous victory over England, adding his name to the list of Welsh players to score in the fixture.
Ryan Giggs is one of the most decorated players in Premier League history, winning 13 league titles during an extraordinary career with Manchester United. He made 64 appearances for Cymru between 1991 and 2007, scoring 12 goals, before taking charge of the national team in 2018. Giggs guided Cymru to qualification for EURO 2020, adding a managerial chapter to an already remarkable career.
Striker
Dean Saunders won 75 caps between 1986 and 2001, scoring 22 goals. A prolific striker, Saunders played for some of the biggest clubs in Britain and Europe, including Liverpool, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, Benfica and Galatasaray. He later moved into management, with spells in charge of Wrexham and Wolves.
Ian Rush remains Liverpool’s all-time leading goalscorer and was Cymru’s record goalscorer until Gareth Bale overtook him in 2018. Rush scored 28 goals in 73 appearances between 1980 and 1996, while his club career also included spells with Juventus and Leeds United.
Ivor Allchurch scored 23 goals in 68 appearances between 1950 and 1966 and enjoyed a career largely associated with Swansea City. He also played for Newcastle United and Cardiff City before returning to Swansea, and was a key member of the 1958 World Cup squad, scoring twice as Cymru reached the quarter-finals.
John Toshack scored 13 goals in 40 appearances between 1969 and 1980 and spent his club career with Cardiff City, Liverpool and Swansea City. He helped take Swansea through the divisions as player-manager before going on to manage clubs including Real Madrid, Sporting CP and Beşiktaş. Toshack later managed Cymru between 2004 and 2010, handing international debuts to the likes of Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey and Ashley Williams.
John Hartson earned 53 caps between 1995 and 2005, scoring 14 goals. The powerful striker enjoyed a successful club career with Arsenal, West Ham and Celtic, among others, and became one of the most recognisable forwards of his generation.
John Charles was a versatile player who could operate at both centre-forward and centre-back. He scored 15 goals in 38 appearances for Cymru between 1950 and 1965 and featured at the 1958 World Cup. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players ever produced by Britain, Charles’ reputation extended far beyond his goal-scoring record.
Mark Hughes won 72 caps between 1984 and 1999, scoring 16 goals, and enjoyed an extraordinary club career that included Manchester United, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Everton. He famously played two competitive matches in the same day, representing Cymru against Czechoslovakia before travelling across the border to feature as a substitute for Bayern. Hughes later managed Cymru, guiding them to the EURO 2004 play-offs, and enjoyed a successful managerial career in the Premier League.
Ron Davies scored nine goals in 29 appearances between 1964 and 1974 and spent much of his club career with Norwich City and Southampton. Southampton paid a club-record £55,000 to sign him from Norwich, and he went on to score 134 goals in 240 appearances for the Saints. He also had a spell with Manchester United.
Trevor Ford scored 23 goals in 38 appearances between 1946 and 1956 for Cymru, enjoying spells with Aston Villa and Sunderland as well as playing abroad for PSV Eindhoven. One of the leading strikers of his generation, Ford was an idol to fellow Cymru great John Charles.
Wyn Davies played for Cymru between 1963 and 1973, scoring seven goals in 34 appearances. He featured for clubs such as Bolton Wanderers, and Newcastle United, whilst he also turned out for both Manchester City, signing for £60,000 in 1971, before a move to their rivals Manchester United.
