Spain women's national football team
 |
|
| Nickname(s) |
La Roja (The Red [One]) Las Soñadoras (The Dreamers) |
|---|---|
| Association | Royal Spanish Football Federation |
| Confederation | UEFA (Europe) |
| Head coach | Jorge Vilda |
| Captain | Verónica Boquete |
| Most caps | Arantza del Puerto (70) |
| Top scorer | Verónica Boquete (38) |
| FIFA code | ESP |
| FIFA ranking | |
| Current | 14  (23 December 2016)
|
| Highest | 14 (March–December 2015, June 2016-) |
| Lowest | 21 (June–August 2004, March 2008) |
| First international | |
Unofficial Spain 3–3 Portugal  (Murcia, Spain; 21 February 1971) Official Spain 0–1 Portugal (A Guarda, Spain; 5 February 1983) |
|
| Biggest win | |
Spain 17–0 Slovenia  (Palamós, Spain; 20 March 1994) |
|
| Biggest defeat | |
Spain 0–8 Sweden  (Gandía, Spain; 2 June 1996) |
|
| World Cup | |
| Appearances | 1 (first in 2015) |
| Best result | Group Stage (2015) |
| UEFA Women's Championship | |
| Appearances | 3 (first in 1997) |
| Best result | Semi-finals (1997) |
The Spain women's national football team (Spanish: Selección femenina de fútbol de España) represents Spain in international women's football. Although not considered a powerhouse like most of the other famous European nations, it has achieved some success like reaching the European Championship's semifinals in 1997. Its youth division has enjoyed some big success in recent times, like their two consecutive wins at the UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship in 2010 and 2011, as well as their third-place finish at the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, which brought hope to the women's senior team.
In October 2012 the senior team qualified for the European Championship for a second time sixteen years later, after beating Scotland in repechage in the extra time's overtime.
After underground women's football clubs started appearing in Spain around 1970 one of its instigators, Rafael Muga, decided to create a national team. It was an unofficial project as football was considered an unsuitable sport for women by both the Royal Spanish Football Federation and National Movement's Women's Section, which organized women's sports in Francoist Spain. When asked about the initiative in January 1971 RFEF president José Luis Pérez Payá answered I'm not against women's football, but I don't like it either. I don't think it's feminine from a esthetic point of view. Women are not favored wearing shirt and trousers. Any regional dress would fit them better.
One month later, on 21 February 1971, the unofficial Spanish national team, including Conchi Sánchez, who played professionally in the Italian league, made its debut in Murcia's La Condomina against Portugal, ending in a 3–3 draw. The team wasn't allowed to wear RFEF's crest and the referee couldn't wear an official uniform either. On July 15, with a 5-days delay for transfer issues, it played its first game abroad against Italy in Turin's Stadio Comunale, suffering an 8–1 defeat. It was then invited to the 2nd edition of unofficial women's world cup (Mundialito 1981), but RFEF forbid them to take part in the competition. Despite these conditions Spain was entrusted hosting the 1972 World Cup. RFEF vetoed the project, and the competition was cancelled and disbanded. The unofficial Spanish team itself broke up shortly after.
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