Matty Jones leaves Cymru U21 role after two qualifying campaigns

Matty Jones has left his role as Cymru Under-21 manager after two European Championship qualifying campaigns, the Football Association of Wales has confirmed. Jones was appointed in September 2022, having joined the association as head coach of the men’s Under-18 side. The FAW’s announcement on Friday 16 October does not name a successor or give a reason for his departure.

Qualification and the senior pathway

Cymru did not reach their first U21 finals in either campaign under Jones. In his first qualifying campaign, the team missed the play-offs in the final round of fixtures because of their head-to-head record against the Czech Republic. The association’s assessment also points to development beyond those tournament outcomes. It credits Jones’s team with helping players progress to the senior Cymru squad, citing Joel Colwill, Joe Low, Cian Ashford, Charlie Savage and Charlie Crew among its examples. Dylan Lawlor, Cameron Congreve, Lewis Koumas and Kai Andrews are also named. The FAW presents those players as examples, rather than a complete count of everyone who progressed during his tenure.

That distinction separates two measures of the role: reaching an U21 tournament and preparing players for senior selection. The announcement records no finals qualification while highlighting the latter contribution. The FAW thanked Jones for his commitment to the national teams and wished him well for the future. It has not announced an interim appointment or a recruitment timetable in the statement.