Ramsey, Bale, Davies: Who are Wales's top UEFA Champions League performers?

Tuesday, November 29, 2022

Which Welsh players have the most appearances and goals in Europe's leading club competition?

Aaron Ramsey, Gareth Bale and Ben Davies ©Getty Images

Welsh clubs did not compete in UEFA competition until the 1990s after the establishment of a national league in 1992, though a number of sides from Wales continue to play in the English divisions, most notably Cardiff City and their local rivals Swansea City. Welsh talent sparkled in Europe in some of the great Manchester United and Liverpool sides of old, while Gareth Bale has flown the flag for his country in the 21st century, appearing in four UEFA Champions League final wins for Real Madrid.

Most appearances by Welsh players in the European Champion Clubs' Cup/UEFA Champions League (including qualifying)

151: Ryan Giggs (Manchester United)
68: Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur, Real Madrid)
65: Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal, Juventus)
27: Ben Davies (Tottenham)
27: Aeron Edwards (The New Saints)
26: Ian Rush (Liverpool, Newcastle)
22: Simon Spender (The New Saints)
20: Greg Draper (The New Saints)
20: Adam Matthews (Celtic)
19: Craig Bellamy (Newcastle, Liverpool)
19: John Hartson (Celtic)
19: Joe Ledley (Celtic)
19: Gary Speed (Leeds, Newcastle)

Top-scoring Welsh players in the European Champion Clubs' Cup/UEFA Champions League (including qualifying)

Watch THAT Bale overhead kick in the 2018 final

30: Ryan Giggs (Manchester United)
20: Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur, Real Madrid)
14: Ian Rush (Liverpool, Newcastle)
12: Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal, Juventus)
4: Craig Bellamy (Newcastle, Liverpool)
4: Cliff Jones (Tottenham Hotspur)
4: Matty Williams (Rhyl, The New Saints)
3: John Hartson (Celtic)

Most appearances by Welsh players in UEFA club competition*

159: Ryan Giggs (Manchester United)
101: Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur, Real Madrid)
88: Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal, Juventus, Rangers, Nice)
72: Ben Davies (Swansea City, Tottenham Hotspur)
56: Gary Speed (Leeds, Newcastle, Bolton)
50: John Toshack (Cardiff, Liverpool)
44: Mark Hughes (Manchester United, Bayern, Chelsea)
43: Ian Rush (Liverpool, Juventus, Newcastle)
41: John Hartson (Arsenal, Celtic)
40: Craig Bellamy (Newcastle, Liverpool, Manchester City)

Top-scoring Welsh players in UEFA club competition*

Giggs, Bale, Rush: Great goals from Welsh legends

30: Ryan Giggs (Manchester United)
27: Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur, Real Madrid)
21: Ian Rush (Liverpool, Juventus, Newcastle United)
20: John Toshack (Cardiff, Liverpool)
18: Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal, Juventus, Rangers, Nice)
15: Craig Bellamy (Newcastle United, Liverpool, Manchester City)
12: Dean Saunders (Liverpool, Aston Villa, Galatasaray, Bradford City)
11: Mark Hughes (Manchester United, Bayern, Chelsea)

Notable firsts

First Welshman to play in a European Champion Clubs' Cup/UEFA Champions League final
Terry Yorath (Bayern 2-0 Leeds United, 1974/75)

First Welshman to win the European Champion Clubs' Cup/UEFA Champions League
Joey Jones (Liverpool 3-1 Borussia Mönchengladbach, 1976/77)

First Welshman to score in a European Champion Clubs' Cup/UEFA Champions League final
Gareth Bale (Real Madrid 4-1 Atlético Madrid, aet, 2013/14)

Watch Ryan Giggs' 2008 triumph

First Welshman to win the European Cup Winners' Cup
Cliff Jones (Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 Atlético Madrid, 1962/63)

First Welshman to win the UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League
Mike England (Tottenham Hotspur 3-2agg Wolverhampton Wanderers, 1971/72)

First Welshman to score in a UEFA final
Mike England (Tottenham Hotspur 2-4agg Feyenoord, 1973/74 UEFA Cup)

First Welshman to appear in a UEFA final for a non-UK team
Nick Deacy (PSV Eindhoven 3-0agg Bastia, 1977/78 UEFA Cup)

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*UEFA club competitions means European Champion Clubs' Cup/UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League, European/South American Cup, UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, UEFA Super Cup and UEFA Intertoto Cup

Ramsey, Bale, Davies: Who are Wales's top UEFA Champions League performers?

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Most appearances by Welsh players in the European Champion Clubs' Cup/UEFA Champions League (including qualifying)

Top-scoring Welsh players in the European Champion Clubs' Cup/UEFA Champions League (including qualifying)

Most appearances by Welsh players in UEFA club competition*

Top-scoring Welsh players in UEFA club competition*

Notable firsts