Rob Page sacked as Wales manager

The 49-year-old departs after unimpressive friendly results followed the Dragons’ failure to qualify for Euro 2024.

Rob Page has been sacked as the manager of the national team of Wales, it has been confirmed.

The announcement comes after the Dragons failed to qualify for the Euros in March.

While England and Scotland are in Germany, Wales missed out on a place in the finals after losing in the playoffs to Poland on penalties.

Wales had been on a seven-match unbeaten run but a 4-0 defeat by Slovakia, which followed a goalless draw with Gibraltar, in friendlies earlier this month, led to his dismissal.

The 49-year-old made history in 2022 when he became the first manager in 64 years to take charge of Wales at a World Cup.

But a 2-0 loss to Iran and a 3-0 reverse against England ensured Page’s men exited in the group stage.

Page succeeded Ryan Giggs when he was appointed caretaker manager of the men’s senior squad in November 2020.

He guided Wales to the knockout stage of Euro 2020, played in 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, thanks to a 1-1 draw with Switzerland and a 2-0 win over Turkey in the group stage of the finals.

However, their run was ended by a 4-0 second-round defeat by Denmark.

His role was made permanent in June 2022.

FA Wales (FAW) bosses held talks shortly after the last international break and decided a change was needed, Wales Online said.

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Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey paid tribute to Page in a post on X, calling him “a gentleman and true family man” and thanking him for “a journey we can all be proud of from the Euros to taking Wales to a World Cup for the first time since 58”.

Noel Mooney, FAW chief executive, thanked Page for leading the national side to “significant milestones and victories which have created many incredible memories”.

FAW chief football officer Dave Adams thanked Page for “reaching the Round of 16 at Euro 2020 and qualification to the 2022 FIFA World Cup”, and the integration of “18 pathway players into the senior squad”.

Page won 15 of the 45 matches he was in charge of, while drawing 15 and losing 15. Their next match is in the Nations League against Turkey on 6 September.