---
title: "Rebrov's Strategy Rupture: Melgosa Resigns as Head Coach of the Ukraine U-21 National Team"
description: "The Ukraine U-21 national team is left without a coach: the UAF has terminated the contract with Unai Melgosa 🇺🇦⚽️. The Spaniard, invited under Rebrov's strategy, failed to keep the team on track after the Euro 2025 failure. Dmytro Mykhaylenko is the main candidate for the replacement."
date: 2026-06-22T15:34:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/melgosa-resigns-as-head-coach-of-the-ukraine-u-21-national-team
tags: []
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Rebrov's Strategy Rupture: Melgosa Resigns as Head Coach of the Ukraine U-21 National Team

![Ugo Melgosa, head coach of the Ukraine U21 national team, in training gear on a football field](https://xab.info/media/2026/06/22/melgosa-pokidaet-post-glavnogo-trenera-molodezhnoy-sbornoy-ukrainy/melgosa-pokidaet-post-glavnogo-trenera-molodezhnoy-sbornoy-ukrainy-1.webp)

The Ukrainian Association of Football (UAF) has decided to terminate its cooperation with Unai Melgosa, the head coach of the Ukraine U-21 national team. The Spanish specialist, whose contract was set to run until the summer of 2026, is leaving his post prematurely. This decision marks the final chapter of a large-scale personnel reform in Ukrainian football, initiated following the resignation of Serhiy Rebrov.

### The End of a Tactical Experiment

Unai Melgosa took charge of the youth team in July 2023. His appointment was a key element of the strategy of the then-head coach of the national team, Serhiy Rebrov. The Spaniard, who simultaneously worked as an assistant in the main squad, was tasked with developing a unified tactical model for preparing the reserves.

Despite the fact that under Melgosa's leadership, the Ukrainians successfully qualified for Euro 2025, the final tournament ended in failure. The status of defending semi-finalists did not help the team: the "blue and yellows" were eliminated after the group stage. In total, during the Spaniard's tenure, the national team played 29 matches: 13 wins, 5 draws, and 11 losses.

### Crisis in the Euro 2027 Qualifiers

The change of coach occurred at a critical moment — in the midst of the qualifying cycle for the 2027 European Championship. The current results of the U-21 team are causing serious concern. After six rounds, the Ukrainians occupy only third place in their group.

In the current qualifiers, the team secured victories over their peers from Hungary and Lithuania, as well as drew with these opponents. However, defeats against the Croatia and Turkey U-21 teams significantly complicated the task. At the moment, the chances of a direct qualification spot or reaching the playoffs remain slim.

### Who Will Lead the Team?

The situation needs to be salvaged before the decisive autumn matches against the group leaders. It is expected that the UAF will entrust the preparation of the national team to a domestic specialist. Dmytro Mykhaylenko is considered the main favorite for the vacant position.

Currently, Mykhaylenko is successfully coaching the Ukraine U-19 national team. At the end of June, his charges will start in the final part of the European Championship, where they will fight for a spot in the World Cup for 20-year-olds. Earlier, Oleksandr Karavaev also hinted at a possible return to the national team coaching staff after moving from Dynamo to Shakhtar.