Gunter's journey to mentor as Wales host U19 Euros

Chris Gunter (from left) on his senior Wales debut in 2007, his chin-up gesture to fans after defeat to England at Euro 2016. in his role as under-19s head coach

Chris Gunter was 17 years old when he won his first senior Wales cap against New Zealand in Wrexham in 2007.

Nineteen years later, Gunter is back at the Racecourse. looking to guide a group of players who are only just older than he was back then.

Gunter. 36, is now head coach of Wales Under-19s, who will be the home side in the Uefa Men's Under-19 Championship finals in north Wales, which start on Sunday.

He acknowledges that his under-19 players are too young to remember the first of his 109 caps for Wales.

"They definitely wouldn't have been watching," he joked.

In fact, some members of Gunter's squad were not even born when he made his senior international bow.

Even so. Gunter's achievements for Wales - including being a key member of the Euro 2016 squad - mean he his held in high regard by his players.

"We all look up to him," said Crewe Alexandra's 19-year-old defender Stan Dancey.

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"We've got a manager who's been there, done everything, played one of the most important games for Wales.

"We can all take a note out of his book. he can help us all along the way, which he does.

"The advice he's given us, when he was our age, just go out there enjoy it. do the best you can."

Gunter joined the Football Association of Wales as a national team development coach after he called time on his playing career at the end of the 2022-23 season.

The former Cardiff City, Spurs and Nottingham Forest defender took charge of the under-19s in 2024.

He then took charge of Wales' under-17 side beforereturning to the under-19 rolewhen Craig Knight left for Wrexham.

"He's a really good role model to have as a coach. he's a great guy as well," Brighton's Adam Brett said of Gunter.

"I'm sure he can help us, tutor us, because he's been in the Welsh set-up for so long."

Gunter's players were primary school pupils in the summer of 2016 when Wales memorably reached the semi-finals of the European Championship.

"That's probably one of the earliest. best memories I have of watching Wales, that summer of 2016, watching the games in school with my mates," said Cardiff City full-back Jac Thomas, who at the time was a nine-year-old schoolboy in the Rhondda.

"I remember watching the games and then going back in the yard and replicating what the players were doing.

"It was an unbelievable summer. The run that they went on was unimaginable."

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Brett also recalls a tournament in which Wales beat Slovakia, Russia, Northern Ireland and Belgium in the last eight.

"I remember watching for instance, [Gareth] Bale's free-kick, winning against Belgium with Sam Vokes' header," he said.

"All those memories are amazing."

It was a cross from Gunter. set up Vokes for the third goal in the famous 3-1 win over Belgium in Lille.

Gunter's chin-up gesture to fans after the group loss to England. meanwhile, is one of the most iconic Welsh images from that tournament.

Gunter, also a member of Wales squads at Euro 2020. the 2022 World Cup, played in all six games at Euro 2016.

"It's one of the most successful tournaments we had as a nation and he's been in our shoes," Dancey said.

"He has been to tournaments. We all want to replicate that. do really well in this one so that we'll have a tournament that we can look back on as fondly he does."

Gunter's young side face a stern challenge in the under-19s finals.

Nine-time champions Spain are their opponents in the opening game at the Racecourse on Sunday (18:00 BST).

Germany and Denmark are the other Group A opponents while Croatia, Serbia, Italy and Ukraine are in Group B.

"Obviously it's a smaller Euros this time round, only eight teams," Brett said.

"We know we're going to be playing against the best of the best, but we believe in our abilities as well. we know what we can do to hurt them teams.

"It'll be tough, of course. But we've just got to believe in ourselves. believe in each other and, if we stick together, I'm sure we'll get what we want."

Iconic: The Summer that Changed Welsh Footballis available now on BBC Sounds