Golden Generation (Senya)
The Golden Generation is the nickname given to a select group of Senyan association footballers whose international careers with the Senya national football team between 2016 and 2023 helped the team to achieve its most successful period. During this time, Senya won two FMF World Cups and a record three Copa Apollonia titles, as well as reaching a further tournament final and a semi-final. Four of the five trophies have been won under the management of David Morter, who also served as assistant manager under previous manager Draco Sanchez. Under Sanchez, Senya won the 2016 Copa Apollonia and were runners-up at the 2017 FMF World Cup, before Morter took over as manager after Sanchez resigned during the 2018 Copa Apollonia. Morter is widely credited with creating a positive team spirit and for making the most out of a very talented pool of players.
Achievements
This section lists the national team's competitive record in finals tournaments between 2016 and 2023, when they finished in third place or better in all but one FMF-affiliated competitions. Additionally, Senya finished as runners-up in three consecutive editions of the FMF Confederations Cup between 2018 and 2022.
Tournament | Round | Position | Pl | W | D* | L | GF | GA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2016 Copa Apollonia | Champions | 1st of 8 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 4 |
2017 World Cup | Runners-up | 2nd of 20 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 18 | 11 |
2018 Copa Apollonia | Champions | 1st of 8 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 |
2019 World Cup | Champions | 1st of 20 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 2 |
2020 Copa Apollonia | Quarter-finalists | 5th of 12 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
2021 World Cup | Third place | 3rd of 20 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 7 |
2022 Copa Apollonia | Champions | 1st of 8 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 3 |
2023 World Cup | Champions | 1st of 20 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 3 |
Total | 46 | 35 | 6 | 5 | 98 | 33 |
- *Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
Players
These players are regularly considered integral members of Senya's Golden Generation, having appeared in numerous tournament squads between 2016 and 2023, and most having earned multiple winner's medals.
Player | Pos. | Squads, /8 | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sileman Bɏankarlënœ | GK | 7 | ||||||||
Jake Colchester | DF | 3 | ||||||||
Alesandrœ Danetskë | FW | 8 | ||||||||
Harë Ëgermarč | DF | 5 | ||||||||
Nat Grezem | DF | 4 | ||||||||
Barnaby Hands | MF | 8 | ||||||||
Mark Jacobs | GK | 3 | ||||||||
Maksim Ĵerzënyœ | DF | 4 | ||||||||
Sam Kimsin | MF | 4 | ||||||||
Jan Maytek | MF | 8 | ||||||||
Aleks Mëa | DF | 8 | ||||||||
Markœ Minyorletsken | MF | 8 | ||||||||
Karl Rœč | DF | 5 | ||||||||
Jack Smith | FW | 7 | ||||||||
Domonik Ƨarkœvič | MF | 7 | ||||||||
Jær Van Kotrisbond | DF | 8 | ||||||||
Rödë Vankarlënœ | DF | 5 | ||||||||
Kiket Volinsk | FW | 6 | ||||||||
Ƨinkœ Zvet | MF | 8 |
Other squad members
Although not deemed part of the Golden Generation, these players also featured in tournament squads during this period of the team's history, with some having gained a number of winner's medals as reserve players.
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Super six
A crucial aspect of the Senyan success over the years was the presence of the so-called super six players, consisting of Alesandrœ Danetskë, captain Barnaby Hands, Jan Maytek, Aleks Mëa, Markœ Minyorletsken and Ƨinkœ Zvet. The six, who had all been part of the national team set-up since the team's foundation in 2012, were all regular starters throughout the entirety of the successful period between 2016 and 2023. These six are widely considered to be Senya's better players, having taken in a combined ten appearances in the FMF World Cup Team of the Tournament, with Danetskë, Hands, Mëa and Zvet having been acknowledged twice. Furthermore, Danetskë and Mëa have both won the award for best player at the World Cup, and Danetskë has been acknowledged as the tournament's top goalscorer on three separate occasions.
The first acknowledgement of the super six as a group came during the 2018 Copa Apollonia, following Senya's 0–0 draw in the Group Stage against Stormark, when the team was held up in the hotel and manager Draco Sanchez suddenly resigned and fled the team's hotel. Danetskë, Hands, Maytek and Mëa reportedly sat in Maytek's room playing cards for several hours, before Minyorletsken and Zvet joined them to share the news of Sanchez's resignation. The six agreed to take charge of the camp, persuading David Morter, then the assistant manager, to take the role of manager, and organising training sessions whilst some of the coaching staff were in hospital, having been attacked by hooligans in the aftermath of the Stormark game. Subsequently, many players and insiders of the Senyan national team camp have reported that the six are the focal point of the team and are considered the leaders in the squad. All six players enjoy immense popularity amongst the Senyan public.
Whilst Jær Van Kotrisbond and Jack Smith have also won 5 medals during the same time period, they are not considered part of the super six due to them not always being regular starters, although both have at points been integral first team players.