Wales' long road back to major tournament football is over.

Three years after Chris Coleman was appointed national manager, succeeding his friend Gary Speed, he has led the team to France 2016 after presiding over a dream qualifying campaign.

Wales will take their place at the European Championships 58 years after their last finals when they reached the quarter-finals of the 1958 World Cup in Sweden.

Read more: The remarkable inside story of Together Stronger: How a marketing slogan sparked the rebirth of a football nation

Coleman and his players rode a wave of positivity across the country to get over the line.

But it hasn't always been plain sailing during his tenure with many highs and lows, including a lost passport and hammering in Novi Sad, along the way.

Here, with qualification assured at last, we look at the remarkable journey Coleman, his players and the nation have been on since the day he walked into the job on January 19, 2012.

Time Line

Wales' road to Euro 2016

  1. January 2012

    Chris Coleman is appointed as the successor to Gary Speed. Not an universally popular choice and one of few to declare a public interest in the job, the FAW had targeted Ryan Giggs but opted for Coleman ahead of calls for Ian Rush to serve a figurehead manager with Speed's assistants Osian Roberts and Raymond Verheijen working underneath him. The FAW chief executive Jonathan Ford dismissed the latter and plumped for Coleman on a two-year deal.

    Full story: The big issues facing Welsh football in 2012

  2. January 2012

    The first issues of the Coleman reign come as Greek club Larissa threaten legal action over compensation for the former defender's services. Coleman had quit Larissa two weeks earlier citing financial difficulties at the club.

    Full story: Chris Coleman on managing in Greece

  3. March 2012

    Coleman takes a back seat in the first fixture of his time in charge with the friendly with Costa Rica serving as a tribute match for the late Speed. Wales lose 1-0 with Osian Roberts overseeing the game but an emotional Coleman faces the Press afterwards. Tension between 'Dutch Ray' Verheijen and both the FAW and Coleman emerge, with it becoming clear the outspoken coach would not form part of the new set-up.

    Full story: Wales remembers Gary Speed

  4. May 2012

    Coleman's first official match in charge sees Mexico win fairly comfortably in New York in a 2-0 end-of-season defeat with Gareth Bale missing through injury but Craig Bellamy seemingly prepared to put talk of international retirement on hold.

    Full story: Mexico 2-0 Wales

  5. August 2012

    Wales lose again – and once again without Bale – as they trudged to a 2-0 defeat to Bosnia in Llanelli. Bellamy plays just before a move to Cardiff – a transfer that prompted him stepping away from the international scene as he struggled to get to grips with the loss of Speed - but the hopes of a pre-campaign boost is lost with the side having failed to score in three outings.

    Full story: Wales 0-2 Bosnia

  6. September 2012

    The bid for the 2014 World Cup gets off to a dismal start at Cardiff City Stadium as Wales go down to group favourites Belgium. Coleman concerns with comments about needing to “earn the right to play” as the team's recent passing style makes way for a more direct game while he defends the needless half-way line lunge from James Collins that sees him sent off before goals from Vincent Kompany and Jan Vertonghen make it a 2-0 stroll.

    Full story: Wales 0-2 Belgium

  7. September 2012

    Things go from bad to worse as a shambolic display in Novi Sad sees Wales hammered 6-1 in their third heaviest defeat since the Second World War. Players look worryingly shot of confidence and belief and Coleman is jeered by dismayed away fans sensing their Brazil dreams are already over. The embarrassed manager admits it could have been an even bigger beating as he calls it men against boys.

    Full story: Serbia 6-1 Wales

  8. October 2012

    Already sensing pressure on his position, Coleman makes the shock call to strip an under-performing Aaron Ramsey of the captaincy and replace him with Ashley Williams. The forthcoming match with Scotland is already billed 'must-win' with Coleman saying he must stand or fall by his own methods after admitting he tried to walk in Speed's shoes, Speed's father Roger backing the under-fire manager.

    Full story: Aaron Ramsey to be replaces as captain by Ashley Williams

  9. October 2012

    Gareth Bale prompts huge celebrations from Coleman as a stunning individual performance against Scotland sees him earn a game-levelling penalty before a brilliant 88th minute winner keeps faint hopes of a qualification challenge alive.

    Full story: Wales 2-1 Scotland

  10. October 2012

    Having ended a six-match losing run, Wales struggle to cope with the class of Croatia in Osijek as they go down to a one-way 2-0 defeat after a mistake between Ashley Williams and Lewis Price. The defeat leaves Wales last but one in their group.

    Full story: Croatia 2-0 Wales

  11. February 2013

    The return of Bellamy coincides with a vastly improved performance to defeat Austria 2-1 in a friendly in Swansea stopping the slide down the rankings that had seen Wales go from 49th on Coleman's appointment to 81st.

    Full story: Wales 2-1 Austria

  12. March 2013

    The progress continues with a battling win in the Scottish snow at Hampden. Bale underlines his commitment by playing despite being laid low with a virus, managing 45 minutes before Ramsey stepped up and won a penalty to cancel out Grant Hanley's opener. Ramsey then helped spark the winner for Hal Robson-Kanu giving Coleman his third win and pushing them into third in the group, albeit seven points behind runaway top two Belgium and Croatia.

    Full story: Scotland 1-2 Wales

  13. March 2013

    Despite Ramsey's absence through suspension, Wales threaten to pull off a shock in Swansea as Bale opens the scoring only for an eye-catching display to be let down when Croatia score twice in the final 13 minutes.

    Full story: Wales 1-2 Croatia

  14. August 2013

    A dour 0-0 draw with the Republic of Ireland says little about Coleman's team with the focus more on Bale's impending world record move to Real Madrid. The attacker's ambition with his country and teammates is displayed as he joins the squad regardless of injury ruling him out of featuring.

    Full story: Wales 0-0 Rep. of Ireland

  15. September 2013

    Hints of moving in the right direction take a hammering in farcical scenes in Skopje. Kit Symons is left to face the media and oversee training the night before a qualifier in Macedonia with Coleman having revealed to have lost his passport. Coleman returns in time to see an impressive first-half go to waste following injury to Johnny Williams with a late Aleksandar Trajkovski penalty winning it for the hosts. Coleman reacts angrily to criticism of 'passport-gate' before admitting he was trying to play mind games with Macedonia by naming Bale on the bench despite not being fit enough to play.

    Full story: Lost passport grounds manager Chris Coleman

  16. September 2013

    Coleman comes under increasing scrutiny as a fall-out between himself and James Collins is revealed, Coleman claiming the West Ham refused a call-up having been left out of the original squad – something Collins vehemently denied. Serbia brush aside injury-hit Wales' challenge with a 3-0 victory and questions are raised about whether Coleman will be offered a new contract with his deal set to expire at the end of the campaign.

    Full story: Wales 0-3 Serbia

  17. October 2013

    Ramsey inspires in Bellamy's home farewell against Macedonia, the retiring striker having emerged as a surprise but serious candidate should FAW chiefs opt against keeping Coleman on. The Arsenal playmaker sets up Simon Church for the only goal in a 1-0 win.

    Full story: Wales 1-0 Macedonia

  18. October 2013

    Devastated by injuries, suggestions of growing Welsh belief and stability are strengthened as they spoil already-qualified Belgium's World Cup party when Ramsey scores in the final moments to earn them a 1-1 draw in Brussels. Players rally behind Coleman and claim he is the right man to lead Wales into the Euro 2016 campaign.

    Full story: Belgium 1-1 Wales

  19. November 2013

    Serious interest from Crystal Palace to succeed Ian Holloway once again places Coleman's future in the spotlight before he eventually signs a new two-year extension on the back of a Bale-inspired draw with Finland, a result that leaves Wales 56th in the world.

    Full story: Chris Coleman tells FAW chiefs 'I want to stay with Wales'

  20. February 2014

    Wales are paired with top-seeds Bosnia, best of the second-seeds Belgium, Israel, Cyprus and Andorra in the Euro 2016 draw. Coleman says he is happy and hopeful, claiming the “positive” draw and extra places on offer mean Wales can be confident.

    Full story: Wales drawn against Belgium in Euro qualifying Group B

  21. March 2014

    Belief starts to bubble as another impressive performance is given an exciting edge as Bale scores a wonder goal to beat a strong Iceland side in Cardiff, extending an unbeaten run to four – the best for six years.

    Full story: Wales 3-1 Iceland

  22. May 2014

    Coleman appoints Swansea City's highly-rated performance psychologist Ian Mitchell in what he calls “the final piece of the jigsaw” as the 'TogetherStronger' motto for the forthcoming Euro campaign is revealed.

    Full story: Ian Mitchell on his role with Swansea and Wales

  23. June 2014

    Wales are beaten in Amsterdam by the Brazil-bound Netherlands but an under-strength Wales side, missing Champions League winning Bale, Ramsey and Williams and captained by Joe Allen, give the Dutch a real scare and more than hold their own despite going down 2-0. Further optimism is gained by eye-catching debuts from teenage trickster George Williams and classy defender James Chester.

    Full story: Holland 2-0 Wales

  24. September 2014

    Wales leave it late and almost write themselves into the history books for the wrong reasons as they fall behind to minnows Andorra in Group B's opener. An awful artificial surface threatens to derail Wales even after Bale levels in the first-half, his late free-kick sparking signs of jubilation among the visiting supporters. Coleman admits he feared the worst before the genius of Bale but the group is blown open by Bosnia's defeat to Cyprus.

    Full story: Andorra 1-2 Wales

  25. October 2014

    The togetherness and spirit of the Wales side is on full display as they hold Bosnia in front of a big Cardiff crowd. Although Williams misses a chance to win it at the death, the point is enough to keep Wales at the top of Group B with belief surging through that the challenge for France is on.

    Full story: Wales 0-0 Bosnia

  26. October 2014

    Wales underline their determination not to fall back as they earn a second win of the campaign as David Cotterill and Robson-Kanu put them into a two-goal lead against Cyprus. A freak free-kick goal and Andy King's sending off means Wales have to dig deep but Bale's roar at the final whistle and leading of the huddle shows how much it means.

    Full story: Wales 2-1 Cyprus

  27. November 2014

    More than 5,000 fans – only half with tickets – pour into Brussels as Wales's resilient defending frustrates Belgium and sparks raves in the away end as Zombie Nation is adopted by believing fans. The 0-0 draw makes it Wales' best start to a campaign since Euro 2004.

    Full story: Belgium 0-0 Wales

  28. March 2015

    Group leaders Israel, with three wins in three, are blown away by Wales in Haifa who respond to the pressure of the most important fixture in more than a decade with a scintillating display. Ramsey opens before Bale silences his Spanish critics with a stunning free-kick and a well taken second with Coleman challenging his young side to go and prove they can be the best team since 1958 as they shoot up the Fifa rankings to a best-ever 22.

    Full story: Israel 0-3 Wales

  29. April 2015

    Players speak out against moving games to the Millennium Stadium as the nation scrambles for tickets, claiming they feel more at home at Cardiff City Stadium and that it gives them a bigger advantage. Despite the extra financial rewards, Coleman and the FAW back the stance.

    Full story: Wales will not move matches to Millennium Stadium

  30. June 2015

    One of the greatest nights in Welsh football sees Bale's goal and a impassioned display throughout the side down Belgium 1-0 in Cardiff. A spontaneous rendition of the national anthem stops Eden Hazard and co. in their tracks and Wales know two wins from their remaining four games can seal qualification.

    Full story: Wales 1-0 Belgium

  31. July 2015

    Wales surge into the top ten of the world for the first time, confirming them for top seeds for the World Cup draw. It is the first time a side has moved from the bottom pot to the top in the space of one competition.

    Full story: Wales break into world's top 10

  32. September 2015

    Wales go above England in the FIFA rankings for the first time in history. Gareth Bale and Co are ranked ninth-best on the planet, with Roy Hodgson’s England dipping down to 10th.

    Full story: Wales overtake England in FIFA rankings

  33. September 2015

    Wales go to the brink of Euro 2016 with a 1-0 win in Nicosia over Cyprus in their seventh Group B fixture. They are held at 0-0 until Gareth Bale powers Jazz Richards' cross home with a bullet header with less than 10 minutes left.

    Full story: Cyprus 0-1 Wales

  34. September 2015

    Needing a win to qualify, Wales are held at home to Israel in a 0-0 stalemate. Simon Church thought he had won it late on but saw his header ruled out for offside.

  35. October 2015

    Wales qualify for their first major tournament in 58 years despite defeat in Zenica against Bosnia-Herzegovina by virtue of Israel's defeat to Cyprus.

Wales qualify for Euro 2016