Northern Ireland national under-21 football team
Association | Irish Football Association | ||
---|---|---|---|
Head coach | Tommy Wright | ||
Most caps | Liam Donnelly (24) | ||
Top scorer | Liam Donnelly Shayne Lavery (5) | ||
| |||
First international | |||
Republic of Ireland
1–1 Northern Ireland (Phibsborough, Republic of Ireland; 8 March 1978) | |||
Biggest win | |||
Northern Ireland 5–0 Luxembourg (Lurgan, Northern Ireland; 16 November 2007) Northern Ireland 5–0 Azerbaijan (Ballymena, Northern Ireland; 12 October 2024) | |||
Biggest defeat | |||
Northern Ireland 0–6 Spain (Larne, Northern Ireland; 3 June 2022) | |||
UEFA U-21 Championship | |||
Appearances | 0 |
The Northern Ireland national under-21 football team also known as the Northern Ireland under-21s or Northern Ireland U21s, is the national under-21 football team of Northern Ireland and is controlled by the Irish Football Association. The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years. To date Northern Ireland haven't yet qualified for the finals tournament.
The national under-21 team is the highest level of youth football in Northern Ireland, and is open to any players who were born in Northern Ireland or whose parents or grandparents were born in Northern Ireland. This team is for Northern Irish players aged 21 or under at the start of a two-year European Under-21 Football Championship campaign, so players can be, and often are, up to 23 years old. As long as they are eligible, players can play at any level, making it possible to play for the U21s, senior side and again for the U21s.
Competitive Record
[edit]For the all-time record of the national team against opposing nations, see the team's all-time record page
UEFA European Under-21 Championship Record
[edit]UEFA Under-21 Football Championship finals record | Qualification record | Manager(s) | ||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Pos | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Squad | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | |||
1978 | did not enter | did not enter | None | |||||||||||||||
1980 | ||||||||||||||||||
1982 | ||||||||||||||||||
1984 | ||||||||||||||||||
1986 | ||||||||||||||||||
1988 | ||||||||||||||||||
1990 | ||||||||||||||||||
1992 | ||||||||||||||||||
1994 | ||||||||||||||||||
1996 | ||||||||||||||||||
1998 | ||||||||||||||||||
2000 | did not qualify | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 9 | Chris Nicholl | ||||||||||
2002 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 12 | 21 | Roy Millar | |||||||||||
2004 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 16 | ||||||||||||
2006 | did not enter | did not enter | None | |||||||||||||||
2007 | did not qualify | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 7 | Roy Millar | ||||||||||
2009 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 12 | Roy Millar, Steve Beaglehole[1] | |||||||||||
2011 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 12 | 16 | Steve Beaglehole | |||||||||||
2013 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 13 | Steve Beaglehole, Stephen Robinson[2] | |||||||||||
2015 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 17 | Stephen Robinson, Jim Magilton[3] | |||||||||||
2017 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 18 | Jim Magilton | |||||||||||
2019 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 11 | Ian Baraclough | |||||||||||
2021 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 13 | Ian Baraclough, Andy Crosby[4] | |||||||||||
2023 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 18 | John Schofield | |||||||||||
2025 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 10 | Tommy Wright | |||||||||||
Total | - | 0/25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 110 | 28 | 18 | 64 | 114 | 181 | - |
Results and fixtures
[edit]2023
[edit]7 September 2025 UEFA U-21 Group F Qualifier | Northern Ireland | 0–1 | Luxembourg | Lurgan, Northern Ireland |
14:00 BST | report | Rodrigues 13' | Stadium: Mourneview Park Attendance: 333 Referee: Andreas Argyrou (Cyprus) |
12 September 2025 UEFA U-21 Group F Qualifier | Ukraine | 1–0 | Northern Ireland | Poprad, Slovakia |
17:30 BST | Roman 70' | report | Stadium: Národné tréningové centrum Poprad Attendance: 275 Referee: Kai Erik Steen (Norway) |
12 October 2025 UEFA U-21 Group F Qualifier | Azerbaijan | 0–1 | Northern Ireland | Baku, Azerbaijan |
15:00 BST | report | McGuckin 19' | Stadium: Dalga Arena Attendance: 300 Referee: Georgi Davidov (Bulgaria) |
16 October 2025 UEFA U-21 Group F Qualifier | Northern Ireland | 1–2 | Serbia | Lurgan, Northern Ireland |
19:30 BST | McGuckin 51' (pen.) | report | Lučić 15' Pantović 82' |
Stadium: Mourneview Park Attendance: 433 Referee: Kristoffer Hagenes (Norway) |
21 November 2025 UEFA U-21 Group F Qualifier | England | 3–0 | Northern Ireland | Liverpool, England |
19:45 GMT | report | Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 7,890 Referee: Lothar D'hondt (Belgium) |
2024
[edit]21 March Friendly | Czech Republic | 3–0 | Northern Ireland | Pardubice, Czech Republic |
16:30 GMT | Sejk 17', 34' Halinský 78' |
Stadium: CFIG Arena Attendance: 2,892 |
26 March 2025 UEFA U-21 Group F Qualifier | Serbia | 1–2 | Northern Ireland | Leskovac, Serbia |
17:00 GMT | Mitrović 39' | Report | Allen 56' Farquhar 70' |
Stadium: Dubočica Stadium Attendance: 2,958 Referee: Yigal Frid (Israel) |
6 September 2025 UEFA U-21 Group F Qualifier | Northern Ireland | 0–0 | England | Ballymena, Northern Ireland |
19:45 BST | Report | Stadium: Ballymena Showgrounds Attendance: 3,237 Referee: David Šmajc (Slovenia) |
10 September 2025 UEFA U-21 Group F Qualifier | Northern Ireland | 1–2 | Ukraine | Ballymena, Northern Ireland |
19:45 BST | Allen 81' (pen.) | Report | Voloshyn 10' Braharu 30' |
Stadium: Ballymena Showgrounds Attendance: 697 Referee: Oliver Reitala (Finland) |
12 October 2025 UEFA U-21 Group F Qualifier | Northern Ireland | 5–0 | Azerbaijan | Ballymena, Northern Ireland |
15:00 BST | Allen 11' (pen.) McKiernan 56' Kelly 64' Devenny 68' Samigullin 81' (o.g.) |
report | Stadium: Ballymena Showgrounds Attendance: 440 Referee: Heini Ziskason Viðoy (Faroe Islands) |
15 October 2025 UEFA U-21 Group F Qualifier | Luxembourg | 0–0 | Northern Ireland | Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg |
19:30 BST | report | Stadium: Stade Émile Mayrisch Attendance: 257 Referee: Visar Kastrati (Kosovo) |
UEFA European Under-21 Championship
[edit]2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification
[edit]Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | England | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 41 | 6 | +35 | 25 | Final tournament | — | 2–1 | 9–1 | 3–0 | 7–0 | 7–0 | |
2 | Ukraine | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 20 | 7 | +13 | 24 | 3–2 | — | 2–1 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 1–0 | ||
3 | Serbia | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 18 | −5 | 16 | 0–3 | 1–0 | — | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | ||
4 | Northern Ireland | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 11 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | — | 0–1 | 5–0 | ||
5 | Luxembourg | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 23 | −17 | 8 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 0–0 | — | 2–0 | ||
6 | Azerbaijan | 10 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 4 | 30 | −26 | 3 | 1–5 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 3–2 | — |
Coaching staff
[edit]Current coaching staff
[edit]- As of 31 August 2023
Position | Name |
---|---|
Manager | Tommy Wright |
Assistant Manager | Paul Stephenson |
Goalkeeping Coach | Roy Carroll |
Sports Scientist | Simon Coleman |
Manager history
[edit]Last updated after the match against Luxembourg on 15 October 2024.
Manager | First Game | Last Game | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | Draw % | Loss % |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Danny Blanchflower | 8 March 1978 vs. | 8 March 1978 vs. | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | 100.00% | 0.00% |
Billy Bingham | 3 April 1990 vs. | 3 April 1990 vs. | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 100.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Bryan Hamilton | 22 March 1994 vs. | 22 March 1994 vs. | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00% | 100.00% | 0.00% |
Roy Millar | 21 April 1998 vs. | 21 April 1998 vs. | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 100.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Chris Nicholl | 20 May 1998 vs. | 8 October 1999 vs. | 13 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 13 | –2 | 23.08% | 38.46% | 38.46% |
Roy Millar | 28 March 2000 vs. | 26 March 2008 vs. | 48 | 18 | 8 | 22 | 64 | 79 | –15 | 37.50% | 16.67% | 45.83% |
Steve Beaglehole | 19 August 2008 vs. | 15 November 2011 vs. | 21 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 23 | 39 | –16 | 19.05% | 14.29% | 66.67% |
Steve Robinson | 10 May 2012 vs. | 15 October 2013 vs. | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 24 | –19 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 100.00% |
Jim Magilton* | 14 November 2013 vs. | 11 October 2016 vs. | 14 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 8 | 27 | –19 | 7.14% | 14.29% | 78.57% |
Ian Baraclough | 8 June 2017 vs. | 19 November 2019 vs. | 19 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 22 | 19 | +3 | 47.37% | 31.58% | 21.05% |
Andy Crosby** | 4 September 2020 vs. | 5 June 2021 vs. | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 11 | –2 | 42.86% | 0.00% | 57.14% |
John Schofield | 3 September 2021 vs. | 25 September 2022 vs. | 11 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 10 | 27 | –17 | 18.18% | 18.18% | 63.64% |
Tommy Wright | 7 September 2023 vs. | 11 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 13 | –3 | 27.27% | 18.18% | 54.55% | |
Total | 158 | 45 | 30 | 83 | 167 | 255 | -88 | 28.48% | 18.99% | 52.53% |
- * first two games as caretaker manager
- ** caretaker manager for all 7 games
Players
[edit]Current squad
[edit]Players born on or after 1 January 2002 will be eligible until the completion of the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
The following players were named in the squad for the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualifiers against Azerbaijan on the 12 October 2024 and Luxembourg on the 15 October 2024.[5]
Last updated after the match against Luxembourg on 15 October 2024. Names in bold denote players who have been capped for the senior team.
No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GK | Stephen McMullan | 31 December 2004 | 6 | 0 | Caernarfon Town | |
GK | Josh Clarke | 28 July 2004 | 1 | 0 | Celtic | |
GK | Fraser Barnsley | 6 October 2004 | 1 | 0 | Everton | |
DF | Aaron Donnelly | 8 June 2003 | 20 | 0 | Colchester United | |
DF | Carl Johnston | 29 May 2002 | 17 | 1 | Fleetwood Town | |
DF | Sean Stewart | 21 January 2003 | 14 | 0 | Cliftonville | |
DF | Tommy Fogarty | 15 March 2004 | 10 | 0 | Dunfermline Athletic | |
DF | Michael Forbes | 29 April 2004 | 8 | 0 | Bristol Rovers | |
DF | Ruairi McConville | 1 May 2005 | 5 | 0 | Brighton | |
DF | Shea Kearney | 26 March 2004 | 2 | 0 | Cliftonville | |
DF | Matty Carson | 29 April 2004 | 0 | 0 | Torquay United | |
DF | Josh Briggs | 14 March 2006 | 0 | 0 | West Ham United | |
MF | Terry Devlin | 6 November 2003 | 14 | 0 | Portsmouth | |
MF | Charlie Allen | 22 November 2003 | 14 | 3 | Linfield | |
MF | JJ McKiernan | 18 January 2002 | 11 | 1 | Lincoln City | |
MF | Patrick Kelly | 2 October 2004 | 10 | 1 | Doncaster Rovers | |
MF | Justin Devenny | 11 October 2003 | 8 | 1 | Crystal Palace | |
MF | Darren Robinson | 29 December 2004 | 7 | 0 | Hartlepool United | |
MF | Jamie McDonnell | 16 February 2004 | 5 | 0 | Colchester United | |
MF | Dylan Sloan | 15 April 2004 | 2 | 0 | Larne | |
FW | Dale Taylor | 12 December 2003 | 15 | 3 | Wigan Athletic | |
FW | Matthew Lusty | 14 July 2003 | 3 | 0 | Larne | |
FW | Makenzie Kirk | 6 February 2004 | 3 | 0 | St Johnstone |
Recent call-ups
[edit]The following players have previously been called up to the Northern Ireland under-21 squad and remain eligible.
Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GK | Pierce Charles | 21 July 2005 | 4 | 0 | Sheffield Wednesday | v. Ukraine, 10 September 2024 |
DF | Johnny Russell | 19 September 2004 | 2 | 0 | Glentoran | v. Ukraine, 10 September 2024 |
DF | Tom Atcheson | 22 September 2006 | 0 | 0 | Marine | v. Ukraine, 10 September 2024 |
MF | Charlie Lindsay | 26 January 2004 | 2 | 0 | Glentoran | v. Serbia, 26 March 2024 |
MF | Harry Wilson | 16 February 2004 | 0 | 0 | Unattached | v. England, 21 November 2023 |
MF | Archie Heron | 15 September 2004 | 0 | 0 | Missouri State Bears | v. England, 21 November 2023 |
FW | Rhys Annett | 6 November 2004 | 1 | 0 | Linfield | v. Serbia, 26 March 2024 |
FW | Conor Falls | 2 January 2004 | 1 | 0 | Huddersfield Town | v. Czech Republic, 21 March 2024 INJ |
FW | Liam McStravick | 27 November 2004 | 0 | 0 | Airdrieonians | v. Serbia, 16 October 2023 |
FW | Callum Marshall | 28 November 2004 | 2 | 0 | Huddersfield Town | v. Ukraine, 12 September 2023 |
COVID = Player withdrew due to a positive COVID test or from being in close contact with someone with a positive COVID test. |
Player records
[edit]Most appearances
[edit]Last updated after the match against Luxembourg on 15 October 2024.
Rank | Player | Year(s) | U-21 Caps | U-21 Goals | First Cap | Last Cap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Liam Donnelly | 2012–2018 | 24 | 5 | 13 November 2012 vs. | 16 October 2018 vs. |
2 | Sean Friars | 1998–2001 | 21 | 2 | 21 April 1998 vs. | 5 June 2001 vs. |
Caolan Boyd-Munce | 2017–2022 | 21 | 0 | 25 March 2019 vs. | 25 September 2022 vs. | |
4 | Kofi Balmer | 2019–2022 | 20 | 0 | 22 March 2019 vs. | 4 June 2022 vs. |
Ethan Galbraith | 2019–2022 | 20 | 1 | 22 March 2019 vs. | 7 June 2022 vs. | |
Aaron Donnelly | 2021– | 20 | 0 | 2 June 2021 vs. | 15 October 2024 vs. | |
7 | Terry McFlynn | 2000–2003 | 19 | 2 | 28 March 2000 vs. | 10 October 2003 vs. |
Rory McArdle | 2006–2008 | 19 | 1 | 6 February 2006 vs. | 26 March 2008 vs. | |
Thomas Stewart | 2006–2008 | 19 | 4 | 6 February 2006 vs. | 26 March 2008 vs. | |
10 | Chris Casement | 2007–2009 | 18 | 2 | 6 February 2007 vs. | 17 November 2009 vs. |
Cameron Dummigan | 2014–2018 | 18 | 0 | 9 September 2014 vs. | 16 October 2018 vs. | |
Alfie McCalmont | 2019–2022 | 18 | 3 | 25 March 2019 vs. | 25 September 2022 vs. |
Top goalscorers
[edit]Last updated after the match against Luxembourg on 15 October 2024.
Rank | Player | Year(s) | U-21 Goals | U-21 Caps | Goals per game | First Goal | Last Goal |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Liam Donnelly | 2012–2018 | 5 | 24 | 0.21 | 8 June 2017 vs. | 11 September 2018 vs. |
Shayne Lavery | 2016–2020 | 5 | 14 | 0.36 | 10 November 2017 vs. | 25 March 2019 vs. | |
3 | Adrian Coote | 1998–1999 | 4 | 12 | 0.33 | 21 April 1998 vs. | 17 August 1999 vs. |
David Healy | 1998–1999 | 4 | 8 | 0.5 | 17 November 1998 vs. | 17 August 1999 vs. | |
Sam Morrow | 2005–2006 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 8 February 2005 vs. | 12 April 2006 vs. | |
Thomas Stewart | 2006–2008 | 4 | 19 | 0.21 | 16 May 2006 vs. | 26 March 2008 vs. | |
Josh Magennis | 2009–2012 | 4 | 17 | 0.24 | 8 September 2009 vs. | 7 September 2012 vs. | |
Oliver Norwood | 2009–2012 | 4 | 11 | 0.36 | 13 November 2009 vs. | 2 March 2010 vs. | |
Paul O'Neill | 2019–2021 | 4 | 10 | 0.4 | 9 October 2020 vs. | 12 November 2021 vs. | |
10 | Gary Hamilton | 2000–2001 | 3 | 12 | 0.25 | 2 June 2000 vs. | 10 October 2000 vs. |
Mo Harkin | 2000–2001 | 3 | 9 | 0.33 | 28 March 2000 vs. | 10 October 2000 vs. | |
Grant McCann | 2000–2001 | 3 | 11 | 0.27 | 10 October 2000 vs. | 5 October 2001 vs. | |
Lee McEvilly | 2002–2003 | 3 | 9 | 0.33 | 6 September 2002 vs. | 1 April 2003 vs. | |
Chris Turner | 2006–2008 | 3 | 12 | 0.25 | 1 June 2007 vs. | 16 November 2007 vs. | |
Andrew Little | 2008–2010 | 3 | 6 | 0.5 | 18 November 2008 vs. | 3 September 2010 vs. | |
Billy Kee | 2009–2011 | 3 | 10 | 0.3 | 10 August 2011 vs. | 10 August 2011 vs. | |
David Parkhouse | 2017–2020 | 3 | 17 | 0.18 | 8 June 2017 vs. | 4 September 2020 vs. | |
Alfie McCalmont | 2019–2022 | 3 | 18 | 0.17 | 14 November 2019 vs. | 12 November 2021 vs. | |
Dale Taylor | 2021– | 3 | 15 | 0.2 | 2 June 2021 vs. | 25 September 2022 vs. | |
Charlie Allen | 2022– | 3 | 14 | 0.21 | 26 March 2024 vs. | 12 October 2024 vs. |
Under-21 graduates
[edit]Players who have won 25 or more Northern Ireland 'Full' caps after playing at least twice for the Northern Ireland U21.
Full caps and goals updated as of 19 June 2023 after the Northern Ireland senior team match against Kazakhstan.
Name | U21 Caps | U21 Goals | U21 Career | Full Caps | Full Goals | Full Career |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chris Baird | 6 | 1 | 2002–2003 | 79 | 0 | 2003–2016 |
Chris Brunt | 2 | 1 | 2005–2006 | 65 | 3 | 2004–2017 |
Roy Carroll | 11 | 0 | 1998–1999 | 45 | 0 | 1997–2017 |
Craig Cathcart | 15 | 0 | 2006–2009 | 72 | 2 | 2010– |
Sammy Clingan | 11 | 1 | 2003–2006 | 39 | 0 | 2006–2014 |
Stuart Dallas | 2 | 0 | 2011–2012 | 62 | 3 | 2011– |
Steven Davis | 3 | 0 | 2003–2004 | 140 | 13 | 2005– |
Stuart Elliott | 3 | 0 | 1998–1999 | 39 | 4 | 2000–2007 |
Corry Evans | 10 | 0 | 2008–2010 | 70 | 2 | 2009– |
Jonny Evans | 3 | 0 | 2006 | 102 | 5 | 2006– |
Warren Feeney | 8 | 2 | 2001–2003 | 46 | 5 | 2002–2011 |
Shane Ferguson | 11 | 0 | 2008–2012 | 57 | 2 | 2009– |
Danny Griffin | 10 | 1 | 1998–1999 | 29 | 1 | 1996–2004 |
David Healy | 8 | 4 | 1998–1999 | 95 | 36 | 2000–2013 |
Damien Johnson | 11 | 0 | 1998–1999 | 56 | 0 | 1999–2009 |
Kyle Lafferty | 2 | 0 | 2006 | 89 | 20 | 2006–2022 |
Neil Lennon | 2 | 0 | 1990–1994 | 40 | 2 | 1994–2002 |
Josh Magennis | 17 | 4 | 2009–2012 | 71 | 10 | 2010– |
Grant McCann | 11 | 3 | 2000–2001 | 39 | 4 | 2001–2012 |
George McCartney | 5 | 0 | 2000–2001 | 34 | 1 | 2001–2010 |
Michael McGovern | 10 | 0 | 2005–2006 | 33 | 0 | 2010–2020 |
Conor McLaughlin | 7 | 0 | 2010–2012 | 43 | 1 | 2011–2021 |
Paddy McNair | 2 | 0 | 2014 | 62 | 6 | 2015– |
Philip Mulryne | 5 | 1 | 1998–1999 | 27 | 3 | 1997–2007 |
Oliver Norwood | 11 | 4 | 2009–2012 | 57 | 0 | 2010–2018 |
Jordan Thompson | 12 | 0 | 2016-2018 | 30 | 0 | 2018– |
Jamie Ward | 7 | 2 | 2006–2008 | 35 | 4 | 2011–2018 |
Gavin Whyte | 7 | 0 | 2015-2018 | 30 | 5 | 2018– |
See also
[edit]- Northern Ireland national football team
- Northern Ireland national under-17 football team
- Northern Ireland national under-19 football team
References
[edit]- ^ Roy Millar managed for the first seven qualifying matches. Steve Beaglehole managed the last game of the qualification campaign.
- ^ Steve Beaglehole managed for the first five qualifying matches. Stephen Robinson managed for the remainder of the qualification campaign.
- ^ Stephen Robinson managed for the first four qualifying matches. Jim Magilton managed for the remainder of the qualification campaign.
- ^ Ian Baraclough managed for the first five qualifying matches. Andy Crosby was appointed caretaker manager for the remainder of the qualification campaign.
- ^ "U21s squad for Euro qualifiers announced". 2 October 2024.