List of Northern Ireland international footballers


This is a list of footballers who have played for the Northern Ireland national football team. The Irish Football Association was formed in 1880, prior to the partition of Ireland. The original Ireland national team was selected by the IFA and included players from all of Ireland. Following the creation of the Irish Free State, the Football Association of Ireland was set up and it picked its own national team. Until 1950, both Irish associations picked players from the whole of the island, which resulted in there being dual Irish international footballers. After complaints by the FAI against this practice being used by the IFA during 1950 FIFA World Cup qualification matches, FIFA decreed that each association should select teams based on their own part of Ireland.
Until the 1950s, the only major competition entered by Northern Ireland/Ireland was the British Home Championship, which operated until 1984. The team won the competition eight times, taking the title outright on three occasions, including the last championship in 1984. The best World Cup performance by Northern Ireland was in their first appearance in the finals, the 1958 World Cup, where they reached the quarter-finals after beating Czechoslovakia 2–1 in a play-off. Northern Ireland became the smallest country to have qualified for the World Cup, a record that stood until Trinidad & Tobago qualified for the 2006 World Cup.
Northern Ireland qualified for the 1982 World Cup. Gerry Armstrong scored the goal in a shock 1–0 win against tournament hosts Spain, which helped the team progress to the second group stage by winning their first group stage. Norman Whiteside became the youngest player ever in the World Cup finals, breaking a record set by Pelé. Northern Ireland also qualified for the 1986 World Cup, but did not progress beyond the first group stage. Billy Bingham, a playing member of the 1958 squad, was manager for both of these tournaments.
Northern Ireland qualified for the UEFA European Football Championship for the first time in 2016. They defeated West Germany 1–0 both home and away in UEFA Euro 1984 qualifying and David Healy set a record for goals scored in one European qualifying section, by scoring 13 times in UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying.

List of players

;Key
*Still active for the national team
CapsAppearances

PlayerPosCapsGoalsFirst capLast cap
DF4019461950
DF1018951895
DF1019351935
DF1018871887
DF4018981899
FW22419731978
MF3019081913
FW631219771986
DF79020032016
FW3018961896
FW1019381938
DF2019091910
FW111219281938
FW1019371937
FW7418941897
FW3119611962
FW3018881889
DF1019001900
MF1020102010
DF1018871887
FW1018871887
DF1018891889
FW37919641977
FW56819511963
MF30119881994
FW1019011901
MF3019311933
FW5019071908
MF5019741976
MF56219491962
MF12119541958
GK5020062011
FW4019141921
FW5019251927
DF3019491950
*FW21120112019
DF5019011904
MF10019621965
FW2020102010
GK9019351939
DF1119121912
FW5119491950
GK2019621965
FW1018911891
DF4019371939
FW1019201920
MF27319801985
*DF1020192019
FW3019211924
MF10119351939
FW1018871887
DF1019261926
MF6019351938
DF5218871888
DF2020132014
MF2019601967
MF65320042017
MF2020102010
FW2019041908
MF1018821882
DF5018941895
DF2019011901
FW8019081913
FW1019221922
DF1019391939
GK9020112012
MF2019631964
MF6119671970
FW2019821982
MF10019861988
FW14118971904
DF1018961896
MF2019501950
DF22020042007
DF7019461949
FW1019251925
GK45019972017
MF4020112012
MF1020092009
*GK5020182018
DF1020092009
MF12219551958
FW8119781982
MF24119711982
*DF50220102019
FW2019861986
FW12319211931
DF3019241925
*DF1018891889
FW381319861992
FW2019011901
MF5019821984
MF47219651976
MF39020062014
GK14018881893
DF3020042005
DF6020092011
MF12019381949
DF8018981901
MF26119751984
GK1019221922
FW3118821886
DF1019781978
DF13019011911
FW3119031904
DF15019321939
DF3018891890
FW6019992000
FW11119331938
MF1019701970
FW1019251925
FW4019551958
FW1019891989
MF5019731973
DF9019081914
DF25019671974
DF54020032011
DF6018891893
FW1119231923
DF12118821890
DF4018891890
FW1019221922
FW3119491955
FW241019591967
DF1019071907
FW3019291929
DF4018921893
DF30019511962
DF4019221923
FW3219261928
MF26719501961
*MF44320112019
FW11418881894
FW5119521953
FW21118971912
FW5119251928
*MF1171220052019
FW1119361936
GK3019961997
FW8018821885
MF18019881997
DF1019901990
DF2018861886
DF12019511954
FW4019701973
FW1019561956
GK1019311931
FW9118821885
FW1019011901
FW2019321932
MF2119841987
DF1019371937
FW16319351950
MF9020032005
DF91019801994
DF1019131913
*MF2020142019
MF1020092009
FW3019201922
FW43819581973
DF1019461946
MF3019741974
FW591219901999
DF24020022012
MF8019271935
GK4019841989
FW7419281932
DF3018851885
FW6019461948
DF40119601969
DF2018891890
MF39420002008
DF2019291929
DF11119191923
FW2119321932
FW1019121912
*MF59220092019
*DF84420062019
MF2019311932
GK7019231925
FW1019381938
DF2019011901
MF7019461949
DF2019461949
FW46520022011
MF1019761976
FW2119661966
FW5019992001
*MF42120092019
FW5119191928
MF3119491951
GK25019911998
MF15319741980
DF2018961896
DF1019291929
*DF5020172019
DF31019861994
DF3018881891
DF4019581960
DF1018991899
DF2018881888
DF2018871887
DF20019301938
FW15418901895
GK1018901890
*MF1020192019
FW11019191927
DF2019501950
FW3219021902
GK5019301931
DF1019251925
MF5020092011
FW1019681968
FW1118951895
MF1020082008
FW6018841889
FW2019311931
FW1119361936
FW10218841889
MF13118941902
FW251319131930
FW1018891889
MF86219942008
GK6018861887
MF10218991904
DF2018891891
DF3018951896
GK2018941895
DF7018911893
DF4019461948
MF9020102011
MF6019311936
MF6019191927
DF14019511958
FW26619922001
FW3019091909
GK25019541963
DF29119962004
*FW13220122018
FW1018971897
FW2119111912
FW7119121921
MF1019991999
FW42519781986
MF49419691980
FW5020032004
GK2018821882
DF5019281931
FW1018851885
FW1019081908
FW1018851885
DF9019111914
GK2019121912
*FW1018991899
FW6119081913
FW5219681970
GK1019221922
DF1019211921
FW20019061914
DF34319611971
DF7018821886
DF2019621962
DF4019371938
*GK1020182018
FW953620002013
MF4019821982
MF7019691973
GK1019101910
GK3018851885
DF2018851885
DF27119901998
FW7019591963
GK7019461951
*DF24020102018
MF1020022002
FW1019251925
MF32019952002
MF1019321932
FW6019121914
DF2018851885
*DF112119982018
MF1019511951
MF2020062006
MF2020062006
MF72519912005
GK3019861987
MF14119621965
DF53119691979
FW8119051909
DF15119951999
GK3018841884
GK2019611963
GK3020052007
FW15319221931
GK8019621965
FW23819631972
MF18019231931
MF35019681977
MF1019751975
DF6019971999
GK119019641986
MF56019992009
FW1219271927
MF2119621966
FW4218821886
FW4018901894
DF1019051905
DF2018851885
DF23019301937
FW3119561957
*MF9020172019
DF2119331933
FW29120032007
FW2018951895
FW1019291929
DF1019481948
FW6019001902
GK9019901994
DF23019571962
GK4019491950
FW1018961896
FW11419311936
FW1019201920
GK1019491949
DF2019231924
DF20019982004
FW3219361937
FW11020002010
FW1019041904
FW17219001909
MF23319091924
DF13020122016
*FW752020062019
*FW4020182019
FW3020092010
FW4019601962
GK2018881888
DF1019391939
DF2019061906
FW3218861889
MF40219942002
DF1018871887
*DF12020182019
GK4018991900
FW9020092012
DF1018841884
MF8319461956
MF44319942003
GK1018911891
MF3020162017
MF6019701973
FW6019191923
DF1018981898
FW6119111913
DF3019231935
FW1019371937
FW3018851885
*FW50720102019
DF26019611966
MF52519912002
DF8019001904
FW1019071907
FW9119261933
DF5019201926
GK9020042016
DF1019011901
FW1019251925
DF6019461950
DF3018821883
FW10319331938
FW2019211921
FW7319021907
FW15719541962
DF2018821882
MF4019371948
FW9118981902
GK1019011901
DF7020102014
FW1018861886
*DF80920052018
FW1019001900
FW4019901991
MF6019481953
FW1018911891
*MF1020192019
FW4019301931
DF9119191929
FW5219121920
MF39420012012
DF7019101913
*FW2020172018
MF18019962001
DF15019031909
DF34120012010
FW4018961899
MF3019541955
MF5119271931
FW3018861886
DF1018951895
DF1019551955
DF9019291932
GK6019601966
DF53119801990
DF12219231931
DF4019071909
DF6019121914
DF8019251928
DF12019041910
FW2019281931
MF6019511953
MF18220022015
MF1019871987
DF1018961896
DF15119021923
DF4019201922
MF67019761990
FW1119571957
DF10019611966
MF5019351936
*DF6020142018
FW1119801980
DF52319851996
DF2019301931
FW4019111913
DF6019831984
FW1020022002
GK6019661973
MF3119501951
FW1019841984
DF7019952000
*MF60420082019
DF24020082016
*GK31020102019
MF21419741979
FW1019241927
FW2019211921
DF1019061906
MF551019511965
MF86519721986
FW2018901891
FW1019241924
FW11020132016
DF2019671968
GK5019061914
DF3018951895
FW1019011901
MF7019491951
FW1019231923
GK1019671967
DF6018921894
FW2019211924
MF1019661966
GK10019871989
FW2219121913
*DF38120112019
FW12619611966
*DF5020142018
DF1020062006
FW1018851885
MF17219951997
DF1019331933
*MF3018971897
DF40019491960
DF2019031905
MF2019621962
DF7019331938
MF21319681972
MF15419461957
MF3019251927
*MF34320152019
MF5019861988
DF3019311931
DF1020122012
FW34919541962
MF5020102011
DF4018991900
FW19019992004
DF2018881889
FW7118821885
FW1019251925
GK1019221922
FW2118991899
FW1019081908
FW11018981905
FW2019311932
DF3019291929
FW1119391939
FW27218941906
DF15019311937
FW2019321933
DF11118831888
DF1019541954
DF2018871887
GK1019491949
FW1019321932
DF3018911891
FW1019231923
DF1018851885
DF3019231929
DF1019121912
MF6119781979
DF7019221928
FW16219721978
DF2018911891
FW7018951902
FW1018961896
DF40119901999
MF3118831884
DF2018851885
MF2020102010
FW2019061906
FW4019831983
DF1019211921
MF27319972005
DF34120002006
FW3019101910
FW3119051905
FW3019101910
DF1019661966
DF59219611973
FW1019221922
DF51119701982
DF52319741983
DF3019021905
DF72119761986
MF41619601971
FW1019141914
DF18019962002
GK4019011902
*MF57020102018
FW13119941998
MF10019211927
DF5019121914
MF11020082013
MF2019701970
MF3019481949
GK2019191920
FW11219051909
DF20119701975
DF1019381938
MF3019891991
FW1019621962
DF39119801986
MF64919711984
MF31419881996
FW3019011904
FW1020112011
DF14019631967
FW22320072014
MF4020142017
DF17119941999
FW5120102011
MF31219511961
*GK14020182019
FW24718871899
MF17219841988
FW1018891889
GK23019761986
DF9018951899
FW2018831883
FW2019321933
FW7218971900
DF9118971902
DF1019311931
FW50419962006
FW461219841995
MF1019791979
DF14019831989
GK2018831883
DF3018821883
FW1019011901
FW1018841884
FW2020142015
FW1019231923
FW6018831890
DF3019331935
DF1019301930
GK2019001902
MF4019101911
MF5118901891
GK1019051905
DF49019681979
FW1019311931
FW2019201921
MF7019972007
DF18019871996
DF16019121926
FW1018861886
DF7018871889
FW1019681968
DF19119931999
FW6219291931
GK1019461946
DF3019291931
MF1019501950
MF3019861989
*MF21020172019
GK25019031913
GK31019201936
MF2019581958
FW1019011901
DF2018951895
DF10019751979
GK13018941900
DF2019211921
DF2019071909
FW1019141914
FW3019031905
MF1019761976
FW3018991900
FW5219031905
FW3118851888
FW3218951895
MF2019061907
FW1019561956
MF14120052012
DF1018881888
FW11519511958
FW2018821882
FW1019091909
FW1019251925
FW2019681970
FW8419031909
FW1019471947
DF11019251931
MF3019791979
FW4018871893
FW18020032005
DF4019211923
FW2019011901
*DF9120162019
GK4019481953
*FW2120182018
FW1018861886
FW9519471951
FW1019191919
MF13019972004
FW29319751982
DF6018901893
FW5018831884
MF11120052007
FW301018871897
MF4019261929
MF3020132014
FW17519331947
DF7019671968
FW1019771977
FW31219821987
DF11018901894
FW1019611961
DF1018991899
DF51719902002
DF1018991899
GK88019992011
DF2020112011
FW12219101914
GK1018971897
*MF7020182019
FW8120052008
*MF1018891889
DF1019111911
DF11019661971
MF2020032003
FW8019221927
DF1018931893
MF26018891901
FW1019671967
GK8020082011
MF10319481958
FW1118961896
FW1018961896
FW3018861888
GK2019381938
GK18019511958
*FW2020182018
DF17019461951
FW1019061906
FW1119551955
FW1019111911
MF5019471948
FW9519461950
*FW35420112018
FW1018991899
DF2019131913
*FW21420162019
DF9018831888
FW1019711971
DF1019261926
FW1018991899
FW3019091911
DF4020062007
MF1019391939
FW4119661967
MF38919821989
FW1118911891
DF1018861886
MF20219972005
MF3019981999
*MF9120182019
FW2118861886
DF36119992005
FW1019911991
MF3018901893
DF2019321933
DF4019061912
DF1018881888
MF24119861992
MF1019251925
FW42619871995
DF3018841884
FW12719611967
FW7218881893
MF1020112011
GK1019951995
DF66019841997
DF6019061907
GK31019891999
FW9219071914