Northern Ireland national under-21 football team


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

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

Results and fixtures

2019

2020

2021 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship

Group stage

Players

Current squad

Players born on or after 1 January 1998 will be eligible until the completion of the 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
The following players were named in the squad for the friendly game against and the 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualifier against on the 15 & 19 November 2019.
Caps and goals updated as of 19 November 2019 after the match against. Names in bold denote players who have been capped for the senior team.

Recent call-ups

The following players have previously been called up to the Northern Ireland under-21 squad in the last year and remain eligible.

Top appearances

Caps and goals updated as of 19 November 2019 after the match against.
RankPlayerClubYearU-21 Caps
1Liam DonnellyFulham, Hartlepool United, Motherwell2012–201824
2Sean FriarsLiverpool, Ipswich Town1998–200121
3Terry McFlynnQueens Park Rangers, Woking, Margate2000–200319
3Rory McArdleSheffield Wednesday, Rochdale2006–200819
3Thomas StewartWolverhampton Wanderers, Linfield2006–200819
6Chris CasementIpswich Town, Dundee2007–200918
6Cameron DummiganBurnley, Oldham Athletic2014–201818
8Jeff WhitleyManchester City1998–200017
8Ciarán TonerTottenham Hotspur, Leyton Orient2000–200317
8Josh MagennisCardiff City, Aberdeen2009–201217

Note: Club'' represents the permanent clubs during the player's time in the Under-21s.

Top goalscorers

Caps and goals updated as of 19 November 2019 after the match against.
RankPlayerClubYearU-21 Goals
1Liam DonnellyFulham, Hartlepool United, Motherwell2012–20185
1Shayne LaveryEverton, Linfield2016–5
3Adrian CooteNorwich City1998–19994
3David HealyManchester United1998–19994
3Sam MorrowHibernian2005–20064
3Thomas StewartWolverhampton Wanderers, Linfield2006–20084
3Josh MagennisCardiff City, Aberdeen2009–20124
3Oliver NorwoodManchester United2009–20124
9Gary HamiltonBlackburn Rovers, Portadown2000–20013
9Mo HarkinWycombe Wanderers2000–20013
9Grant McCannWest Ham United2000–20013
9Lee McEvillyRochdale2002–20033
9Chris TurnerSligo Rovers, Bohemian2006–20083
9Andrew LittleRangers2008–20103
9Billy KeeLeicester City, Torquay United, Burton Albion2009–20113

Note: Club'' represents the permanent clubs during the player's time in the Under-21s.

Under-21 graduates

Players who have won 25 or more Northern Ireland 'Full' caps after playing for Northern Ireland U21.
Full caps and goals updated as of 19 November 2019 after the Northern Ireland senior team match against.
NameU21 CapsU21 GoalsU21 CareerFull CapsFull GoalsFull Career
Chris Baird612002–20037902003–2016
Kingsley Black1019903011988–1994
Noel Brotherston1019782731980–1985
Chris Brunt212005–20066532004–2017
Roy Carroll1101998–19994501997–
Craig Cathcart1502006–20095022010–
Sammy Clingan1112003–20063902006–2014
Stuart Dallas202011–20124432011–
Steven Davis302003–2004117122005–
Mal Donaghy1019789101980–1994
Iain Dowie11199059121990–2000
Stuart Elliott301998–19993942000–2007
Corry Evans1002008–20105922009–
Jonny Evans3020068442006–
Warren Feeney822001–20034652002–2011
Shane Ferguson1102008–20124212009–
Keith Gillespie1019948621994–2008
Danny Griffin1011998–19992911996–2004
Billy Hamilton1019784151979–1989
David Healy841998–199995362000–2013
Michael Hughes1019907151991–2004
Damien Johnson1101998–19995601999–2010
Kyle Lafferty20200675202006–
Neil Lennon201990–19944021994–2002
Josh Magennis1742009–20125072010–
Jim Magilton1019905251991–2002
Grant McCann1132000–20013942001–2012
George McCartney502000–20013412001–2010
David McCreery1019786701976–1990
Michael McGovern1002005–20063102010–
Conor McLaughlin702010–20123812011–
Paddy McNair2020143432015–
Philip Mulryne511998–19992731997–2007
Jimmy Nicholl1019787311976–1986
Oliver Norwood1142009–20125702010–2019
John O'Neill1019783921980–1986
Michael O'Neill1019943141988–1996
James Quinn1019945041996–2007
Maik Taylor1019988801999–2011''
Jamie Ward722006–20083542011–

Managers

Last updated after the match against on 19 November 2019.