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''

Coaching staff

Current coaching staff

PositionName
Manager

Manager history

Last updated after the match against Greece on 18 November 2025.
  • * first two games as caretaker manager
  • ** caretaker manager for all 7 games

Players

Current squad

Players born on or after 1 January 2004 will be eligible until the completion of the 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
The following players were named in the squad for a 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification Group F matches against Latvia and Greece on the 13 and 18 November 2025; respectively.
Last updated after the match against Greece on 18 November 2025.
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 and remain eligible.
INJ = Player withdrew from the squad before any games had been played.

PRE = Preliminary squad / standby.

SEN = Player withdrew from the squad due to a call up to the senior team.

SUS = Suspended from national team.

WTD = Withdrew due to other reasons.

Player records

Most appearances

Last updated after the match against Greece on 18 November 2025.
RankPlayerYearU-21 CapsU-21 GoalsFirst CapLast Cap
1Liam Donnelly2012–201824513 November 2012 vs. 16 October 2018 vs.
2Sean Friars1998–200121221 April 1998 vs. 5 June 2001 vs.
2Caolan Boyd-Munce2017–202221025 March 2019 vs. 25 September 2022 vs.
4Kofi Balmer2019–202220022 March 2019 vs. 4 June 2022 vs.
4Ethan Galbraith2019–202220122 March 2019 vs. 7 June 2022 vs.
4Aaron Donnelly2021–20242002 June 2021 vs. 15 October 2024 vs.
7Terry McFlynn2000–200319228 March 2000 vs. 10 October 2003 vs.
7Rory McArdle2006–20081916 February 2006 vs. 26 March 2008 vs.
7Thomas Stewart2006–20081946 February 2006 vs. 26 March 2008 vs.
10Chris Casement2007–20091826 February 2007 vs. 17 November 2009 vs.
10Cameron Dummigan2014–20181809 September 2014 vs. 16 October 2018 vs.
10Alfie McCalmont2019–202218325 March 2019 vs. 25 September 2022 vs.

Top goalscorers

Last updated after the match against Greece on 18 November 2025.
RankPlayerYearU-21 GoalsU-21 CapsGoals per gameFirst GoalLast Goal
1Liam Donnelly2012–20185248 June 2017 vs. 11 September 2018 vs.
1Shayne Lavery2016–202051410 November 2017 vs. 25 March 2019 vs.
3Adrian Coote1998–199941221 April 1998 vs. 17 August 1999 vs.
3David Healy1998–19994817 November 1998 vs. 17 August 1999 vs.
3Sam Morrow2005–2006448 February 2005 vs. 12 April 2006 vs.
3Thomas Stewart2006–200841916 May 2006 vs. 26 March 2008 vs.
3Josh Magennis2009–20124178 September 2009 vs. 7 September 2012 vs.
3Oliver Norwood2009–201241113 November 2009 vs. 2 March 2010 vs.
3Paul O'Neill2019–20214109 October 2020 vs. 12 November 2021 vs.
10Gary Hamilton2000–20013122 June 2000 vs. 10 October 2000 vs.
10Mo Harkin2000–20013928 March 2000 vs. 10 October 2000 vs.
10Grant McCann2000–200131110 October 2000 vs. 5 October 2001 vs.
10Lee McEvilly2002–2003396 September 2002 vs. 1 April 2003 vs.
10Chris Turner2006–20083121 June 2007 vs. 16 November 2007 vs.
10Andrew Little2008–20103618 November 2008 vs. 3 September 2010 vs.
10Billy Kee2009–201131010 August 2011 vs. 10 August 2011 vs.
10David Parkhouse2017–20203178 June 2017 vs. 4 September 2020 vs.
10Alfie McCalmont2019–202231814 November 2019 vs. 12 November 2021 vs.
10Dale Taylor2021–20243152 June 2021 vs. 25 September 2022 vs.
10Charlie Allen2022–202431426 March 2024 vs. 12 October 2024 vs.

Under-21 graduates

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.
NameU21 CapsU21 GoalsU21 CareerFull CapsFull GoalsFull Career
Chris Baird612002–20037902003–2016
Chris Brunt212005–20066532004–2017
Roy Carroll1101998–19994501997–2017
Craig Cathcart1502006–20097222010–
Sammy Clingan1112003–20063902006–2014
Stuart Dallas202011–20126232011–
Steven Davis302003–2004140132005–
Stuart Elliott301998–19993942000–2007
Corry Evans1002008–20107022009–
Jonny Evans30200610252006–
Warren Feeney822001–20034652002–2011
Shane Ferguson1102008–20125722009–
Danny Griffin1011998–19992911996–2004
David Healy841998–199995362000–2013
Damien Johnson1101998–19995601999–2009
Kyle Lafferty20200689202006–2022
Neil Lennon201990–19944021994–2002
Josh Magennis1742009–201271102010–
Grant McCann1132000–20013942001–2012
George McCartney502000–20013412001–2010
Michael McGovern1002005–20063302010–2020
Conor McLaughlin702010–20124312011–2021
Paddy McNair2020146262015–
Philip Mulryne511998–19992731997–2007
Oliver Norwood1142009–20125702010–2018
Jordan Thompson1202016-20183002018–
Jamie Ward722006–20083542011–2018
Gavin Whyte702015-20183052018–