# Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team

The Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team is a representative team of Irish football players. It is governed by the Football Association of Ireland and represents them at Under-21 level against the national teams of other national associations. The team played its first match in 1978 and has competed in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship since 1988.

## History

As a European under-21 team, the Republic of Ireland participates in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, which takes place every two years. There is no Under-21 World Cup, although there is an Under-20 World Cup. Ireland did not enter the first five Under-21 Championships, entering for the first time in 1988 but failing to qualify. Ireland have never qualified for the European Under-21 Championships.

### UEFA European Under-21 Championship record

| UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship record | UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship record | UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship record | UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship record | UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship record | UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship record | UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship record | UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship record | | UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Qualification record | UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Qualification record | UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Qualification record | UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Qualification record | UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Qualification record | UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Qualification record |
| Year | Round | Pld | W | D * | L | GF | GA | | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
| 1978 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1980 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1982 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1984 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1986 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1988 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 |
| 1990 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1992 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 14 |
| 1994 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 20 |
| 1996 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 9 |
| 1998 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 11 | 7 |
| 2000 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 12 |
| 2002 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 7 |
| 2004 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 11 |
| 2006 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 14 |
| 2007 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2009 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 14 |
| 2011 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | | 10 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 11 |
| 2013 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 10 |
| 2015 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 12 |
| 2017 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | | 10 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 14 | 17 |
| 2019 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 15 |
| 2021 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 8 |
| 2023 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | | 12 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 17 | 11 |
| 2025 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 24 | 12 |
| Total | – | | | | | | | | 144 | 48 | 31 | 65 | 184 | 199 |
    *Draws include knockout matches decided by penalty shootout.

## UEFA European Under-21 Championship
### 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | | | | | | |
| 1 | England | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Final tournament | — | 14 Nov | 2 Oct '26 | 31 Mar '26 | 25 Sep '26 | 13 Oct |
| 2 | Republic of Ireland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Play-offs | 6 Oct '26 | — | 10 Oct | 26 Mar '26 | 29 Sep '26 | 9 Sep |
| 3 | Slovakia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 18 Nov | 25 Sep '26 | — | 14 Oct | 13 Nov | 5 Sep |
| 4 | Moldova | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 10 Oct | 4 Sep | 9 Sep | — | 6 Oct '26 | 10 Jun |
| 5 | Kazakhstan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 8 Sep | 31 Mar '26 | 27 Mar '26 | 17 Nov | — | 5 Jun |
| 6 | Andorra | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 27 Mar '26 | 9 Sep | 6 Oct '26 | 2 Oct '26 | 9 Oct | — |

## Results and fixtures

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

### Legend

Win  Draw  Lose  Fixture

### 2026
## Staff

The Under-21s' management team includes:
| Position | Name | Appointed |
| Head coach | Jim Crawford | 5 April 2020 |
| Assistant coach | Paul McShane | 28 August 2023 |
| Assistant coach | Stephen Rice | 29 August 2024 |
| Goalkeeping coach | Rene Gilmartin | 24 April 2020 |
| Lead Performance Analyst | Martin Doyle | April 2020 |
| Sports Scientist | Paul Walsh | 18 March 2023 |
| Sports Scientist | Adam Fox | June 2021 |
| Chartered Physiotherapist | Glauber Barduzzi | 24 April 2019 |
| Athletic Therapist | Kieran Murray | March 2022 |
| Doctor | Dr Mortimer O'Connor | March 2021 |
| Performance Nutritionist | Ian Byrne | March 2023 |
| Kitman | John Crudden | May 2023 |

## Players
### Current squad

Players born on or after 1 January 2004 are eligible for the 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
The following players were called up for the Friendly fixtures against Scotland U21 and Hungary U21 in San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain on 21 & 24 March 2025.
Caps and goals updated as of 17 November 2024, after the game vs Sweden.
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
| 1GK | Conor Walsh | (2005-03-17) 17 March 2005 (age 19) | 1 | 0 | Sligo Rovers |
| 1GK | Noah Jauny | (2004-08-26) 26 August 2004 (age 20) | 1 | 0 | Brest |
| 1GK | Aaron Maguire | (2004-07-25) 25 July 2004 (age 20) | 1 | 0 | Tottenham Hotspur |
| 2DF | Seán Grehan | (2004-01-08) 8 January 2004 (age 21) | 5 | 0 | Bohemians |
| 2DF | Connor O'Brien | (2004-07-12) 12 July 2004 (age 20) | 5 | 0 | Accrington Stanley |
| 2DF | Alex Murphy | (2004-06-25) 25 June 2004 (age 20) | 4 | 0 | Bolton Wanderers |
| 2DF | Jacob Slater | (2004-10-05) 5 October 2004 (age 20) | 2 | 0 | Brighton & Hove Albion |
| 2DF | David Okagbue | (2004-02-04) 4 February 2004 (age 21) | 1 | 0 | Walsall |
| 2DF | Gabriel Otegbayo | (2005-02-11) 11 February 2005 (age 20) | 0 | 0 | Sheffield Wednesday |
| 2DF | Connor Barratt | (2004-04-05) 5 April 2004 (age 20) | 0 | 0 | Barnsley |
| 2DF | Conor McManus | (2004-06-16) 16 June 2004 (age 20) | 0 | 0 | Brentford |
| 3MF | Jamie Mullins | (2004-09-29) 29 September 2004 (age 20) | 2 | 1 | Brighton & Hove Albion |
| 3MF | Adam Murphy | (2005-04-08) 8 April 2005 (age 19) | 2 | 0 | Bristol City |
| 3MF | Darius Lipsiuc | (2005-09-16) 16 September 2005 (age 19) | 2 | 0 | Walsall |
| 3MF | Joe O'Brien-Whitmarsh | (2005-05-11) 11 May 2005 (age 19) | 2 | 0 | Accrington Stanley |
| 3MF | Jack Moorhouse | (2005-11-29) 29 November 2005 (age 19) | 0 | 0 | Manchester United |
| 3MF | Ronan Maher | (2004-12-30) 30 December 2004 (age 20) | 0 | 0 | Tamworth |
| 4FW | Mark O'Mahony | (2005-01-15) 15 January 2005 (age 20) | 7 | 1 | Portsmouth |
| 4FW | Jad Hakiki | (2004-06-23) 23 June 2004 (age 20) | 2 | 0 | Sligo Rovers |
| 4FW | Harry Vaughan | (2004-04-06) 6 April 2004 (age 20) | 1 | 0 | Hull City |
| 4FW | Mason Melia | (2007-09-22) 22 September 2007 (age 17) | 0 | 0 | St Patrick's Athletic |
| 4FW | Franco Umeh | (2005-01-26) 26 January 2005 (age 20) | 0 | 0 | Crystal Palace |
| 4FW | Joe Gardner | (2005-06-06) 6 June 2005 (age 19) | 0 | 0 | Lincoln City |

### Recent call-ups

The following players have also been called up to the Republic of Ireland under-21 squad and remain eligible:
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
| GK | Andrew Wogan | (2005-12-01) 1 December 2005 (age 19) | 0 | 0 | Stockport County | v. San Marino, 22 March 2024 |
| GK | Owen Mason | (2004-03-24) 24 March 2004 (age 20) | 0 | 0 | Gateshead | v. Latvia, 13 October 2023$^{PRE}$ |
| DF | James Abankwah$^{SEN}$ | (2004-01-16) 16 January 2004 (age 21) | 9 | 0 | Watford | v. Sweden, 17 November 2024 |
| DF | Sam Curtis | (2005-12-01) 1 December 2005 (age 19) | 14 | 1 | St Johnstone | v. Italy, 15 October 2024 |
| MF | Rocco Vata$^{SEN}$ | (2005-04-18) 18 April 2005 (age 19) | 7 | 6 | Watford | v. Sweden, 17 November 2024 |
| MF | Ed McJannet | (2004-01-25) 25 January 2004 (age 21) | 4 | 0 | Audace Cerignola | v. Sweden, 17 November 2024 |
| MF | Glory Nzingo | (2004-11-04) 4 November 2004 (age 20) | 2 | 0 | Carolina Core | v. Sweden, 17 November 2024 |
| FW | Tommy Lonergan | (2004-01-02) 2 January 2004 (age 21) | 2 | 0 | Waterford | v. Sweden, 17 November 2024 |
| FW | Sean Moore | (2005-08-13) 13 August 2005 (age 19) | 2 | 0 | West Ham United | v. Sweden, 17 November 2024 |
| FW | Kevin Zefi | (2005-02-11) 11 February 2005 (age 20) | 1 | 0 | AS Roma | v. Sweden, 17 November 2024 |
| FW | Ben Quinn | (2004-11-11) 11 November 2004 (age 20) | 1 | 0 | Mansfield Town | v. Sweden, 17 November 2024 |
| FW | Adrien Thibaut | (2004-07-11) 11 July 2004 (age 20) | 1 | 0 | Crewe Alexandra | v. Sweden, 17 November 2024 |
| $^{INJ}$ Withdrew from latest squad due to injury $^{WD}$ Withdrew from latest squad $^{PRE}$ Preliminary squad / standby $^{SUS}$ Player is suspended $^{SEN}$ Player called up to Senior squad |||||||
Note: Names in italics denote players that have been capped for the senior team.