Northern Ireland national under-21 football team

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
2022
2023
2024
UEFA European Under-21 Championship
2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification
Coaching staff
Current coaching staff
Manager history
Last updated after the match against on 16 October 2023.
* first two games as caretaker manager
** caretaker manager for all 7 games
Players
Current squad
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 and on the 12 & 16 October 2023.
Caps and goals updated as of 16 October 2023 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 and remain eligible.
COVID = Player withdrew due to a positive COVID test or from being in close contact with someone with a positive COVID test.
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
Top appearances
Caps and goals updated as of 16 October 2023 after the match against .
Top goalscorers
Caps and goals updated as of 16 October 2023 after the match against .
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 .
See also
Northern Ireland national football team
Northern Ireland national under-17 football team
Northern Ireland national under-19 football team
References
External links
NI U21 Appearance Details from NIFG
Under 21s
Northern Ireland national under-21 football team
European national under-21 association football teams
Youth association football in Northern Ireland