This page details Northern Ireland national under-21 football team records and statistics ; the most capped players, the players with the most goals, and Northern Ireland under-21's match record by opponent.
Player records
Most appearances
Players still active are highlighted in green
Last updated after the match against Luxembourg on 15 October 2024.
Rank
Player
Year(s)
U-21 Caps
U-21 Goals
First Cap
Last Cap
1
Liam Donnelly
2012–2018
24
5
13 November 2012 vs.
16 October 2018 vs.
2
Sean Friars
1998–2001
21
2
21 April 1998 vs.
5 June 2001 vs.
Caolan Boyd-Munce
2017–2022
21
0
25 March 2019 vs.
25 September 2022 vs.
4
Kofi Balmer
2019–2022
20
0
22 March 2019 vs.
4 June 2022 vs.
Ethan Galbraith
2019–2022
20
1
22 March 2019 vs.
7 June 2022 vs.
Aaron Donnelly
2021–
20
0
2 June 2021 vs.
15 October 2024 vs.
7
Terry McFlynn
2000–2003
19
2
28 March 2000 vs.
10 October 2003 vs.
Rory McArdle
2006–2008
19
1
6 February 2006 vs.
26 March 2008 vs.
Thomas Stewart
2006–2008
19
4
6 February 2006 vs.
26 March 2008 vs.
10
Chris Casement
2007–2009
18
2
6 February 2007 vs.
17 November 2009 vs.
Cameron Dummigan
2014–2018
18
0
9 September 2014 vs.
16 October 2018 vs.
Alfie McCalmont
2019–2022
18
3
25 March 2019 vs.
25 September 2022 vs.
13
Jeff Whitley
1998–2000
17
1
21 April 1998 vs.
10 October 2000 vs.
Ciarán Toner
2000–2003
17
1
28 March 2000 vs.
1 April 2003 vs.
Josh Magennis
2009–2012
17
4
11 August 2009 vs.
13 November 2012 vs.
David Parkhouse
2017–2020
17
3
8 June 2017 vs.
8 September 2020 vs.
Carl Johnston
2021–
17
0
2 June 2021 vs.
15 October 2024 vs.
18
Jake Dunwoody
2017–2020
16
1
8 June 2017 vs.
13 October 2020 vs.
19
Richard Graham
1998–2001
15
0
9 October 1998 vs.
5 June 2001 vs.
Aaron Callaghan
2006–2008
15
0
6 February 2006 vs.
26 March 2008 vs.
David Buchanan
2006–2008
15
2
16 May 2006 vs.
26 March 2008 vs.
Trevor Carson
2006–2009
15
0
14 November 2006 vs.
17 November 2009 vs.
Craig Cathcart
2006–2009
15
0
14 November 2006 vs.
17 November 2009 vs.
Dale Gorman
2015–2018
15
1
5 September 2015 vs.
16 October 2018 vs.
Dale Taylor
2021–
15
3
2 June 2021 vs.
15 October 2024 vs.
26
Brian McGlinchey
1998–1999
14
0
21 April 1998 vs.
8 October 1999 vs.
Dave Waterman
1998–1999
14
0
21 April 1998 vs.
8 October 1999 vs.
Gordon Simms
2001–2003
14
0
27 March 2001 vs.
10 June 2003 vs.
Tony Capaldi
2001–2003
14
0
31 August 2001 vs.
10 October 2003 vs.
Robert Garrett
2007–2009
14
0
24 March 2007 vs.
8 September 2009 vs.
Carl Winchester
2011–2014
14
0
9 February 2011 vs.
9 September 2014 vs.
Ryan Johnson
2015–2018
14
2
5 September 2015 vs.
16 October 2018 vs.
Shayne Lavery
2016–2020
14
5
2 September 2016 vs.
17 November 2020 vs.
Jack Scott
2019–
14
0
10 September 2019 vs.
7 June 2022 vs.
Sean Stewart
2021–
14
0
2 June 2021 vs.
12 October 2024 vs.
Terry Devlin
2022–
14
0
28 March 2022 vs.
15 October 2024 vs.
Charlie Allen
2022–
14
3
3 June 2022 vs.
15 October 2024 vs.
Players with an equal number of caps are ranked in chronological order of reaching the milestone.
Top goalscorers
Last updated after the match against Luxembourg on 15 October 2024.
Rank
Player
Year(s)
U-21 Goals
U-21 Caps
Goals per game
First Goal
Last Goal
1
Liam Donnelly
2012–2018
5
24
0.21
8 June 2017 vs.
11 September 2018 vs.
Shayne Lavery
2016–2020
5
14
0.36
10 November 2017 vs.
25 March 2019 vs.
3
Adrian Coote
1998–1999
4
12
0.33
21 April 1998 vs.
17 August 1999 vs.
David Healy
1998–1999
4
8
0.5
17 November 1998 vs.
17 August 1999 vs.
Sam Morrow
2005–2006
4
4
1
8 February 2005 vs.
12 April 2006 vs.
Thomas Stewart
2006–2008
4
19
0.21
16 May 2006 vs.
26 March 2008 vs.
Josh Magennis
2009–2012
4
17
0.24
8 September 2009 vs.
7 September 2012 vs.
Oliver Norwood
2009–2012
4
11
0.36
13 November 2009 vs.
2 March 2010 vs.
Paul O'Neill
2019–2021
4
10
0.4
9 October 2020 vs.
12 November 2021 vs.
10
Gary Hamilton
2000–2001
3
12
0.25
2 June 2000 vs.
10 October 2000 vs.
Mo Harkin
2000–2001
3
9
0.33
28 March 2000 vs.
10 October 2000 vs.
Grant McCann
2000–2001
3
11
0.27
10 October 2000 vs.
5 October 2001 vs.
Lee McEvilly
2002–2003
3
9
0.33
6 September 2002 vs.
1 April 2003 vs.
Chris Turner
2006–2008
3
12
0.25
1 June 2007 vs.
16 November 2007 vs.
Andrew Little
2008–2010
3
6
0.5
18 November 2008 vs.
3 September 2010 vs.
Billy Kee
2009–2011
3
10
0.3
10 August 2011 vs.
10 August 2011 vs.
David Parkhouse
2017–2020
3
17
0.18
8 June 2017 vs.
4 September 2020 vs.
Alfie McCalmont
2019–2022
3
18
0.17
14 November 2019 vs.
12 November 2021 vs.
Dale Taylor
2021–
3
15
0.2
2 June 2021 vs.
25 September 2022 vs.
Charlie Allen
2021–
3
14
0.21
26 March 2024 vs.
12 October 2024 vs.
Players with an equal number of goals are ranked in chronological order of reaching the milestone.
Hat-tricks
The result is presented with Northern Ireland's score first.
More than a hat-trick scored *
Red cards
The result is presented with Northern Ireland's score first.
Player
Date
Opponent
Venue
Result
Type of Game
Ref
Dave Waterman
21 April 1998
Switzerland
Mourneview Park , Lurgan , Northern Ireland
2–1
International Friendly
[ 2]
Damien Johnson
2 June 1999
Republic of Ireland
Caledonian Stadium , Inverness , Scotland
0–1
1999 Presidents Cup
[ 3]
Paul McAreavey
6 October 2000
Denmark
The Oval , Belfast , Northern Ireland
0–3
2002 UEFA U-21 Group 3 Qualifier
[ 4]
Wayne Carlisle
10 October 2000
Iceland
Kaplakriki , Hafnarfjörður , Iceland
2–5
2002 UEFA U-21 Group 3 Qualifier
[ 5]
Hugh Dickson
5 October 2001
Malta
National Stadium , Ta' Qali , Malta
2–2
2002 UEFA U-21 Group 3 Qualifier
[ 6]
Paddy McCourt
1 April 2003
Greece
The Oval , Belfast , Northern Ireland
2–6
2004 UEFA U-21 Group 6 Qualifier
[ 7]
Kieran McKenna
14 November 2006
Germany
Hafenstadion , Torgau , Germany
1–2
International Friendly
[ 8]
Johnny Flynn
11 August 2009
Portugal
Estádio Municipal da Guarda , Guarda , Portugal
1–2
International Friendly
[ 9]
James Knowles
10 August 2011
Faroe Islands
The Oval , Belfast , Northern Ireland
4–0
2013 UEFA U-21 Group 4 Qualifier
[ 10]
Conor McLaughlin
2 September 2011
Serbia
Stadion Karađorđe , Novi Sad , Serbia
0–1
2013 UEFA U-21 Group 4 Qualifier
[ 11]
Shane Ferguson
10 May 2012
Macedonia
Milano Arena , Kumanovo , Macedonia
0–1
2013 UEFA U-21 Group 4 Qualifier
[ 12]
Conor McLaughlin
7 September 2012
Macedonia
The Oval , Belfast , Northern Ireland
1–3
2013 UEFA U-21 Group 4 Qualifier
[ 13]
Liam Donnelly
9 September 2013
Belgium
Den Dreef , Leuven , Belgium
0–1
2015 UEFA U-21 Group 9 Qualifier
[ 14]
Dale Gorman
5 September 2015
Scotland
Mourneview Park , Lurgan , Northern Ireland
1–2
2017 UEFA U-21 Group 3 Qualifier
[ 15]
Conor Hazard
14 October 2019
Romania
Stadionul Anghel Iordănescu , Voluntari , Romania
0–3
2021 UEFA U-21 Group 8 Qualifier
[ 16]
Trai Hume
16 November 2021
Malta
Mourneview Park , Lurgan , Northern Ireland
0–2
2023 UEFA U-21 Group C Qualifier
[ 17]
Aaron Donnelly
10 October 2023
Azerbaijan
Dalga Arena , Baku , Azerbaijan
1–0
2025 UEFA U-21 Group F Qualifier
[ 18]
Charlie Allen
15 October 2024
Luxembourg
Stade Émile Mayrisch , Esch-sur-Alzette , Luxembourg
0–0
2025 UEFA U-21 Group F Qualifier
[ 19]
Individual and Team records
Goal records
Firsts
First under-21 international: 8 March 1978 vs Republic of Ireland
First home under-21 international: 3 April 1990 vs Israel
First win: 3 April 1990 vs Israel
First overseas opponent: Israel , 3 April 1990
First win over an overseas opponent: 3 April 1990 vs Israel
Streaks
Most consecutive victories: 6
Most consecutive matches without defeat: 11
Most consecutive draws: 3
Most consecutive matches without a draw: 25
Most consecutive matches without victory: 14
Most consecutive defeats: 14
Most consecutive matches scoring: 8
Most consecutive matches without scoring: 4
Most consecutive matches conceding a goal: 29
Most consecutive matches without conceding a goal: 3
Biggest wins
Heaviest defeats
Last updated after the match against Luxembourg on 15 October 2024.
Competition
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Win %
Draw %
Loss %
UEFA European Under-21 Championship
110
28
18
64
114
181
-67
25.45%
16.36%
58.18%
International Friendlies
40
16
8
16
46
63
-17
40.00%
20.00%
40.00%
Minor Tournaments
8
1
4
3
7
11
-4
12.50%
50.00%
37.50%
Total
158
45
30
83
167
255
-88
28.48%
18.99%
52.53%
Current manager highlighted in green
Last updated after the match against Luxembourg on 15 October 2024.
Manager
First Game
Last Game
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Win %
Draw %
Loss %
Danny Blanchflower
8 March 1978 vs.
8 March 1978 vs.
1
0
1
0
1
1
0
0.00%
100.00%
0.00%
Billy Bingham
3 April 1990 vs.
3 April 1990 vs.
1
1
0
0
2
1
+1
100.00%
0.00%
0.00%
Bryan Hamilton
22 March 1994 vs.
22 March 1994 vs.
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0.00%
100.00%
0.00%
Roy Millar
21 April 1998 vs.
21 April 1998 vs.
1
1
0
0
2
1
+1
100.00%
0.00%
0.00%
Chris Nicholl
20 May 1998 vs.
8 October 1999 vs.
13
3
5
5
11
13
–2
23.08%
38.46%
38.46%
Roy Millar
28 March 2000 vs.
26 March 2008 vs.
48
18
8
22
64
79
–15
37.50%
16.67%
45.83%
Steve Beaglehole
19 August 2008 vs.
15 November 2011 vs.
21
4
3
14
23
39
–16
19.05%
14.29%
66.67%
Steve Robinson
10 May 2012 vs.
15 October 2013 vs.
10
0
0
10
5
24
–19
0.00%
0.00%
100.00%
Jim Magilton
14 November 2013 vs.
11 October 2016 vs.
14
1
2
11
8
27
–19
7.14%
14.29%
78.57%
Ian Baraclough
8 June 2017 vs.
19 November 2019 vs.
19
9
6
4
22
19
+3
47.37%
31.58%
21.05%
Andy Crosby **
4 September 2020 vs.
5 June 2021 vs.
7
3
0
4
9
11
–2
42.86%
0.00%
57.14%
John Schofield
3 September 2021 vs.
25 September 2022 vs.
11
2
2
7
10
27
–17
18.18%
18.18%
63.64%
Tommy Wright
7 September 2023 vs.
11
3
2
6
10
13
–3
27.27%
18.18%
54.55%
Total
158
45
30
83
167
255
-88
28.48%
18.99%
52.53%
* first two games as caretaker manager
** all 7 games as caretaker manager
Last updated after the match against Luxembourg on 15 October 2024.
Venue
Played
Won
Drawn
Lost
GF
GA
GD
Win %
Draw %
Loss %
Home
73
23
15
35
98
120
-22
31.51%
20.55%
47.95%
Away
80
20
14
46
65
131
-66
25.00%
17.50%
57.50%
Neutral
5
2
1
2
4
4
0
40.00%
20.00%
40.00%
Total
158
45
30
83
167
255
-88
28.48%
18.99%
52.53%
Still active decade highlighted in green
Last updated after the match against Luxembourg on 15 October 2024.
Decade
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Win %
Draw %
Loss %
1970s
1
0
1
0
1
1
0
0.00%
100.00%
0.00%
1990s
16
5
6
5
15
15
0
31.25%
37.50%
31.25%
2000s
59
19
10
30
75
104
-29
32.20%
16.95%
50.85%
2010s
53
13
9
31
47
84
-37
24.53%
16.98%
58.49%
2020s
29
8
4
17
29
51
-22
27.59%
13.79%
58.62%
Total
158
45
30
83
167
255
-88
28.48%
18.99%
52.53%
All-time records
Head to head records
Last updated after the match against Luxembourg on 15 October 2024.
Positive Record
Neutral Record
Negative Record
Opponent
Confederation
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Win %
Draw %
Loss %
Albania
UEFA
2
1
1
0
2
1
+1
50.00%
50.00%
0.00%
Armenia
UEFA
2
1
0
1
3
3
0
50.00%
0.00%
50.00%
Azerbaijan
UEFA
2
2
0
0
6
0
+6
100.00%
0.00%
0.00%
Belgium
UEFA
2
0
0
2
0
2
-2
0.00%
0.00%
100.00%
Bulgaria
UEFA
3
1
1
1
2
3
-1
33.33%
33.33%
33.33%
Cyprus
UEFA
2
1
0
1
1
3
-2
50.00%
0.00%
50.00%
Czech Republic
UEFA
5
0
0
5
1
13
-12
0.00%
0.00%
100.00%
Denmark
UEFA
7
0
0
7
2
18
-16
0.00%
0.00%
100.00%
England
UEFA
3
0
1
2
0
5
-5
0.00%
33.33%
66.67%
Estonia
UEFA
2
2
0
0
6
3
+3
100.00%
0.00%
0.00%
Faroe Islands
UEFA
2
1
1
0
4
0
+4
50.00%
50.00%
0.00%
Finland
UEFA
6
2
2
2
10
9
+1
33.33%
33.33%
33.33%
France
UEFA
4
1
0
3
3
10
-7
25.00%
0.00%
75.00%
Germany
UEFA
9
1
1
7
5
17
-12
11.11%
11.11%
77.78%
Greece
UEFA
2
1
0
1
3
6
-3
50.00%
0.00%
50.00%
Hungary
UEFA
2
0
1
1
3
4
-1
0.00%
50.00%
50.00%
Iceland
UEFA
8
2
2
4
11
15
-4
25.00%
25.00%
50.00%
Israel
UEFA
5
3
0
2
6
6
0
60.00%
0.00%
40.00%
Italy
UEFA
2
0
0
2
0
5
-5
0.00%
0.00%
100.00%
Liechtenstein
UEFA
2
2
0
0
8
1
+7
100.00%
0.00%
0.00%
Lithuania
UEFA
2
1
1
0
5
1
+4
50.00%
50.00%
0.00%
Luxembourg
UEFA
5
3
1
1
8
2
+6
60.00%
20.00%
20.00%
Malta
UEFA
7
3
2
2
10
9
+1
42.86%
28.57%
28.57%
Mexico
CONCACAF
1
1
0
0
2
1
+1
100.00%
0.00%
0.00%
Moldova
UEFA
4
2
2
0
5
1
+4
50.00%
50.00%
0.00%
North Macedonia
UEFA
4
0
0
4
2
8
-6
0.00%
0.00%
100.00%
Poland
UEFA
1
0
0
1
0
1
-1
0.00%
0.00%
100.00%
Portugal
UEFA
1
0
0
1
1
2
-1
0.00%
0.00%
100.00%
Republic of Ireland
UEFA
4
1
2
1
4
4
0
25.00%
50.00%
25.00%
Romania
UEFA
6
0
2
4
1
11
-10
0.00%
33.33%
66.67%
San Marino
UEFA
2
2
0
0
7
0
+7
100.00%
0.00%
0.00%
Scotland
UEFA
15
4
5
6
19
26
-7
26.67%
33.33%
40.00%
Serbia
UEFA
6
1
0
5
5
13
-8
16.67%
0.00%
83.33%
Slovakia
UEFA
4
2
0
2
3
3
0
50.00%
0.00%
50.00%
Spain
UEFA
6
1
0
5
6
20
-14
16.67%
0.00%
83.33%
Switzerland
UEFA
2
1
1
0
2
1
+1
50.00%
50.00%
0.00%
Turkey
UEFA
2
0
0
2
1
4
-3
0.00%
0.00%
100.00%
Ukraine
UEFA
10
1
3
6
7
16
-9
10.00%
30.00%
60.00%
Wales
UEFA
4
1
1
2
3
8
-5
25.00%
25.00%
50.00%
Total
158
45
30
83
167
255
-88
28.48%
18.99%
52.53%
UEFA under-21 teams yet to play against Northern Ireland
Last updated after the match against Luxembourg on 15 October 2024.
Competitive record
Champions Runners-up Third Place Fourth Place
UEFA European Under-21 Championship Record
Minor tournaments
Year
Round
Pos
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
1998 Presidents Cup
Winners, group stage
1st
2
1
1
0
2
1
+1
1999 Presidents Cup
Group stage
3rd
2
0
1
1
1
2
-1
2000 International Challenge Tournament
Group stage
2nd
2
0
2
0
3
3
0
2008 Valeriy Lobanovskyi Memorial Tournament
Group stage
4th
2
0
0
2
1
5
-4
Total
8
1
4
3
7
11
-4
Honours
Titles
Notes
References
External links
General Venues Results Statistics Players Goals World Finals European Finals Other tournaments Culture Other teams