Northern Ireland national under-21 football team records and statistics

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 capped players
  Players still active are highlighted in green

Caps and goals updated as of 17 November 2020 after the match against  Ukraine.

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.
3 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.
6 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.
8 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.
12 Jake Dunwoody 2017–2020 16 1 8 June 2017 vs. 13 October 2020 vs.
13 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.
19 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.
27 Liam Burns 1998–1999 13 0 21 April 1998 vs. 8 October 1999 vs.
Shaun Holmes 2000–2001 13 0 28 March 2000 vs. 5 October 2001 vs.
Jonny Tuffey 2006–2008 13 0 14 November 2006 vs. 26 March 2008 vs.
Conor Brennan 2013–2016 13 0 14 August 2013 vs. 29 March 2016 vs.
Paul Smyth 2016–2018 13 1 6 September 2016 vs. 16 October 2018 vs.
Bobby Burns 2018–2020 13 0 26 March 2018 vs. 13 October 2020 vs.
Eoin Toal 2019–2020 13 0 22 March 2019 vs. 17 November 2020 vs.

Players with an equal number of caps are ranked in chronological order of reaching the milestone.

Highest goalscorers

Caps and goals updated as of 17 November 2020 after the match against  Ukraine.

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 0.50 17 November 1998 vs. 17 August 1999 vs.
Sam Morrow 2005–2006 4 4 1.00 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.
9 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 0.50 18 November 2008 vs. 3 September 2010 vs.
Billy Kee 2009–2011 3 10 0.30 10 August 2011 vs. 10 August 2011 vs.
David Parkhouse 2017–2020 3 17 0.18 8 June 2017 vs. 4 September 2020 vs.
Paul O'Neill 2019– 3 6 0.50 9 October 2020 vs. 13 October 2020 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.

Player Goals Date Opponent Venue Result Type of Game Ref
Billy Kee 3 10 August 2011  Faroe Islands The Oval, Belfast, Northern Ireland 4–0 2013 UEFA U-21 Group 4 Qualifier [1]
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]

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

Biggest wins
Best Results by Northern Ireland under-21's
Date Opponent Round Result Difference
1 16 November 2007  Luxembourg 2009 UEFA U-21 Group 9 Qualifier 5–0 +5
2 10 May 2006  Liechtenstein 2007 UEFA U-21 Qualification preliminary round 4–0 +4
3 September 2010  San Marino 2011 UEFA U-21 Group 5 Qualifier 4–0
10 August 2011  Faroe Islands 2013 UEFA U-21 Group 4 Qualifier 4–0
3 10 October 2000  Iceland 2002 UEFA U-21 Group 3 Qualifier 5–2 +3
12 April 2006  Liechtenstein 2007 UEFA U-21 Qualification preliminary round 4–1
20 November 2007  Moldova 2009 UEFA U-21 Group 9 Qualifier 3–0
2 March 2010  San Marino 2011 UEFA U-21 Group 5 Qualifier 3–0

Heaviest defeats
Worst Results by Northern Ireland under-21's
Date Opponent Round Result Difference
1 1 April 2003  Greece 2004 UEFA U-21 Group 6 Qualifier 2–6 -4
8 September 2009  Iceland 2011 UEFA U-21 Group 5 Qualifier 2–6
5 June 2001  Czech Republic 2002 UEFA U-21 Group 3 Qualifier 0–4
6 February 2007  Wales International Friendly 0–4
24 May 2007  Scotland International Friendly 0–4
6 10 June 2003  Spain 2004 UEFA U-21 Group 6 Qualifier 1–4 -3
20 August 2008  Ukraine Valeriy Lobanovskyi Memorial Tournament 1–4
14 August 2013  Denmark International Friendly 1–4
9 September 2014  Serbia 2015 UEFA U-21 Group 9 Qualifier 1–4
6 October 2000  Denmark 2002 UEFA U-21 Group 3 Qualifier 0–3
16 August 2006  Romania 2007 UEFA U-21 Group 10 Qualifier 0–3
7 September 2007  Germany 2009 UEFA U-21 Group 9 Qualifier 0–3
5 September 2008  Germany 2009 UEFA U-21 Group 9 Qualifier 0–3
7 September 2010  Germany 2011 UEFA U-21 Group 5 Qualifier 0–3
6 September 2011  Denmark 2013 UEFA U-21 Group 4 Qualifier 0–3
10 September 2012  Denmark 2013 UEFA U-21 Group 4 Qualifier 0–3
31 May 2013  Cyprus 2015 UEFA U-21 Group 9 Qualifier 0–3
14 November 2013  Italy 2015 UEFA U-21 Group 9 Qualifier 0–3
11 October 2016  France 2017 UEFA U-21 Group 3 Qualifier 0–3
14 October 2019  Romania 2021 UEFA U-21 Group 8 Qualifier 0–3
17 November 2020  Ukraine 2021 UEFA U-21 Group 8 Qualifier 0–3

Performance

Performance by competition

Last updated after the match against  Ukraine on 17 November 2020.

Competition Pld W D L GF GA GD Win % Draw % Loss %
UEFA European Under-21 Championship9223155496153-5725.00%16.30%58.70%
International Friendlies34157124047-744.12%20.59%35.29%
Minor Tournaments8143711-412.50%50.00%37.50%
Total 134 39 26 69 143 211 -68 29.10% 19.40% 51.50%

Performance by manager
  Current manager highlighted in green

Last updated after the match against  Ukraine on 17 November 2020.

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. 10101100.00%100.00%0.00%
Billy Bingham 3 April 1990 vs. 3 April 1990 vs. 110021+1100.00%0.00%0.00%
Bryan Hamilton 22 March 1994 vs. 22 March 1994 vs. 10100000.00%100.00%0.00%
Roy Millar 21 April 1998 vs. 21 April 1998 vs. 110021+1100.00%0.00%0.00%
Chris Nicholl 20 May 1998 vs. 8 October 1999 vs. 133551113–223.08%38.46%38.46%
Roy Millar 28 March 2000 vs. 26 March 2008 vs. 48188226479–1537.50%16.67%45.83%
Steve Beaglehole 19 August 2008 vs. 15 November 2011 vs. 2143142339–1619.05%14.29%66.67%
Steve Robinson 10 May 2012 vs. 15 October 2013 vs. 100010524–190.00%0.00%100.00%
Jim Magilton 14 November 2013 vs. 11 October 2016 vs. 141211827–197.14%14.29%78.57%
Ian Baraclough 8 June 2017 vs. 19 November 2019 vs. 199642219+347.37%31.58%21.05%
Andy Crosby** 4 September 2020 vs. - 520357–240.00%0.00%60.00%
Total 134 39 26 69 143 211 -68 29.10% 19.40% 51.50%
  • * first two games as caretaker manager
  • ** caretaker manager

Performance by venue

Last updated after the match against  Ukraine on 17 November 2020.

Venue Played Won Drawn Lost GF GA GD Win % Draw % Loss %
Home6320142985104-1931.75%22.22%46.03%
Away6617113854103-4925.76%16.67%57.58%
Neutral521244040.00%20.00%40.00%
Total 134 39 26 69 143 211 -68 29.10% 19.40% 51.50%

Performance by decade
  Still active decade highlighted in green

Last updated after the match against  Ukraine on 17 November 2020.

Decade Pld W D L GF GA GD Win % Draw % Loss %
1970s10101100.00%100.00%0.00%
1990s165651515031.25%37.50%31.25%
2000s5919103075104-2932.20%16.95%50.85%
2010s53139314784-3724.53%16.98%58.49%
2020s520357-240.00%0.00%60.00%
Total 134 39 26 69 143 211 -68 29.10% 19.40% 51.50%

All-time records

Head to head records

Last updated after match against  Ukraine on 17 November 2020.

  Positive Record   Neutral Record   Negative Record

Opponent Confederation Pld W D L GF GA GD Win % Draw % Loss %
 AlbaniaUEFA211021+150.00%50.00%0.00%
 ArmeniaUEFA210133050.00%0.00%50.00%
 BelgiumUEFA200202-20.00%0.00%100.00%
 BulgariaUEFA311123-133.33%33.33%33.33%
 CyprusUEFA210113-250.00%0.00%50.00%
 Czech RepublicUEFA4004110-90.00%0.00%100.00%
 DenmarkUEFA7007218-160.00%0.00%100.00%
 EnglandUEFA100102-20.00%0.00%100.00%
 EstoniaUEFA220063+3100.00%0.00%0.00%
 Faroe IslandsUEFA211040+450.00%50.00%0.00%
 FinlandUEFA6222109+133.33%33.33%33.33%
 FranceUEFA310235-233.33%0.00%66.67%
 GermanyUEFA9117517-1211.11%11.11%77.78%
 GreeceUEFA210136-350.00%0.00%50.00%
 HungaryUEFA201134-10.00%50.00%50.00%
 IcelandUEFA82241115-425.00%25.00%50.00%
 IsraelUEFA530266060.00%0.00%40.00%
 ItalyUEFA200205-50.00%0.00%100.00%
 LiechtensteinUEFA220081+7100.00%0.00%0.00%
 LuxembourgUEFA330081+7100.00%0.00%0.00%
 MaltaUEFA532093+660.00%40.00%0.00%
 MexicoCONCACAF110021+1100.00%0.00%0.00%
 MoldovaUEFA422051+450.00%50.00%0.00%
 North MacedoniaUEFA400428-60.00%0.00%100.00%
 PolandUEFA100101-10.00%0.00%100.00%
 PortugalUEFA100112-10.00%0.00%100.00%
 Republic of IrelandUEFA412144025.00%50.00%25.00%
 RomaniaUEFA6024111-100.00%33.33%66.67%
 San MarinoUEFA220070+7100.00%0.00%0.00%
 ScotlandUEFA113441318-527.27%36.36%36.36%
 SerbiaUEFA4004210-80.00%0.00%100.00%
 SlovakiaUEFA210111050.00%0.00%50.00%
 SpainUEFA4103611-525.00%0.00%75.00%
  SwitzerlandUEFA211021+150.00%50.00%0.00%
 TurkeyUEFA200214-30.00%0.00%100.00%
 UkraineUEFA8134613-712.50%37.50%50.00%
 WalesUEFA411238-525.00%25.00%50.00%
Total 134 39 26 69 143 211 -68 29.10% 19.40% 51.50%

UEFA under-21 teams yet to play against Northern Ireland

Last updated after match against  Ukraine on 17 November 2020.

UEFA Members
 Andorra
 Austria
 Azerbaijan
 Belarus
 Bosnia and Herzegovina
 Croatia
 Georgia
 Gibraltar
 Kazakhstan
 Kosovo
 Latvia
 Lithuania
 Montenegro
 Netherlands
 Norway
 Russia
 Slovenia
 Sweden

Competitive record

  Champions   Runners-up   Third Place   Fourth Place

UEFA European Under-21 Championship Record
UEFA Under-21 Football Championship finals record Qualification record Manager(s)
Year Round Pos Pld W D L GF GA Squad Pld W D L GF GA
1978 Did not enter Did not enter None
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000 Did not qualify 8 1 3 4 5 9 Chris Nicholl
2002 10 2 2 6 12 21 Roy Millar
2004 8 2 1 5 8 16
2006 Did not enter Did not enter None
2007 Did not qualify 4 2 0 2 10 7 Roy Millar
2009 8 4 0 4 13 12 Roy Millar, Steve Beaglehole[note 1]
2011 8 2 1 5 12 16 Steve Beaglehole
2013 8 1 1 6 5 13 Steve Beaglehole, Stephen Robinson[note 2]
2015 8 1 0 7 3 17 Stephen Robinson, Jim Magilton[note 3]
2017 10 0 2 8 6 18 Jim Magilton
2019 10 6 2 2 15 11 Ian Baraclough
2021 10 2 3 5 7 13 Ian Baraclough, Andy Crosby[note 4]
Total - 0/23 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 92 23 15 54 96 153 -

Minor tournaments
Year Round Pos Pld W D L GF GA GD
1998 Presidents CupWinners, group stage1st211021+1
1999 Presidents CupGroup stage3rd201112-1
2000 International Challenge TournamentGroup stage2nd2020330
2008 Valeriy Lobanovskyi Memorial TournamentGroup stage4th200215-4
Total 8 1 4 3 7 11 -4

Honours

Titles
  • Presidents Cup
    • Winners (1): 1998

Notes
    1. Roy Millar managed for the first seven qualifying matches. Steve Beaglehole managed the last game of the qualification campaign.
    2. Steve Beaglehole managed for the first five qualifying matches. Stephen Robinson managed the remainder of the qualification campaign.
    3. Stephen Robinson managed for the first four qualifying matches. Jim Magilton managed the remainder of the qualification campaign.
    4. Ian Baraclough managed for the first five qualifying matches. Andy Crosby was appointed caretaker manager for the remainder of the qualification campaign.

    References
    1. "Under-21 2013 - History - Northern Ireland-Faroe Islands".
    2. "Northern Ireland v Switzerland, 21 April 1998 - 11v11 match report".
    3. "Northern Ireland u21 Lineups".
    4. "Under-21 2002 - History - Northern Ireland-Denmark – UEFA.com".
    5. "Under-21 2002 - History - Iceland-Northern Ireland – UEFA.com".
    6. "Under-21 2002 - History - Malta-Northern Ireland – UEFA.com".
    7. "Under-21 2004 - History - Northern Ireland-Greece – UEFA.com".
    8. "BBC SPORT - Germany U21 2-1 N Ireland U21".
    9. "Northern Ireland u21 Lineups".
    10. "Under-21 2013 - History - Northern Ireland-Faroe Islands – UEFA.com".
    11. "Under-21 2013 - History - Serbia-Northern Ireland – UEFA.com".
    12. "Under-21 2013 - History - FYR Macedonia-Northern Ireland – UEFA.com".
    13. "Under-21 2013 - History - Northern Ireland-FYR Macedonia – UEFA.com".
    14. "Under-21 2015 - History - Belgium-Northern Ireland – UEFA.com".
    15. "Under-21 2017 - History - Northern Ireland-Scotland – UEFA.com".
    16. "Romania-Northern Ireland - Under-21 - UEFA.com".
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