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.
Last updated after the match against
Germany on 14 October 2025.
| 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 | 2021–2024 | 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 | 2021–2024 | 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. |
| Patrick Kelly | 2023– | 16 | 1 | 7 September 2023 vs. | 14 October 2025 vs. | |
| 20 | 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 | 2021–2024 | 15 | 3 | 2 June 2021 vs. | 15 October 2024 vs. | |
| 27 | 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 | 2019–2022 | 14 | 0 | 10 September 2019 vs. | 7 June 2022 vs. | |
| Sean Stewart | 2021–2024 | 14 | 0 | 2 June 2021 vs. | 12 October 2024 vs. | |
| Terry Devlin | 2022–2024 | 14 | 0 | 28 March 2022 vs. | 15 October 2024 vs. | |
| Charlie Allen | 2022–2024 | 14 | 3 | 3 June 2022 vs. | 15 October 2024 vs. | |
| Tommy Fogarty | 2023– | 14 | 0 | 12 September 2023 vs. | 14 October 2025 vs. | |
Players with an equal number of caps are ranked in chronological order of reaching the milestone.
Last updated after the match against
Germany on 14 October 2025.
| 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 | 2021–2024 | 3 | 15 | 0.2 | 2 June 2021 vs. | 25 September 2022 vs. | |
| Charlie Allen | 2021–2024 | 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.
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 | The Oval, Belfast, Northern Ireland | 4–0 | 2013 UEFA U-21 Group 4 Qualifier | [1] | |
| More than a hat-trick scored * |
The result is presented with Northern Ireland's score first.
| Best Results by Northern Ireland under-21's | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Opponent | Round | Result | Difference | |
| 1 | 16 November 2007 | | 5–0 | +5 | |
| 12 October 2024 | | 5–0 | |||
| 3 | 10 May 2006 | | 4–0 | +4 | |
| 3 September 2010 | | 4–0 | |||
| 10 August 2011 | | 4–0 | |||
| 12 November 2021 | | 4–0 | |||
| 7 | 10 October 2000 | | 5–2 | +3 | |
| 12 April 2006 | | 4–1 | |||
| 20 November 2007 | | 3–0 | |||
| 2 March 2010 | | 3–0 | |||
Last updated after the match against
Germany on 14 October 2025.
| Competition | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | Draw % | Loss % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UEFA European Under-21 Championship | 113 | 29 | 19 | 65 | 118 | 184 | -66 | 25.66% | 16.81% | 57.52% |
| International Friendlies | 43 | 17 | 9 | 17 | 48 | 65 | -17 | 39.53% | 20.93% | 39.53% |
| Minor Tournaments | 8 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 11 | -4 | 12.50% | 50.00% | 37.50% |
| Total | 164 | 47 | 32 | 85 | 173 | 260 | -87 | 28.66% | 19.51% | 51.83% |
Last updated after the match against
Germany on 14 October 2025.
| Manager | First Game | Last Game | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | Draw % | Loss % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | 8 March 1978 vs. | 8 March 1978 vs. | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | 100.00% | 0.00% |
| | 3 April 1990 vs. | 3 April 1990 vs. | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 100.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| | 22 March 1994 vs. | 22 March 1994 vs. | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00% | 100.00% | 0.00% |
| | 21 April 1998 vs. | 21 April 1998 vs. | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 100.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| | 20 May 1998 vs. | 8 October 1999 vs. | 13 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 13 | –2 | 23.08% | 38.46% | 38.46% |
| | 28 March 2000 vs. | 26 March 2008 vs. | 48 | 18 | 8 | 22 | 64 | 79 | –15 | 37.50% | 16.67% | 45.83% |
| | 19 August 2008 vs. | 15 November 2011 vs. | 21 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 23 | 39 | –16 | 19.05% | 14.29% | 66.67% |
| | 10 May 2012 vs. | 15 October 2013 vs. | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 24 | –19 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 100.00% |
| | 14 November 2013 vs. | 11 October 2016 vs. | 14 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 8 | 27 | –19 | 7.14% | 14.29% | 78.57% |
| | 8 June 2017 vs. | 19 November 2019 vs. | 19 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 22 | 19 | +3 | 47.37% | 31.58% | 21.05% |
| | 4 September 2020 vs. | 5 June 2021 vs. | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 11 | –2 | 42.86% | 0.00% | 57.14% |
| | 3 September 2021 vs. | 25 September 2022 vs. | 11 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 10 | 27 | –17 | 18.18% | 18.18% | 63.64% |
| | 7 September 2023 vs. | 17 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 16 | 18 | –2 | 29.41% | 23.53% | 47.06% | |
| Total | 164 | 47 | 32 | 85 | 173 | 260 | -87 | 28.66% | 19.51% | 51.83% | ||
Last updated after the match against
Germany on 14 October 2025.
| Venue | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | GF | GA | GD | Win % | Draw % | Loss % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 75 | 24 | 15 | 36 | 101 | 122 | -21 | 32.00% | 20.00% | 48.00% |
| Away | 81 | 20 | 15 | 46 | 66 | 132 | -66 | 24.69% | 18.52% | 56.79% |
| Neutral | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 37.50% | 25.00% | 37.50% |
| Total | 164 | 47 | 32 | 85 | 173 | 260 | -87 | 28.66% | 19.51% | 51.83% |
Last updated after the match against
Germany on 14 October 2025.
| 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 | 35 | 10 | 6 | 19 | 35 | 56 | -21 | 28.57% | 17.14% | 54.29% |
| Total | 164 | 47 | 32 | 85 | 173 | 260 | -87 | 28.66% | 19.51% | 51.83% |
Last updated after the match against
Germany on 14 October 2025.
Positive Record Neutral Record Negative Record
| Opponent | Confederation | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | Draw % | Loss % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UEFA | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 50.00% | 50.00% | 0.00% | |
| UEFA | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 50.00% | 0.00% | 50.00% | |
| UEFA | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | +6 | 100.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | |
| UEFA | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 100.00% | |
| UEFA | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 33.33% | 33.33% | 33.33% | |
| UEFA | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 50.00% | 0.00% | 50.00% | |
| UEFA | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 13 | -12 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 100.00% | |
| UEFA | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 18 | -16 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 100.00% | |
| UEFA | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | -5 | 0.00% | 33.33% | 66.67% | |
| UEFA | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 100.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | |
| UEFA | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 50.00% | 50.00% | 0.00% | |
| UEFA | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 9 | +1 | 33.33% | 33.33% | 33.33% | |
| UEFA | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 10 | -7 | 25.00% | 0.00% | 75.00% | |
| UEFA | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | 100.00% | 0.00% | |
| UEFA | 10 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 19 | -13 | 10.00% | 10.00% | 80.00% | |
| UEFA | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 50.00% | 0.00% | 50.00% | |
| UEFA | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 0.00% | 50.00% | 50.00% | |
| UEFA | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 15 | -4 | 25.00% | 25.00% | 50.00% | |
| UEFA | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 60.00% | 0.00% | 40.00% | |
| UEFA | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | -5 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 100.00% | |
| UEFA | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | +7 | 100.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | |
| UEFA | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | +4 | 50.00% | 50.00% | 0.00% | |
| UEFA | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 2 | +6 | 60.00% | 20.00% | 20.00% | |
| UEFA | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 9 | +3 | 50.00% | 25.00% | 25.00% | |
| CONCACAF | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 100.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | |
| UEFA | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 2 | +4 | 40.00% | 60.00% | 0.00% | |
| UEFA | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 8 | -6 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 100.00% | |
| UEFA | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 100.00% | |
| UEFA | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 100.00% | |
| UEFA | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 25.00% | 50.00% | 25.00% | |
| UEFA | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 11 | -10 | 0.00% | 33.33% | 66.67% | |
| UEFA | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | +7 | 100.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | |
| UEFA | 15 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 19 | 26 | -7 | 26.67% | 33.33% | 40.00% | |
| UEFA | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 13 | -8 | 16.67% | 0.00% | 83.33% | |
| UEFA | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 50.00% | 0.00% | 50.00% | |
| UEFA | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 20 | -14 | 16.67% | 0.00% | 83.33% | |
| UEFA | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 50.00% | 50.00% | 0.00% | |
| UEFA | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 100.00% | |
| UEFA | 11 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 17 | -10 | 9.09% | 27.27% | 63.64% | |
| AFC | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 100.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | |
| UEFA | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | -5 | 25.00% | 25.00% | 50.00% | |
| Total | 164 | 47 | 32 | 85 | 173 | 260 | -87 | 28.66% | 19.51% | 51.83% | |
Last updated after the match against
Germany on 14 October 2025.
| UEFA Members |
|---|
Champions Runners-up Third Place Fourth Place
| 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 | ||||||||||||||||||
| | ||||||||||||||||||
| | ||||||||||||||||||
| | ||||||||||||||||||
| | Did not qualify | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 9 | Chris Nicholl | ||||||||||
| | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 12 | 21 | Roy Millar | |||||||||||
| | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 16 | ||||||||||||
| | Did not enter | Did not enter | None | |||||||||||||||
| | Did not qualify | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 7 | Roy Millar | ||||||||||
| | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 12 | Roy Millar, Steve Beaglehole [note 1] | |||||||||||
| | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 12 | 16 | Steve Beaglehole | |||||||||||
| | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 13 | Steve Beaglehole, Stephen Robinson [note 2] | |||||||||||
| | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 17 | Stephen Robinson, Jim Magilton [note 3] | |||||||||||
| | 10 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 18 | Jim Magilton | |||||||||||
| | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 11 | Ian Baraclough | |||||||||||
| | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 13 | Ian Baraclough, Andy Crosby [note 4] | |||||||||||
| | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 18 | John Schofield | |||||||||||
| | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 10 | Tommy Wright | |||||||||||
| | to be determined | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | |||||||||||
| Total | - | 0/25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 113 | 29 | 19 | 65 | 118 | 184 | - | ||
| Year | Round | Pos | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | Winners, group stage | 1st | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 |
| | Group stage | 3rd | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 |
| | Group stage | 2nd | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| | Group stage | 4th | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | -4 |
| Total | 8 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 11 | -4 | ||