Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team

Republic of Ireland Under-21
Nickname(s)	Boys in Green
Association	Football Association of Ireland (FAI)
Head coach	Jim Crawford
Captain	Joe Hodge
Most caps	Conor Coventry (28)
Top scorer	Robbie Brady (7); Kevin Doyle (7); Sinclair Armstrong (7)
First colours	Second colours
First international
	Rep. Ireland 1–1 Northern Ireland ; (Dublin; 8 March 1978)
Biggest win
	San Marino 0–7 Rep. Ireland ; (Serravalle, San Marino; 22 March 2024)
Biggest defeat
	Germany 8–0 Rep. Ireland ; (Baunatal, Germany; 23 March 1993)
UEFA U-21 Championship
Appearances	Have never qualified

Last updated February 15, 2025

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 Qualification record
Year	Round	Pld	W	D *	L	GF	GA		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1978	did not enter								–	–	–	–	–	–

1980									–	–	–	–	–	–

1982									–	–	–	–	–	–

1984	–	–	–	–	–	–

1986	–	–	–	–	–	–

1988	did not qualify								4	0	2	2	3	7
1990	did not enter								–	–	–	–	–	–
1992	did not qualify								6	1	0	5	5	14
1994									8	1	1	6	7	20
1996									8	2	2	4	7	9
1998									8	3	0	5	11	7
2000									8	4	2	2	13	12
2002									8	4	1	3	10	7
2004									8	2	2	4	8	11
2006									8	1	2	5	10	14
2007									2	1	0	1	2	1
2009									8	1	2	5	4	14
2011									10	1	4	5	5	11
2013									8	4	1	3	15	10
2015									8	2	2	4	10	12
2017									10	4	0	6	14	17
2019									10	4	2	4	12	15
2021									10	6	1	3	15	8
2023									12	6	3	3	17	11
2025									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	Team v t e	Qualification
1	England	Final tournament	—	14 Nov	2 Oct '26	31 Mar '26	25 Sep '26	13 Oct
2	Republic of Ireland	Play-offs	6 Oct '26	—	10 Oct	26 Mar '26	29 Sep '26	9 Sep
3	Slovakia		18 Nov	25 Sep '26	—	14 Oct	13 Nov	5 Sep
4	Moldova		10 Oct	4 Sep	9 Sep	—	6 Oct '26	10 Jun
5	Kazakhstan		8 Sep	31 Mar '26	27 Mar '26	17 Nov	—	5 Jun
6	Andorra		27 Mar '26	9 Sep	6 Oct '26	2 Oct '26	9 Oct	—

First match(es) will be played: 5 June 2025. Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

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

2024

22 March UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification	San Marino	0–7	Republic of Ireland	Serravalle, San Marino
17:00 GMT		Report	Sinclair Armstrong 26' Andrew Moran 53' Sinclair Armstrong 57' Rocco Vata 62' Rocco Vata 64' Armstrong Oko-Flex 73' Rocco Vata 90+1'	Stadium: San Marino Stadium Attendance: 213 Referee: Viktor Kopiievskyi

7 June Friendly	Croatia	2–3	Republic of Ireland	Zagreb, Croatia
17:00 GMT	Igor Matanović 62' Matija Frigan 74' (pen.)	Report	Andrew Moran 11' Sinclair Armstrong 14' Aidomo Emakhu 52'	Stadium: Gradski Stadion Referee: Filip Dragašević

11 June Friendly	England	2–2	Republic of Ireland	Zagreb, Croatia
15:00 GMT	Archie Brown 45+2' Dane Scarlett 47' (pen.)		Joe Hodge 4' Armstrong Oko-Flex 88'	Stadium: Gradski Stadion Referee: Ivan Vučkovič

6 September UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification	Turkey	0–1	Republic of Ireland	Istanbul, Turkey
17:45 GMT		Report	Sam Curtis 84'	Stadium: Esenler Stadium Attendance: 2,188 Referee: Amine Kourgheli

10 September UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification	Republic of Ireland	2–2	Latvia	Dublin, Republic of Ireland
17:00 GMT	Sinclair Armstrong 16' Sean Roughan 65'	Report	Kaspars Anmanis 42' Ivans Patrikejevs 63'	Stadium: Tallaght Stadium Attendance: 953 Referee: Stefan Ebner

11 October UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification	Republic of Ireland	1–1	Norway	Cork, Republic of Ireland
19:00 GMT	Sean Roughan 75'	Report	Andreas Schjelderup 90+3'	Stadium: Turners Cross Attendance: 5,754 Referee: Javier Alberola Rojas

15 October UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification	Italy	1–1	Republic of Ireland	Trieste, Italy
17:30 GMT	Cesare Casadei 23'	Report	Andrew Moran 66'	Stadium: Stadio Nereo Rocco Referee: Adam Ladebäck

14 November Friendly	Republic of Ireland	0–2	Sweden	Marbella, Spain
19:00 GMT		Report	Hampus Skoglund 48' Richie Omorowa 87'	Stadium: Marbella Football Centre

17 November Friendly	Sweden	2–3	Republic of Ireland	Marbella, Spain
14:00 GMT	Peter Amoran 34' Lukas Björklund 58'	Report	Jamie Mullins 15' Rocco Vata 46' Mark O'Mahony 50'	Stadium: Marbella Football Centre

2025

21 March Friendly	Republic of Ireland	v	Scotland	San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain
19:00 GMT				Stadium: Pinatar Arena

24 March Friendly	Republic of Ireland	v	Hungary	San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain
19:00 GMT				Stadium: Pinatar Arena

4 September UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification	Moldova	v	Republic of Ireland	TBC, Moldova
TBC GMT				Stadium: TBC

9 September UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification	Republic of Ireland	v	Andorra	TBC, Republic of Ireland
TBC GMT				Stadium: TBC

10 October UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification	Republic of Ireland	v	Slovenia	TBC, Republic of Ireland
TBC GMT				Stadium: TBC

14 November UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification	England	v	Republic of Ireland	TBC, England
TBC GMT				Stadium: TBC

18 November UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification	Andorra	v	Republic of Ireland	TBC, Andorra
TBC GMT				Stadium: TBC

2026

26 March UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification	Republic of Ireland	v	Moldova	TBC, Republic of Ireland
TBC GMT				Stadium: TBC

31 March UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification	Kazakhstan	v	Republic of Ireland	TBC, Kazakhstan
TBC GMT				Stadium: TBC

25 September UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification	Slovenia	v	Republic of Ireland	TBC, Slovakia
TBC GMT				Stadium: TBC

29 September UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification	Republic of Ireland	v	Kazakhstan	TBC, Republic of Ireland
TBC GMT				Stadium: TBC

6 October UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification	Republic of Ireland	v	England	TBC, Republic of Ireland
TBC GMT				Stadium: TBC

Staff

The Under-21s' management team includes:^[1]

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 Sweden U21 in Marbella, Spain on 14 & 17 November 2024.^[2]

Caps and goals updated as of 17 November 2024, after the game vs Sweden.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1 GK	Conor Walsh	(2005-03-17) 17 March 2005 (age 19)	1	0	Sligo Rovers
16	1 GK	Noah Jauny	(2004-08-26) 26 August 2004 (age 20)	1	0	Brest
23	1 GK	Aaron Maguire	(2004-07-25) 25 July 2004 (age 20)	1	0	Tottenham Hotspur

4	2 DF	James Abankwah (captain)	(2004-01-16) 16 January 2004 (age 21)	9	0	Watford
5	2 DF	Seán Grehan	(2004-01-08) 8 January 2004 (age 21)	5	0	Crystal Palace
3	2 DF	Connor O'Brien	(2004-07-12) 12 July 2004 (age 20)	5	0	Accrington Stanley
17	2 DF	Alex Murphy	(2004-06-25) 25 June 2004 (age 20)	4	0	Bolton Wanderers
2	2 DF	Jacob Slater	(2004-10-05) 5 October 2004 (age 20)	2	0	Brighton & Hove Albion
14	2 DF	Darius Lipsiuc	(2005-09-16) 16 September 2005 (age 19)	2	0	Walsall
22	2 DF	David Okagbue	(2003-10-05) 5 October 2003 (age 21)	1	0	Walsall
12	2 DF	Gabriel Otegbayo	(2005-02-11) 11 February 2005 (age 20)	0	0	Sheffield Wednesday

24	3 MF	Rocco Vata	(2005-04-18) 18 April 2005 (age 19)	7	6	Watford
11	3 MF	Ed McJannet	(2004-01-25) 25 January 2004 (age 21)	4	0	Audace Cerignola
8	3 MF	Jamie Mullins	(2004-09-29) 29 September 2004 (age 20)	2	1	Brighton & Hove Albion
13	3 MF	Glory Nzingo	(2004-11-04) 4 November 2004 (age 20)	2	0	Carolina Core
20	3 MF	Jad Hakiki	(2004-06-23) 23 June 2004 (age 20)	2	0	Sligo Rovers
21	3 MF	Joe O'Brien-Whitmarsh	(2005-05-11) 11 May 2005 (age 19)	2	0	Southampton
6	3 MF	Harry Vaughan	(2004-04-06) 6 April 2004 (age 20)	1	0	Hull City

9	4 FW	Mark O'Mahony	(2005-01-15) 15 January 2005 (age 20)	7	1	Portsmouth
15	4 FW	Tommy Lonergan	(2004-01-02) 2 January 2004 (age 21)	2	0	Waterford
19	4 FW	Sean Moore	(2005-08-13) 13 August 2005 (age 19)	2	0	West Ham United
7	4 FW	Kevin Zefi	(2005-02-11) 11 February 2005 (age 20)	1	0	AS Roma
10	4 FW	Ben Quinn	(2004-11-11) 11 November 2004 (age 20)	1	0	Mansfield Town
18	4 FW	Adrien Thibaut	(2004-07-11) 11 July 2004 (age 20)	1	0	Crewe Alexandra

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	Sam Curtis	(2005-12-01) 1 December 2005 (age 19)	14	1	St Johnstone	v. Italy, 15 October 2024

MF	Adam Murphy	(2005-04-08) 8 April 2005 (age 19)	2	0	Bristol City	v. Sweden, 14 November 2024^INJ

FW	Franco Umeh	(2005-01-26) 26 January 2005 (age 20)	0	0	Crystal Palace	v. Italy, 15 October 2024
FW	Mason Melia	(2007-09-22) 22 September 2007 (age 17)	0	0	St Patrick's Athletic	v. Norway, 11 October 2024^INJ
^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.

References

External links

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[mgmtstaff-1] "Jim Crawford names Under-21 squad for Türkiye & Latvia EURO Qualifiers". www.fai.ie.

[2] ttps://www.fai.ie/latest/jim-crawford-names-under-21-squad-sweden-friendlies/

[1]

[2]

v t e Republic of Ireland national football team
General	Football Association of Ireland Players Managers
Venues	Aviva Stadium Lansdowne Road Croke Park Dalymount Park Tolka Park RDS Arena Thomond Park Mardyke Flower Lodge Turners Cross
Results	Complete list of matches (1924–present) Irish Free State results (1924–35) Ireland (FAI) results (1936–54) Republic of Ireland results (1954–present) — 1954–1959 1960–1979 1980–1989 1990–1999 2000–2009 2010–2019 2020–present Major tournament record
Players	Players Dual Ireland players Born outside RoI
Goals	Robbie Keane Hat-tricks
World Cup finals	1990 1994 2002 (including Saipan incident) World Cup record
European finals	1988 2012 2016 Euro record
Other tournaments	1924 Olympic Football Tournament 1948 Olympic Football Tournament Brazil Independence Cup (1972) Kirin Cup (1984) Iceland Triangular Tournament (1986) U.S. Cup (1992 1996 2000) Unity Cup (2004) 2011 Nations Cup UEFA Nations League
Rivalries	England Northern Ireland
Songs	"Olé, Olé, Olé" "Joxer Goes to Stuttgart" "The Boys in Green" "Give It a Lash Jack" "Put 'Em Under Pressure" "Watch Your House for Ireland" "Here Come the Good Times" "The Rocky Road to Poland" "The Irish Roar"
Other National teams	Women's B U-23 U-21 U-19 U-17 League of Ireland XI
Awards	FAI International Football Awards