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.

Quick Facts Association, Head coach ...

Northern Ireland Under-21

Association	Irish Football Association
Head coach	Tommy Wright
Most caps	Liam Donnelly (24)
Top scorer	Liam Donnelly Shayne Lavery (5)
First colours Second colours
First international
Rep. of Ireland 1–1 Northern Ireland (Dalymount Park, Phibsborough; 8 March 1978)
Biggest win
Northern Ireland 5–0 Luxembourg (Mourneview Park, Lurgan; 16 November 2007)
Biggest defeat
Northern Ireland 0–6 Spain (Inver Park, Larne; 3 June 2022)
UEFA U-21 Championship
Appearances	0

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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.

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

More information UEFA Under-21 Football Championship finals record, Qualification 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[1]
2011											8	2	1	5	12	16		Steve Beaglehole
2013											8	1	1	6	5	13		Steve Beaglehole, Stephen Robinson[2]
2015											8	1	0	7	3	17		Stephen Robinson, Jim Magilton[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[4]
2023											8	2	1	5	8	18		John Schofield
2025	To be determined										6	2	0	4	4	8		Tommy Wright
Total	-	0/25	0	0	0	0	0	0	-		106	27	16	63	108	179		-

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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  Kazakhstan.

• Northern Ireland national football team
• Northern Ireland national under-17 football team
• Northern Ireland national under-19 football team