Loading AI tools
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.
| 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 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 | ||
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.
2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | |
 |
|
 |
 |
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Italy |
10 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 27 | 4 | +23 | 22 | Final tournament | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 7–0 | |
| 2 | Norway |
10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 28 | 11 | +17 | 19[a] | Play-offs | 0–3 | — | 3–2 | 5–1 | 7–0 | 4–0 | |
| 3 | Republic of Ireland |
10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 24 | 12 | +12 | 19[a] | 2–2 | 1–1 | — | 3–2 | 2–2 | 3–0 | ||
| 4 | Turkey |
10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 21 | 15 | +6 | 13 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–1 | — | 3–0 | 5–0 | ||
| 5 | Latvia |
10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 18 | −8 | 11 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | — | 2–0 | ||
| 6 | San Marino |
10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 51 | −50 | 0 | 0–7 | 0–7 | 0–7 | 1–6 | 0–3 | — |
2023
| 26 March Friendly | Republic of Ireland | 2–1 |  Iceland | Cork, Republic of Ireland |
| 16:00 GMT | Tom Cannon  23'Festy Ebosele  29'Johnny Kenny 82' |
Report | Kristall Máni Ingason 14' |
Stadium: Turners Cross Attendance: 6,000 |
| 13 June Friendly | Republic of Ireland | C–C |  Gabon | Austria |
| 17:00 GMT | Report | |||
| Note: Fixture cancelled on 12 June as Gabon elected not to travel to Austria for the fixture. | ||||
| 16 June Friendly | Ukraine  | 2–2 | Republic of Ireland | Bad Blumau, Austria |
| 17:00 GMT | Artem Bondarenko 16' (pen.) Danylo Sikan 73' (pen.) |
Andrew Moran 45+5' Bosun Lawal 82' |
Stadium: Union Sport-Club Blumau |
| 19 June Friendly | Republic of Ireland | 3–0 |  Kuwait | Bad Radkersburg, Austria |
| 16:00 GMT | Ollie O'Neill 5' Conor Carty 7'Aidomo Emakhu 52' |
Report | Stadium: Parktherme Arena | |
| Note: Fixture abandoned after 70 minutes due to a racist comment by a Kuwait player towards Ireland substitute Sinclair Armstrong. | ||||
| 8 September UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification | Republic of Ireland | 3–2 | Turkey | Cork, Republic of Ireland |
| 19:30 GMT | Andrew Moran 56' Zak Gilsenan 87' (pen.)Aidomo Emakhu 90+6'Sean Roughan 90+9' |
Report | Kenan Yıldız 22' (pen.) Cihan Çanak 76' |
Stadium: Turners Cross Attendance: 3,754 Referee: Joonas Jaanovits (Estonia) |
| 12 September UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification | Republic of Ireland | 3–0 | San Marino | Cork, Republic of Ireland |
| 19:30 GMT | Rocco Vata 8' Rocco Vata 45+2'Sinclair Armstrong 66' |
Report | Stadium: Turners Cross Attendance: 3,826 Referee: Antoine Paul Chiaramonti (Andorra) |
| 13 October UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification | Latvia | 1–2 | Republic of Ireland | Jelgava, Latvia |
| 13:00 GMT | Lūkass Vapne 90+2' |
Report | Armstrong Oko-Flex 15' Armstrong Oko-Flex 57' |
Stadium: Zemgale Olympic Center Attendance: 274 Referee: Oliver Reitala (Finland) |
| 17 November UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification | Norway | 3–2 | Republic of Ireland | Drammen, Norway |
| 17:00 GMT | Halvor Rødølen Opsahl 20' Kristian Arnstad 72' (pen.)Lasse Selvåg Nordås 77' |
Report | Aidomo Emakhu 37' Sinclair Armstrong 53' |
Stadium: Marienlyst Stadion Attendance: 566 Referee: Walter Altmann (Austria) |
| 21 November UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification | Republic of Ireland | 2–2 | Italy | Cork, Republic of Ireland |
| 17:30 GMT | Killian Phillips 31' Sinclair Armstrong 48' |
Report | Wilfried Gnonto 45+1' (pen.) Wilfried Gnonto 90+6' |
Stadium: Turners Cross Attendance: 6,157 Referee: Lionel Tschudi (Switzerland) |
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 |
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 |
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 | GK | Conor Walsh | 17 March 2005 | 1 | 0 | Sligo Rovers |
| 16 | GK | Noah Jauny | 26 August 2004 | 1 | 0 | Brest |
| 23 | GK | Aaron Maguire | 25 July 2004 | 1 | 0 | Tottenham Hotspur |
| 4 | DF | James Abankwah (captain) | 16 January 2004 | 9 | 0 | Udinese |
| 5 | DF | Seán Grehan | 8 January 2004 | 5 | 0 | Crystal Palace |
| 3 | DF | Connor O'Brien | 12 July 2004 | 5 | 0 | Accrington Stanley |
| 17 | DF | Alex Murphy | 25 June 2004 | 4 | 0 | Newcastle United |
| 2 | DF | Jacob Slater | 5 October 2004 | 2 | 0 | Brighton & Hove Albion |
| 14 | DF | Darius Lipsiuc | 16 September 2005 | 2 | 0 | Stoke City |
| 22 | DF | David Okagbue | 5 October 2003 | 1 | 0 | Walsall |
| 12 | DF | Gabriel Otegbayo | 11 February 2005 | 0 | 0 | Sheffield Wednesday |
| 24 | MF | Rocco Vata | 18 April 2005 | 7 | 6 | Watford |
| 11 | MF | Ed McJannet | 25 January 2004 | 4 | 0 | Lecce |
| 8 | MF | Jamie Mullins | 29 September 2004 | 2 | 1 | Brighton & Hove Albion |
| 13 | MF | Glory Nzingo | 4 November 2004 | 2 | 0 |  Swansea City |
| 20 | MF | Jad Hakiki | 23 June 2004 | 2 | 0 | Sligo Rovers |
| 21 | MF | Joe O'Brien-Whitmarsh | 11 May 2005 | 2 | 0 | Brighton & Hove Albion |
| 6 | MF | Harry Vaughan | 6 April 2004 | 1 | 0 | Hull City |
| 9 | FW | Mark O'Mahony | 15 January 2005 | 7 | 1 | Portsmouth |
| 15 | FW | Tommy Lonergan | 2 January 2004 | 2 | 0 | Fleetwood Town |
| 19 | FW | Sean Moore | 13 August 2005 | 2 | 0 | West Ham United |
| 7 | FW | Kevin Zefi | 11 February 2005 | 1 | 0 | AS Roma |
| 10 | FW | Ben Quinn | 11 November 2004 | 1 | 0 | Mansfield Town |
| 18 | FW | Adrien Thibaut | 11 July 2004 | 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 | 1 December 2005 | 0 | 0 | Stockport County |
v. San Marino, 22 March 2024 |
| GK | Owen Mason | 24 March 2004 | 0 | 0 | Gateshead |
v. Latvia, 13 October 2023PRE |
| DF | Sam Curtis | 1 December 2005 | 14 | 1 | Peterborough United |
v. Italy, 15 October 2024 |
| MF | Adam Murphy | 8 April 2005 | 2 | 0 | Bristol City |
v. Sweden, 14 November 2024INJ |
| FW | Franco Umeh | 26 January 2005 | 0 | 0 | Crystal Palace |
v. Italy, 15 October 2024 |
| FW | Mason Melia | 22 September 2007 | 0 | 0 | St Patrick's Athletic |
v. Norway, 11 October 2024INJ |
INJ Withdrew from latest squad due to injury | ||||||
Note: Names in italics denote players that have been capped for the senior team.
Wikiwand in your browser!
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.
Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.
