Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team
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 | ||
Most caps | Conor Coventry (28) | ||
Top scorer | Robbie Brady (7) Kevin Doyle (7) | ||
| |||
First international | |||
![]() ![]() (Dublin; 8 March 1978) | |||
Biggest win | |||
![]() ![]() (Serravalle, San Marino; 22 March 2024) | |||
Biggest defeat | |||
![]() ![]() (Baunatal; 23 March 1993) | |||
Best result | Have never qualified |
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 | |||||||
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8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 20 | ||||||||
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8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 9 | ||||||||
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8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 11 | 7 | ||||||||
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8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 12 | ||||||||
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8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 7 | ||||||||
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8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 11 | ||||||||
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8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 14 | ||||||||
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2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | ||||||||
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8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 14 | ||||||||
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10 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 11 | ||||||||
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8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 10 | ||||||||
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8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 12 | ||||||||
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10 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 14 | 17 | ||||||||
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10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 15 | ||||||||
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10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 8 | ||||||||
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12 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 17 | 11 | ||||||||
Total | 134 | 43 | 27 | 64 | 160 | 187 |
- *Draws include knockout matches decided by penalty shootout.
UEFA European Under-21 Championship
2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | ![]() |
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1 | ![]() |
7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 16 | 3 | +13 | 15 | Final tournament | — | 15 Oct '24 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5 Sep '24 | |
2 | ![]() |
6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 8 | +11 | 13 | Play-offs | 2–2 | — | 11 Oct '24 | 10 Sep '24 | 3–2 | 3–0 | |
3 | ![]() |
6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 21 | 6 | +15 | 12 | 10 Sep '24 | 3–2 | — | 7–0 | 15 Oct '24 | 4–0 | ||
4 | ![]() |
6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 12 | −7 | 7[lower-alpha 1] | 0–0 | 1–2 | 6 Sep '24 | — | 2–1 | 2–0 | ||
5 | ![]() |
6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 8 | +3 | 7[lower-alpha 1] | 0–2 | 6 Sep '24 | 2–0 | 11 Oct '24 | — | 5–0 | ||
6 | ![]() |
7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 35 | −35 | 0 | 0–7 | 0–7 | 0–7 | 15 Oct '24 | 10 Sep '24 | — |
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(E) Eliminated
Notes:
- Ranked on head-to-head points: Latvia 3, Turkey 0.
Results and fixtures
2023
26 March Friendly | Republic of Ireland ![]() | 2–1 | ![]() | Cork, Republic of Ireland |
16:00 GMT | Tom Cannon ![]() Festy Ebosele ![]() Johnny Kenny ![]() |
Report | Kristall Máni Ingason ![]() |
Stadium: Turners Cross Attendance: 6,000 |
13 June Friendly | Republic of Ireland ![]() | C–C | ![]() | 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 | ![]() | Bad Blumau, Austria |
17:00 GMT | Artem Bondarenko ![]() Danylo Sikan ![]() |
Andrew Moran ![]() Bosun Lawal ![]() |
Stadium: Union Sport-Club Blumau |
19 June Friendly | Republic of Ireland ![]() | 3–0 | ![]() | Bad Radkersburg, Austria |
16:00 GMT | Ollie O'Neill ![]() Conor Carty ![]() Aidomo Emakhu ![]() |
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 | ![]() | Cork, Republic of Ireland |
19:30 GMT | Andrew Moran ![]() Zak Gilsenan ![]() Aidomo Emakhu ![]() Sean Roughan ![]() |
Report | Kenan Yıldız ![]() Cihan Çanak ![]() |
Stadium: Turners Cross Attendance: 3,754 Referee: Joonas Jaanovits (Estonia) |
12 September UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification | Republic of Ireland ![]() | 3–0 | ![]() | Cork, Republic of Ireland |
19:30 GMT | Rocco Vata ![]() Rocco Vata ![]() Sinclair Armstrong ![]() |
Report | Stadium: Turners Cross Attendance: 3,826 Referee: Antoine Paul Chiaramonti (Andorra) |
13 October UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification | Latvia ![]() | 1–2 | ![]() | Jelgava, Latvia |
13:00 GMT | Lūkass Vapne ![]() |
Report | Armstrong Oko-Flex ![]() Armstrong Oko-Flex ![]() |
Stadium: Zemgale Olympic Center Referee: Oliver Reitala (Finland) |
17 November UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification | Norway ![]() | 3–2 | ![]() | Drammen, Norway |
17:00 GMT | Halvor Rødølen Opsahl ![]() Kristian Arnstad ![]() Lasse Selvåg Nordås ![]() |
Report | Aidomo Emakhu ![]() Sinclair Armstrong ![]() |
Stadium: Marienlyst Stadion Referee: Walter Altmann (Austria) |
21 November UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification | Republic of Ireland ![]() | 2–2 | ![]() | Cork, Republic of Ireland |
17:30 GMT | Killian Phillips ![]() Sinclair Armstrong ![]() |
Report | Wilfried Gnonto ![]() Wilfried Gnonto ![]() |
Stadium: Turners Cross Referee: Lionel Tschudi (Switzerland) |
2024
22 March UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification | San Marino ![]() | 0–7 | ![]() | Serravalle, San Marino |
17:00 GMT | Report | Sinclair Armstrong ![]() Andrew Moran ![]() Sinclair Armstrong ![]() Rocco Vata ![]() Rocco Vata ![]() Armstrong Oko-Flex ![]() Rocco Vata ![]() |
Stadium: San Marino Stadium Referee: Viktor Kopiievskyi ![]() |
6 September UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification | Turkey ![]() | v | ![]() | Turkey |
TBD | Report |
10 September UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification | Republic of Ireland ![]() | v | ![]() | Cork, Republic of Ireland |
TBD | Report | Stadium: Turners Cross |
11 October UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification | Republic of Ireland ![]() | v | ![]() | Cork, Republic of Ireland |
TBD | Report | Stadium: Turners Cross |
15 October UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification | Italy ![]() | v | ![]() | Italy |
TBD | Report |
Staff
The Under-21s' management team includes:[1]
Position | Name | Appointed |
---|---|---|
Head coach | ![]() |
5 April 2020 |
Assistant coach | ![]() |
9 July 2020 |
Assistant coach | ![]() |
28 August 2023 |
Goalkeeping coach | ![]() |
24 April 2020 |
Lead Performance Analyst | ![]() |
April 2020 |
Sports Scientist | ![]() |
18 March 2023 |
Sports Scientist | ![]() |
June 2021 |
Chartered Physiotherapist | ![]() |
24 April 2019 |
Athletic Therapist | ![]() |
March 2022 |
Doctor | ![]() |
March 2021 |
Performance Nutritionist | ![]() |
March 2023 |
Kitman | ![]() |
May 2023 |
Players
Current squad
Players born on or after 1 January 2002 are eligible for the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
The following players were called up for the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification fixture against San Marino on 22 March 2024.[2]
Caps and goals updated as of 22 March 2024, after the game vs San Marino.
No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | GK | Josh Keeley | 17 May 2003 | 7 | 0 | ![]() |
16 | GK | Tiernan Brooks | 17 June 2003 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
23 | GK | Andrew Wogan | 1 December 2005 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
4 | DF | Bosun Lawal | 30 May 2003 | 10 | 1 | ![]() |
2 | DF | Sam Curtis | 1 December 2005 | 8 | 0 | ![]() |
14 | DF | Sean Roughan | 14 March 2003 | 6 | 0 | ![]() |
5 | DF | Anselmo García MacNulty (captain) | 19 February 2003 | 6 | 0 | ![]() |
3 | DF | Tayo Adaramola | 14 November 2003 | 5 | 0 | ![]() |
17 | DF | Sean Grehan | 1 January 2004 | 4 | 0 | ![]() |
12 | DF | Connor O'Riordan | 19 October 2003 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
20 | DF | Alex Murphy | 25 June 2004 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
10 | MF | Andrew Moran (vice-captain) | 15 October 2003 | 9 | 3 | ![]() |
6 | MF | Joe Hodge (captain) | 14 September 2002 | 6 | 0 | ![]() |
8 | MF | Matt Healy | 12 April 2002 | 6 | 0 | ![]() |
19 | MF | Killian Phillips | 30 March 2002 | 6 | 1 | ![]() |
MF | Baba Adeeko | 3 April 2003 | 4 | 0 | ![]() | |
18 | MF | Zak Gilsenan | 8 May 2003 | 4 | 1 | ![]() |
7 | MF | Rocco Vata | 18 April 2005 | 2 | 5 | ![]() |
9 | FW | Sinclair Armstrong | 22 June 2003 | 6 | 5 | ![]() |
11 | FW | Tony Springett | 22 September 2002 | 4 | 0 | ![]() |
15 | FW | Armstrong Oko-Flex | 2 March 2002 | 4 | 3 | ![]() |
13 | FW | Dylan Duffy | 28 November 2002 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
21 | FW | Mark O'Mahony | 15 January 2005 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
22 | FW | Calum Kavanagh | 5 September 2003 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
Recent call-ups
The following players have also been called up to the Republic of Ireland under-21 squad in the last 12 months and remain eligible:
Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GK | Killian Cahill | 3 November 2003 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
GK | Owen Mason | 24 March 2004 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | James Abankwah | 16 January 2004 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | James Furlong | 7 June 2002 | 4 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Evan Weir | 16 April 2002 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Adam Murphy | 8 April 2005 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Kian Leavy | 21 March 2002 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Ed McJannet | 25 January 2004 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Tyler Goodrham | 7 August 2003 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Darragh Burns | 6 August 2002 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Jack Henry-Francis | 23 September 2003 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Dara Costelloe | 11 December 2002 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Harry Vaughan | 6 April 2004 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Ollie O'Neill | 8 January 2003 | 10 | 2 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Aidomo Emakhu | 26 October 2003 | 6 | 3 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Johnny Kenny | 6 June 2003 | 4 | 1 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Conor Carty | 25 May 2002 | 4 | 1 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
INJ Withdrew from latest squad due to injury |
Note: Names in italics denote players that have been capped for the senior team.