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.

Republic of Ireland Under-21
Nickname(s)Boys in Green
AssociationFootball Association of Ireland (FAI)
Head coachJim Crawford
Most capsConor Coventry (28)
Top scorerRobbie Brady (7)
Kevin Doyle (7)
First colours
Second colours
First international
Republic of Ireland Rep. Ireland 1–1 Northern Ireland Northern Ireland
(Dublin; 8 March 1978)
Biggest win
San Marino San Marino 0–7 Rep. Ireland Republic of Ireland
(Serravalle, San Marino; 22 March 2024)
Biggest defeat
Germany Germany 8–0 Rep. Ireland Republic of Ireland
(Baunatal; 23 March 1993)
Best resultHave 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 recordUEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Qualification record
YearRoundPldWD *LGFGAPldWDLGFGA
1978did not enter
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988did not qualify402237
1990did not enter
1992did not qualify6105514
19948116720
1996822479
19988305117
200084221312
20028413107
20048224811
200681251014
2007210121
20098125414
201110145511
201384131510
201582241012
2017104061417
2019104241215
202110613158
2023126331711
Total134432764160187
*Draws include knockout matches decided by penalty shootout.

UEFA European Under-21 Championship

2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1  Italy7430163+1315Final tournament15 Oct '242–02–01–15 Sep '24
2  Republic of Ireland6411198+1113Play-offs2–211 Oct '2410 Sep '243–23–0
3  Norway6402216+151210 Sep '243–27–015 Oct '244–0
4  Latvia6213512−77[a]0–01–26 Sep '242–12–0
5  Turkey6213118+37[a]0–26 Sep '242–011 Oct '245–0
6  San Marino (E)7007035−3500–70–70–715 Oct '2410 Sep '24
Updated to match(es) played on 26 March 2024. Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(E) Eliminated
Notes:

Results and fixtures

2023

v  Iceland
26 March Friendly Republic of Ireland  2–1  Iceland Cork, Republic of Ireland
16:00 GMTTom Cannon 23'
Festy Ebosele  29'
Johnny Kenny 82'
ReportKristall Máni Ingason 14'Stadium: Turners Cross
Attendance: 6,000
v  Gabon
13 June Friendly Republic of Ireland  C–C  Gabon Austria
17:00 GMTReport
Note: Fixture cancelled on 12 June as Gabon elected not to travel to Austria for the fixture.
v  Republic of Ireland
16 June Friendly Ukraine  2–2  Republic of Ireland Bad Blumau, Austria
17:00 GMTArtem Bondarenko 16' (pen.)
Danylo Sikan 73' (pen.)
Andrew Moran 45+5'
Bosun Lawal 82'
Stadium: Union Sport-Club Blumau
v  Kuwait
19 June Friendly Republic of Ireland  3–0  Kuwait Bad Radkersburg, Austria
16:00 GMTOllie O'Neill 5'
Conor Carty 7'
Aidomo Emakhu 52'
ReportStadium: Parktherme Arena
Note: Fixture abandoned after 70 minutes due to a racist comment by a Kuwait player towards Ireland substitute Sinclair Armstrong.

2024

Staff

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

PositionNameAppointed
Head coach Jim Crawford5 April 2020
Assistant coach Alan Reynolds9 July 2020
Assistant coach Paul McShane28 August 2023
Goalkeeping coach Rene Gilmartin24 April 2020
Lead Performance Analyst Martin DoyleApril 2020
Sports Scientist Paul Walsh18 March 2023
Sports Scientist Adam FoxJune 2021
Chartered Physiotherapist Glauber Barduzzi24 April 2019
Athletic Therapist Kieran MurrayMarch 2022
Doctor Dr Mortimer O'ConnorMarch 2021
Performance Nutritionist Ian ByrneMarch 2023
Kitman John CruddenMay 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.PlayerDate of birth (age)CapsGoalsClub
11GKJosh Keeley (2003-05-17) 17 May 2003 (age 20)70 Barnet
161GKTiernan Brooks (2003-06-17) 17 June 2003 (age 20)20 Rochdale
231GKAndrew Wogan (2005-12-01) 1 December 2005 (age 18)00 Drogheda United

42DFBosun Lawal (2003-05-30) 30 May 2003 (age 20)101 Fleetwood Town
22DFSam Curtis (2005-12-01) 1 December 2005 (age 18)80 Sheffield United
142DFSean Roughan (2003-03-14) 14 March 2003 (age 21)60 Lincoln City
52DFAnselmo García MacNulty (captain) (2003-02-19) 19 February 2003 (age 21)60 PEC Zwolle
32DFTayo Adaramola (2003-11-14) 14 November 2003 (age 20)50 RWD Molenbeek
172DFSean Grehan (2004-01-01) 1 January 2004 (age 20)40 Carlisle United
122DFConnor O'Riordan (2003-10-19) 19 October 2003 (age 20)30 Blackburn Rovers
202DFAlex Murphy (2004-06-25) 25 June 2004 (age 19)00 Newcastle United

103MFAndrew Moran (vice-captain) (2003-10-15) 15 October 2003 (age 20)93 Blackburn Rovers
63MFJoe Hodge (captain) (2002-09-14) 14 September 2002 (age 21)60 Queens Park Rangers
83MFMatt Healy (2002-04-12) 12 April 2002 (age 22)60 Francs Borains
193MFKillian Phillips (2002-03-30) 30 March 2002 (age 22)61 Aberdeen
3MFBaba Adeeko (2003-04-03) 3 April 2003 (age 21)40 Wigan Athletic
183MFZak Gilsenan (2003-05-08) 8 May 2003 (age 20)41 Blackburn Rovers
73MFRocco Vata (2005-04-18) 18 April 2005 (age 19)25 Celtic

94FWSinclair Armstrong (2003-06-22) 22 June 2003 (age 20)65 Queens Park Rangers
114FWTony Springett (2002-09-22) 22 September 2002 (age 21)40 Northampton Town
154FWArmstrong Oko-Flex (2002-03-02) 2 March 2002 (age 22)43 FC Zürich
134FWDylan Duffy (2002-11-28) 28 November 2002 (age 21)10 Lincoln City
214FWMark O'Mahony (2005-01-15) 15 January 2005 (age 19)10 Brighton & Hove Albion
224FWCalum Kavanagh (2003-09-05) 5 September 2003 (age 20)00 Bradford City

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.PlayerDate of birth (age)CapsGoalsClubLatest call-up
GKKillian Cahill (2003-11-03) 3 November 2003 (age 20)00 Brighton & Hove Albionv.  Norway, 17 November 2023PRE
GKOwen Mason (2004-03-24) 24 March 2004 (age 20)00 Wexfordv.  Latvia, 13 October 2023PRE

DFJames Abankwah (2004-01-16) 16 January 2004 (age 20)20 Udinesev.  Italy, 21 November 2023
DFJames Furlong (2002-06-07) 7 June 2002 (age 21)40 Hull Cityv.  Latvia, 13 October 2023
DFEvan Weir (2002-04-16) 16 April 2002 (age 22)00 Drogheda Unitedv.  Latvia, 13 October 2023PRE

MFAdam Murphy (2005-04-08) 8 April 2005 (age 19)20 Bristol Cityv.  Italy, 21 November 2023
MFKian Leavy (2002-03-21) 21 March 2002 (age 22)20 St Patrick's Athleticv.  Italy, 21 November 2023PRE
MFEd McJannet (2004-01-25) 25 January 2004 (age 20)30 Leccev.  Latvia, 13 October 2023PRE
MFTyler Goodrham (2003-08-07) 7 August 2003 (age 20)00 Oxford Unitedv.  Turkey, 8 September 2023INJ
MFDarragh Burns (2002-08-06) 6 August 2002 (age 21)20 Shamrock Roversv.  Kuwait, 19 June 2023
MFJack Henry-Francis (2003-09-23) 23 September 2003 (age 20)10 Arsenalv.  Kuwait, 19 June 2023
MFDara Costelloe (2002-12-11) 11 December 2002 (age 21)10 Dundeev.  Kuwait, 19 June 2023
MFHarry Vaughan (2004-04-06) 6 April 2004 (age 20)00 Bristol Roversv.  Kuwait, 19 June 2023

FWOllie O'Neill (2003-01-08) 8 January 2003 (age 21)102 Leyton Orientv.  San Marino, 22 March 2024
FWAidomo Emakhu (2003-10-26) 26 October 2003 (age 20)63 Millwallv.  Italy, 21 November 2023
FWJohnny Kenny (2003-06-06) 6 June 2003 (age 20)41 Shamrock Roversv.  Italy, 21 November 2023
FWConor Carty (2002-05-25) 25 May 2002 (age 21)41 Bolton Wanderersv.  Italy, 21 November 2023

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