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 | |||
![]() ![]() (Tallaght Stadium, Dublin; 10 August 2010) | |||
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 | |||||||||||||||
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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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Did not qualify | Ongoing | ||||||||||||||
Total | 122 | 37 | 24 | 61 | 143 | 176 |
- *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 | ![]() |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3 | +5 | 9 | Final tournament | — | 21 Nov | 10 Sep '24 | 11 Oct '24 | 3–2 | 3–0 | |
2 | ![]() |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 7 | Play-offs | 15 Oct '24 | — | 22 Mar '24 | 2–0 | 26 Mar '24 | 5 Sep '24 | |
3 | ![]() |
5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 10 | −5 | 7 | 1–2 | 0–0 | — | 6 Sep '24 | 2–1 | 2–0 | ||
4 | ![]() |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 2 | +12 | 6 | 17 Nov | 10 Sep '24 | 7–0 | — | 15 Oct '24 | 26 Mar '24 | ||
5 | ![]() |
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 7 | +1 | 3 | 6 Sep '24 | 0–2 | 11 Oct '24 | 21 Nov | — | 5–0 | ||
6 | ![]() |
4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 17 | −17 | 0 | 22 Mar '24 | 16 Nov | 15 Oct '24 | 0–7 | 10 Sep '24 | — |
Results and fixtures
2022
29 March UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification | Sweden ![]() | 0–2 | ![]() | Borås, Sweden |
16:00 CET | Report | Tierney ![]() Wright ![]() |
Stadium: Borås Arena Referee: Vitor Ferreira (Portugal) |
3 June UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification | Republic of Ireland ![]() | 3–0 | ![]() | Dublin, Republic of Ireland |
19:30 IST | Report | Stadium: Tallaght Stadium Attendance: 3,057 Referee: Luca Cibelli (Switzerland) |
6 June UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification | Republic of Ireland ![]() | 3–1 | ![]() | Dublin, Republic of Ireland |
17:00 IST | Smallbone ![]() Kerrigan ![]() Wright ![]() |
Report | Ðukanović ![]() |
Stadium: Tallaght Stadium Attendance: 3,126 Referee: Jan Petrik (Czech Republic) |
14 June UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification | Italy ![]() | 4–1 | ![]() | Ascoli Piceno, Italy |
16:30 CET | Rovella ![]() Cambiaghi ![]() Pellegri ![]() Quagliata ![]() |
Report | Coventry ![]() |
Stadium: Stadio Cino e Lillo Del Duca Referee: Gergo Bogár (Hungary) |
23 September UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification Play-off 1st leg | Republic of Ireland ![]() | 1–1 | ![]() | Dublin, Republic of Ireland |
19:00 IST (21:00 IST) | Evan Ferguson ![]() |
Report | Idan Gorno ![]() Stav Lemkin ![]() |
Stadium: Tallaght Stadium Attendance: 6,786 Referee: Dario Bel (Croatia |
27 September UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification Play-off 2nd leg | Israel ![]() | 0–0 (a.e.t.) (3–1 p) | ![]() | Tel Aviv, Israel |
18:15 IST (20:15 IST) | Report | Stadium: Bloomfield Stadium Referee: Nathan Verboomen (Belgium) | ||
Penalties | ||||
Eden Kartsev ![]() Daniel Peretz ![]() Gil Cohen ![]() Osher Davida ![]() |
Conor Coventry ![]() Tyreik Wright ![]() Evan Ferguson ![]() Dawson Devoy ![]() |
1–1 on aggregate. Israel won 3–1 on penalties and qualified for the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
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 an Ireland substitute. |
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 ![]() | v | ![]() | Norway |
TBD | Report |
21 November UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification | Republic of Ireland ![]() | v | ![]() | Cork, Republic of Ireland |
TBD | Report | Stadium: Turners Cross |
2024
22 March UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification | San Marino ![]() | v | ![]() | San Marino |
TBD | Report |
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 |
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 Latvia on 13 October 2023.[2]
Caps and goals updated as of 14 October 2023, after the game vs Latvia.
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 | Tiernan Brooks | 17 June 2003 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
GK | Owen Mason | 24 March 2004 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Evan Weir | 16 April 2002 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Anselmo García MacNulty | 19 February 2003 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Sean Roughan | 14 March 2003 | 4 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Alex Murphy | 25 June 2004 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Tayo Adaramola | 14 November 2003 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Festy Ebosele | 2 August 2002 | 5 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Jay McGrath | 15 April 2003 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Ed McJannet | 25 January 2004 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Rocco Vata | 18 April 2005 | 1 | 2 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Killian Phillips | 30 March 2002 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Adam Murphy | 8 April 2005 | 1 | 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. ![]() |
MF | Kian Leavy | 21 March 2002 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Cian Hayes | 29 June 2003 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Dylan Duffy | 28 November 2002 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Tom Cannon | 28 December 2002 | 1 | 1 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
INJ Withdrew from latest squad due to injury |
Note: Names in italics denote players that have been capped for the senior team.
References
- "Management Profiles". Football Association of Ireland. 24 January 2019.
- https://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/jim-crawford-names-22-man-squad-for-latvia-qualifier