The next destination of our alphabetical world tour is Northern Ireland. Enjoying something of a resurgence on the international stage, Northern Ireland qualified for Euro 2016 to end a 30-year exile from major tournaments.
They remain one of the smallest nations ever to qualify for a World Cup Finals tournament but have had a regular stream of players in the Premier League over the years. According to the Premier League website, 65 players have represented Northern Ireland in the Premier League, including four on the opening day of the very first season.
First Player – Several
Four Northern Irish players started for their respective clubs on the opening day of the 1992/93 season, simultaneously becoming the first Northern Irishmen to play in the newly revamped Premier League era: Mal Donaghy (Chelsea), Nigel Worthington (Sheffield Wednesday), Andy Turner (Tottenham Hotspur) and Lawrie Sanchez (Wimbledon).
Most Appearances: Aaron Hughes – 455 (Newcastle, Aston Villa, Fulham; 1997-2014)
Reliable defender Aaron Hughes made a colossal 455 Premier League appearances over a 17-year top-flight career with Newcastle, Aston Villa and Fulham.
He was a regular for all three clubs and featured heavily in European runs with both Newcastle and Fulham, though he missed the crucial penalty that lost Newcastle their 2003/04 Champions League final qualifying round shoot-out with Partizan Belgrade.
Hughes was a regular and long-time captain for Northern Ireland for much of his time in the Premier League, winning 112 caps.
Top Scorer: Iain Dowie – 33 (Southampton, Crystal Palace, West Ham; 1992-98)
Striker-turned-manager-turned-pundit Iain Dowie is the top Northern Irish scorer in the Premier League, with 33 goals during the 1990s.
Dowie turned out for Southampton, Crystal Palace and West Ham in the Premier League and later managed Palace and Charlton in the competition. Eligible to play for Northern Ireland through his father, Dowie won 59 caps for the Green and White Army and is currently joint-fourth in Northern Ireland’s all-time top scorer’s list with 12 goals.
Current Players
Five Northern Irishmen appeared in the Premier League before the shutdown in 2019/20 – Jonny Evans (Leicester City), Jamal Lewis, Michael McGovern (both Norwich), Oliver Norwood (Sheffield United) and Craig Cathcart (Watford).
Trivia
- Two Northern Irish players have won the Premier League, both with Manchester United – Roy Carroll (2002/03) and Jonny Evans (2008/09, 2010/11 and 2012/13).
- Former West Bromwich Albion defender Gareth McAuley scored Northern Ireland’s opening goal at Euro 2016, their first at a major tournament since the 1986 World Cup.
- Oliver Norwood won promotion to the Premier League in three consecutive seasons between 2016/17 and 2018/19, with three different clubs (Brighton, Fulham and Sheffield United).
- David Healy scored the only goal in Northern Ireland’s 1-0 win over England in a World Cup qualifying match in 2005, Northern Ireland’s first victory over England in 33 years.
