- George Best
George Best (22 May 1946 - 25 November 2005) was a Northern Irish football player best known for his years with Manchester United. He was a winger whose game combined pace, acceleration, balance, two-footedness, goalscoring and the ability to beat defenders. In 1968, his "annus mirabilis", he won the European Cup with Manchester United, and was named the European Footballer of the Year. When fit, he was an automatic choice for the Northern Ireland team, …
- Derek Dougan
Alexander Derek Dougan was a former professional footballer. Dougan was something of a journeyman footballer, playing for several clubs, before he joined Wolves in 1967. In 18 years in the English League, Dougan scored a total of 222 goals in 546 matches, including 95 in 258 for Wolves. He began his career as a wing-half / central defender before being converted to a centre-forward. During his career, Dougan scored hat-tricks in the First Division, the Second Division, …
- Michael O'Neill
Michael Andrew Martin O'Neill (born 5 July 1969 in Portadown, County Armagh) is a retired Northern Ireland footballer. O'Neill played as a midfielder or forward for Chimney Corner, Coleraine, Newcastle, Dundee United, Hibs, Coventry City, Aberdeen (on loan), Reading (on loan), Wigan, St Johnstone, Portland Timbers, Clydebank, Glentoran and Ayr United. At international level he played 31 games for Northern Ireland, scoring 4 times, including 2 in a 5-3 win over Austria, …
- Danny Wilson
Danny Wilson, born 1 January 1960, is a football manager who has coached Barnsley, Sheffield Wednesday, Bristol City, Milton Keynes Dons, and currently Hartlepool United. As a player, he won the League Cup with Luton Town in 1988 and was a runner-up in both domestic cup finals with Sheffield Wednesday in 1993. He also made 24 caps for Northern Ireland, scoring 1 goal.
- Martin O'Neill
Martin Hugh Michael O'Neill, OBE, (born March 1 1952 in Kilrea, Northern Ireland) is a former Northern Ireland national football team captain who has previously managed Wycombe Wanderers, Norwich City, Leicester City and Celtic and is currently manager of Aston Villa.
- Danny Sonner
Daniel James "Danny" Sonner (born 9 January, 1972 in Wigan, England) is a Northern Irish international footballer, currently playing as a Midfielder for English League One club Walsall A much-travelled midfielder he has represented his country 14 times. Plucked from obscurity from German third division football, he became a valuable squad member for George Burley's Ipswich Town. He fell out with the manager after a series of high profile 'drunken' nights out, …
- Jimmy Quinn
Jimmy Quinn (born 18 November 1959, in Belfast) is a former Northern Ireland international footballer currently manager of Cambridge United.
- Billy Hamilton
William ("Billy") Robert Hamilton (born 9 May 1957 in Belfast) is a former Northern Irish footballer who played as a forward. At club level, Billy played for Sligo Rovers, Linfield, QPR, Burnley, and Oxford United. Billy is best remembered by Northern Ireland fans as the man who crossed the ball for Gerry Armstrong to score for Northern Ireland in their famous win against the hosts Spain at the 1982 FIFA World Cup. In total, Billy played 41 games, scoring 5 goals, …
- Stuart Elliott
Stuart Elliott (born July 23 1978) is a Northern Irish professional footballer currently playing for Hull City. He plays as a left-winger, and is known for being one of the best attacking headers of the ball outside the top flight. Elliott started his career at Glentoran before joining Scottish Premier League club Motherwell. He became a fans favourite at Fir Park and his impressive performances earned him his first cap for Northern Ireland against Malta in September 2000.
- Keith Gillespie
Keith Robert Gillespie (born 18 February 1975 in Larne, County Antrim) is a Northern Irish professional footballer, who plays in midfield. He currently plays for Sheffield United of the English Football League Championship.
- Ian Stewart
Ian Stewart (born Belfast, 10 September 1961) is a former footballer from Northern Ireland. He played football for QPR,Newcastle United, Portsmouth and Aldershot F.C. in the 1980's. He made his league debut for Queens Park Rangers as substitute against Blackburn Rovers in October 1980. He moved to Newcastle United in the summer of 1985 and joined Portsmouth F.C. two years later. He appeared in the 1986 FIFA World Cup Finals in Mexico. He currently works for the IFA
- David Healy
David Jonathan Healy (born August 5, 1979 in Downpatrick) is a professional footballer who has scored a record 29 goals for Northern Ireland. He plays his club football for Fulham.
- James Quinn
James Quinn (born Stephen James Quinn on December 15 1974 in Coventry) is an English-born Northern Irish footballer. He is currently on loan to Scunthorpe United from Northampton Town. He has played for eleven clubs in his career. Quinn, a forward, is also a Northern Ireland international. After one sole start at Birmingham City he was sold to Second Division Blackpool for £25,000. It is here he probably played the best club football of his career, …
- Jim Magilton
James "Jim" Magilton (born May 6, 1969 in Belfast) is a former Northern Irish footballer who currently manages Ipswich Town in the English Football League Championship.
- Pat Jennings
Patrick Anthony Jennings OBE (born June 12 1945 in Newry, County Down, Northern Ireland) is a former football player. He played 119 games for Northern Ireland as a goalkeeper, a figure which at the time was a world record (and is incidentally still a Northern Ireland record), in an international career which lasted for over 22 years. Jennings is considered one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time. During his career Jennings played in over 1,000 top level games, …
- Sammy McIlroy
Samuel "Sammy" Baxter McIlroy (born 2 August 1954 in Belfast, Northern Ireland) is a Northern Irish former international footballer whose clubs included Manchester United. After playing, he managed several English football teams and the Northern Irish national team.
- Kevin Wilson
Kevin James Wilson (born 19 April 1961 in Banbury) is an ex-footballer who played as a forward. At club level, he played for Derby, Ipswich, Chelsea, Notts County, Bradford, Walsall, and Northampton Town. At international level, Kevin played for Northern Ireland 42 times, scoring 6 goals.
- Con Martin
Cornelius Joseph Martin (born Rush, Dublin, March 20 1923), commonly referred to as Con Martin, is a former Irish footballer. Martin initially played Gaelic football with Dublin before switching codes and embarking on a successful soccer career. He played for several club teams, most notably Leeds United and Aston Villa. As an international, Martin also played for and captained both Ireland teams - the FAI XI and the IFA XI.
- Danny Blanchflower
Robert Dennis "Danny" Blanchflower (b. February 10 1926, Belfast - d. December 9 1993) was a footballer, football manager, and journalist who captained Spurs during their double-winning season of 1961. He is remembered as one of the great tacticians in the history the game, renowned for his passing, and as an outstanding right-half.
- Jimmy Nicholl
James "Jimmy" Michael Nicholl (born February 28, 1956 in Hamilton, Ontario) is a Canadian-born Northern Irish former footballer and, later, a manager. Nicholl won a total of 73 international caps for Northern Ireland, scoring once. He was mainly a right-back but could also play in other defensive roles. He frequently played alongside his cousin Chris Nicholl. Nicholl started his career as a junior player at Manchester United. His senior career started in 1974.
- Aaron Hughes
Aaron William Hughes (born November 8, 1979 in Cookstown, Northern Ireland) is a Northern Irish footballer who plays for Fulham and captains the Northern Ireland national team. Hughes can play centre back, right back or left back, he is also able to play anywhere in midfield. He is usually employed in a right back role for his club and at centre half for his country.
- Roy Carroll
Roy Eric Carroll (born September 30 1977 in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh) is a Northern Irish footballer currently playing for Rangers in the Scottish Premier League.
- Bryan Hamilton
Bryan Hamilton (born 31 December 1946, Belfast) was a Northern Irish football player and manager. He gained 50 caps for Northern Ireland between 1969 an 1980. He managed the national squad for four years in the mid-nineties before being sacked in 1998. Like many other ex-Ipswich players he settled in Suffolk following his retirement from the game. During his playing career Hamilton was twice denied being a winning F A cup semi final scorer by the same referee, Clive Thomas.
- Gerry Armstrong
Gerard ("Gerry") Joseph Armstrong (born 23 May 1954 in Belfast) is a retired football player for Northern Ireland. He is best known for his goals in the 1982 FIFA World Cup and is currently a football analyst.
- Maik Taylor
Maik Stefan Taylor (born September 4 1971 in Hildesheim, Germany) is a Northern Irish football goalkeeper who currently plays for Birmingham City.
- Steve Jones
Steve Jones (born October 25, 1976 in Derry, Ulster) is a Northern Irish professional football player, currently with Burnley.
- Nigel Worthington
Nigel Worthington (born November 4, 1961 in Ballymena, County Antrim) is a Northern Irish former footballer and manager of the national team. As a player, he was a left full back and occasional left midfielder, playing the majority of his club football for Sheffield Wednesday. As an international player, he is Northern Ireland's 9th most capped player with 66 appearances.
- Felix Healy
Patrick Joseph ("Felix") Healy (born 27 September 1955) is a former Northern Irish footballer. He has also entered the world of management since his retirement from playing. Healy is a brother of Dennis Healy. Felix has 3 children named Alan, Georgina and Patrick who later went on to mascot Derry City in the 1989 fai cup final when Felix scored the winning goal. Healy, an accomplished midfielder or striker, possessed an impressive passing ability.
- Chris Nicholl
Christopher ("Chris") John Nicholl (born 12 October 1946 in Macclesfield is an English-born former footballer and manager of Northern Irish ancestry.
- Steven Davis
Steven Davis (born January 1, 1985 in Ballymena, Northern Ireland) is a Northern Irish international football player who currently plays for Fulham as a midfielder. He attended Ballymena Academy between the years 1996 and 2001 before leaving to pursue his budding football career. His nickname is Stevis, as named by David Sloan. His first appearance as an Aston Villa player was made after 57 minutes as a replacement for Nolberto Solano against Norwich City on September 18, …
- Terry Cochrane
Terence George Cochrane (or Terry Cochrane) (born 23 January, 1953 in Killyleagh, Northern Ireland) is a former Northern Irish footballer who played in midfield as a winger. Cochrane started out as a youngster with Derry City FC and had been rejected after a months trial with Everton FC, then managed by Billy Bingham, for "not having the right build" to play in midfield. Cochrane returned to the Irish League to play for Linfield FC, and then Coleraine FC, …
- Shaun Holmes
Shaun Holmes (born December 27, 1980 in Derry, Northern Ireland) is an Irish footballer who plays with Finn Harps of the FAI National League First Division. He had previously played for Derry City F.C. in the League of Ireland but was released by the club on 14 December 2006, as he was not seen as being a fundamental part of Pat Fenlon's (the new team-manager) plans.
- Pat Rice
Patrick James Rice (born March 17, 1949 in Belfast) is a Northern Ireland football player and coach. He is currently assistant manager of Arsenal.
- Glenn Ferguson
Glenn Ferguson (born 10 July 1969) is a Northern Irish footballer currently playing for Irish Premier League club Linfield. Ferguson has scored over 450 goals in Irish football, and also been capped by Northern Ireland. On 1 December 2006, he scored his 226th goal for Linfield, which took his career total to 476, making him the third highest scorer in the history of the local game, behind only Jimmy Jones and Joe Bambrick. He previously had spells with Glenavon and Ards
- Charlie Tully
Charlie Tully (born in Belfast, Northern Ireland on 11 July 1924 - died 27 July 1971 also in Belfast) was a famous footballer of Celtic Football Club. Tully signed for Celtic from Belfast Celtic on 28 June 1948. He played his debut match at inside-left at home against Morton on 14 August in a 0-0 draw. He played a total of 319 matches for Celtic, scoring 47 goals throughout his career, which spanned 11 years.
- Kyle Lafferty
Kyle Lafferty (born 16 September 1987 in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland) is a professional footballer who currently plays for Burnley Football Club in the English Football League Championship. The Northern Ireland youngster, who plays as a striker, started his career with Fermanagh side NFC Kesh before signing a YTS contract in 2004 for the Lancashire outfit.
- Alan Mannus
Alan Mannus (b. 19 May 1982 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada) is a Northern Irish professional footballer currently playing for Linfield, the most successful club in the Irish Premier League. After rising through Linfield's junior ranks, Mannus made his first senior squad appearance in 2002. He established himself as the club's first choice goalkeeper at a young age and made his 250th appearance before his 25th birthday.
- Allan Hunter
Allan Hunter (b. 30 June, 1946 in Northern Ireland) is a former international footballer. As a central defender, Hunter spent the majority of his professional career at Ipswich Town, making over 350 appearances in his eleven years at the club. He also played for Oldham Athletic, Blackburn Rovers and Colchester United. His nephew was manager of Rushden & Diamonds and is now coach at Norwich City. He made nearly 50 appearances for his country.
- John O'Neill
"See John O'Neill for other men with the same name." John Patrick O'Neill (b. 11 March 1958, Derry) is a former footballer who played for Northern Ireland, winning 39 caps, and scoring 2 goals. At club level, he played for Leicester City, QPR, and Norwich City. He made just one appearance for Norwich - against Wimbledon FC in 1987 - in which he sustained the knee injury that ended his career. He was granted a testimonial in the 1988-89 season.
- Terry Harkin
Terry Harkin is former Northern Irish footballer who played as a centre forward. A prolific goalscorer throughout his career, Harkin started out as a youth with Derry City FC before making his name with Bertie Peacock’s Coleraine FC. Measuring 5' 10" in height, he transferred to Port Vale for a £2,000 fee in September 1962, where he managed 10 goals in 17 games during his first season in Division Three, as the club finished in third place, just off promotion.