Opinion: Best Players to Earn International Caps Whilst Playing For Sheffield United | OneFootball

We know that the Sheffield United academy has helped develop several international footballers, but, they have also had many of their players in general that have featured for their national team over the years.

Here, I rank the ten best players that earned caps for their country whilst playing for the Blades…

Best Players to Earn International Caps Whilst Playing For Sheffield United

10. Paddy Kenny (Republic of Ireland) – 7 Senior Caps

The first man on this list is the goalkeeper I grew up watching play for the Blades throughout my childhood, Paddy Kenny.

Kenny spent eight years at the club, tallying over 260 appearances. He represented Ireland while playing for Sheffield United, making his debut in 2004 in a 2-1 win over Czech Republic.

9. Michael Tonge (England Under-21’s) – 2 Youth Caps

Although Michael Tonge didn’t earn a senior England cap, he represented the under-20’s and under-21’s team while at Sheffield United, as he gained a reputation as a talented midfielder with an eye for goal.

The midfielder was with the Blades between 2001 and 2008, making 262 appearances and scoring 21 goals, with most of them being absolute screamers.

Tonge made his England U20’s debut in November 2002, and he made his U21’s debut in September 2003.

8. David McGoldrick (Republic of Ireland) – 14 Senior Caps

Sheffield United’s English-born Irish striker David McGoldrick celebrates scoring the opening goal during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Sheffield United at Stamford Bridge in London on November 7, 2020. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / POOL / AFP)

David McGoldrick was a key player in Sheffield United’s recent successes, and with this, McGoldrick became a Republic of Ireland regular (between 2018 and 2020) due to his performances with the Blades.

Despite the versatile forward not being known as a prolific striker throughout his career, McGoldrick chipped in with 27 goals in 127 games for United and he helped the club gain promotion to the Premier League in the 2018/19 campaign.

7. George Baldock (Greece) – 12 Senior Caps

Although English by birth, George Baldock qualified to play for Greece through his heritage and earned his first international cap while with Sheffield United.

The late great Baldock played over 200 times for the Blades, and was a vital part of United’s meteoric rise to the top flight during Chris Wilder’s first tenure at the club, as well as helping United to promotion back to the Premier League in the 2022/23 term.

6. Oliver Norwood (Northern Ireland) – 57 Senior Caps

Oliver Norwood was a Northern Ireland regular, and captain, before he joined Sheffield United on his initial loan deal in the 18/19 season. However, the playmaking midfielder decided to retire from international duty in August 2019, and this was perhaps down to him wanting to focus on the Blades during their 2019/20 Premier League campaign.

His decision clearly paid off as he was unplayable for large parts of that term, helping United to a historic 9th-placed finish, flirting with the European places all season long.

Norwood played 230 times for the club across a six-year period, but his best period came undoubtedly in his first two seasons.

5. Iliman Ndiaye (Senegal) – 24 Senior Caps

Iliman Ndiaye played a vital role in the 2022/23 promotion-winning campaign. His form during that season was simply outstanding, and it earned him a place in the Senegal national team for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, making three appearances, including one in the knockout game against England.

The talented forward went on to score 21 goals in 77 appearances for Sheffield United before joining his boyhood club Olympique Marseille in the summer of 2023.

4. Brian Deane (England) – 3 Senior Caps

Brian Deane, regarded as one of the best Blades players ever, had three spells with United. His first spell, and best spell, came between 1998 and 1993, scoring 82 goals in over 190 games. He famously scored the first-ever Premier League goal in 1992, against Manchester United, and was a key player for the club.

In the 1997/98 campaign, Deane rejoined the club and found the net 11 times in 24 matches. His last spell came in the 05/06 season, making just two appearances before calling time on his career at the end of that term.

Deane earned three senior England caps while playing for Sheffield United.

3. Harry Maguire (England Under-21’s) – 1 Youth Cap

LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 13: Harry Maguire of Sheffield United (5) reacts as Stephen Quinn of Hull City (29) scores their fourth goal during the FA Cup with Budweiser semi-final match between Hull City and Sheffield United at Wembley Stadium on April 13, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Harry Maguire famously started his career with Sheffield United, where he earned recognition for his performances between 2011 and 2014 which earned him an England under-21’s cap in 2012. Since then, he has gone on to represent England at senior level 64 times.

The towering centre-back featured 134 times for the Blades before moving on to Hull City.

2. Phil Jagielka (England Under-21’s) – 6 Youth Caps

SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 28: Sadio Mane of Liverpool battles for possession with Phil Jagielka of Sheffield United during the Premier League match between Sheffield United and Liverpool at Bramall Lane on February 28, 2021 in Sheffield, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Oli Scarff – Pool/Getty Images)

Phil Jagielka was an excellent defender for Sheffield United and earned his first England call-up, back in 2002, while at the club.

After making over 250 appearances in a seven-year period between 2000 and 2007, his strong performances led to him joining Everton and he would go on to have a long international career with England at senior level, making 40 appearances for the Three Lions.

Jagielka would rejoin the Blades in July 2019 following the club’s promotion to the Premier League. He would make over a dozen appearances over two seasons before becoming a free agent.

1. Tony Currie (England) – 17 Senior Caps

Sheffield United’s greatest player of all time, as many would agree on, Tony Currie was capped for England’s senior team during his time with the Blades, making his England debut in 1972.

The creative midfielder played over 300 times for the Blades, scoring 68 times, before joining Yorkshire rivals Leeds United at the beginning of the 1976/77 campaign.

Currie would rack up most of his England caps during his time in West Yorkshire. Eleven of his 17 caps came whilst he played for Leeds.

Honourable Mentions

Jimmy Hagan earned 16 England caps during World War Two, scoring eleven goals, and although presumably one of the best Blades players ever, I have not placed him on the top ten list simply because I’ve never seen an ounce of footage of him playing. The inside forward scored 117 goals in over 360 appearances for United over a twenty-year period.

Another name that deserves a mention is from the old times is Graham Shaw. The left-back featured five times for England whilst playing for the Blades between 1958 and 1962.

The Sheffield-born defender made over 400 appearances for United and may well be one of the finest defenders in the club’s history.