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Saturday 15 Aug 2026
Born to Play: Josh Magennis

As Josh Magennis celebrates his 36th birthday today, we look at some of his best moments playing for Northern Ireland. 

Initially a goalkeeper, Magennis first played as a striker for Northern Ireland at Under-19 level.

After playing at U17, U19 and Under-21 level for his country, he made his senior international debut in May 2010 in a friendly international in America. 

However, it was not against USA. Instead it was a game v Turkey in Connecticut, in which he came on as a second half substitute. The Turks won the game two nil. 

He had to wait five years to get his first international goal, however it was a goal that both he and the Green and White Army will never forget. 

The forward scored the second goal as Northern Ireland defeated Greece 3-1 in a Euro qualifier in October 2015 at Windsor Park. The win - the two other goals were scored by captain Steven Davis - meant Northern Ireland qualified for UEFA Euro 2016, their first major tournament in 30 years. 

And once he got to France the striker had a hand in a famous goal. In the 2-0 win against Ukraine in Lyon he came on as a second half substitute when Northern Ireland were a goal up. Deep in added time he skipped past a defender and took the ball to the byline before pulling it back to Stuart Dallas. His low drive was pushed out by the Ukrainian keeper, however fellow sub Niall McGinn was on hand to slot home the loose ball and that proved to be the winner.

Magennis was in the Glentoran youth team before joining the youth team at Cardiff City in 2007.

He signed for the Bluebirds as a keeper but he switched to being a striker before he penned his first professional contract with the Welsh club in 2009. 

In 2010 he moved to Aberdeen in the Scottish top flight. He scored 12 goals in 123 appearances for the Dons. He had a six-month loan spell with St Mirren before leaving Aberdeen in the summer of 2014. 

Next stop was Kilmarnock where he scored 20 goals in 84 appearances followed by stints with Charlton Athletic (88 appearances, 20 goals) and Bolton Wanderers (45 games, seven goals). 

In August 2019 the forward joined Hull City on a two-year deal. In 2021 he helped the Tigers achieve promotion back to the Championship. He scored 26 goals in 95 appearances for Hull. 

At the start of 2022 he switched to Wigan Athletic where he notched 14 goals in 98 appearances across two and a half seasons.

In the summer of 2024 he joined Exeter City, initially on a one-year deal that was extended by a further year. He netted 21 times in 89 games for Exeter in League One.

Earlier this summer he moved to League One side Stevenage and he hit the ground running by scoring the winner against Wycombe Wanderers in an EFL Cup first round tie.

Including the one he scored on that famous night in Belfast in October 2015 the striker has netted 12 goals for his country to date, and he has won 89 caps since 2010.

Happy Birthday Josh!