A decade after Northern IrelandTeam·Northern Ireland's memorable journey to the UEFA European Championship in 2016, veteran striker Josh Magennis has offered a reflective look back at the tournament and articulated his clear aspirations for the remainder of his international career. Now 35 years old and a free agent following his departure from Exeter CityTeam·Exeter City, Magennis stands as the sole active player from that historic squad.
Magennis vividly recalls the entire Euro 2016 experience, describing it as "amazing from start to finish." The opportunity to represent his country on such a grand stage, competing against some of Europe's elite, remains a cherished memory. Two moments from the finals particularly resonate with him: his crucial involvement in Niall McGinnPlayer·Niall McGinn's goal against UkraineTeam·Ukraine, which secured a famous victory, and the standout performance of goalkeeper Michael McGovern during the match against Germany. The striker's first international goal, scored in a 3-1 win over GreeceTeam·Greece on October 8, 2015, was instrumental in Northern IrelandTeam·Northern Ireland's qualification for Euro 2016, marking the nation's first major tournament appearance in three decades.
Despite his age, Magennis maintains a strong desire to continue playing for Northern IrelandTeam·Northern Ireland. Reaching 100 caps for his country serves as a significant personal motivation, though he expressed contentment with his current tally of over 80 caps, stating in March 2026 that he would be "completely happy" regardless. His ambition extends to potentially featuring at Euro 2028Competition·Euro 2028, which will be co-hosted by the UK and Ireland, by which time he would be nearly 37. Magennis has underscored his commitment to maintaining peak fitness and performing consistently at club level to earn his place in the national squad. He has affirmed that he would never retire from international football unless the national team manager, Michael O'Neill, decided against his selection. An open discussion with Michael O'Neill in May 2025 addressed Magennis's concerns about his international future after being omitted from friendly squads, with O'Neill making it clear that retirement was not an expectation.
During the 2025/26 League One season with Exeter CityTeam·Exeter City, Magennis made 37 appearances, scoring 7 goals and providing 1 assist across 1,564 minutes of play. His club commitments also included participation in the FA CupCompetition·FA Cup, EFL TrophyCompetition·EFL Trophy, League Cup, and World Cup UEFA qualificationCompetition·World Cup UEFA qualification matches. His most recent club goal came in a 1-2 loss against Bradford City on May 2, 2026. On the international front, Northern IrelandTeam·Northern Ireland recently secured a 1-0 friendly victory over GuineaTeam·Guinea on June 4, 2026. Other recent results for Michael O'Neill's side include a 1-1 draw with WalesTeam·Wales in March 2026 and a 2-0 defeat to Italy in European QualifiersCompetition·European Qualifiers. Northern IrelandTeam·Northern Ireland currently sits in 5th position in their European QualifiersCompetition·European Qualifiers group with 9 points and is also participating in the 2026-28 UEFA Nations League.
Northern Ireland's Josh Magennis and Niall McGinn celebrate a goal at Euro 2016. (AFLOSPORT/IMAGO)
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