Since Sheffield United F.C.'s formation in 1889, over 80 players have played at senior international level whilst registered with the club. United's first internationals were defendersHarry Lilley and Michael Whitham who both appeared for England on 5 March 1892 and the most recent player to be capped while with United was another defender, Lecsinel Jean-François who played twice for Haiti in November 2011.
The following lists contain only players who gained international caps whilst a registered player of Sheffield United. Caps gained prior to joining and subsequent to leaving the club are not included.
Table headings: Apps = Total number of appearances for the national side while a Sheffield United player; Goals = Total number of goals for the national side while a Sheffield United player; Years = Duration of time as a Sheffield United player; Ref = source of information
United's first internationals were defendersHarry Lilley and Michael Whitham who both appeared for England on 5 March 1892, although they played against different opposition, as England played two first team games on the same day.[5][6]
Peter Ndlovu is the club's top international goalscorer, netting 21 times for Zimbabwe during his tenure with the Blades.[7]
International call-ups during the earliest years of Sheffield United were generally for the home nations (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.)[1] From the 1990s onwards the increasingly multinational nature of the team resulted in call ups for players from across Europe (including Norway, Greece and Estonia) and also from the wider world (including China, Cameroon and Egypt.)[7]
List of Sheffield United F.C. players making full international appearances
National sides comprising only amateur players were introduced at the start of the twentieth century, following the rise of professionalism which made it difficult for amateur players to find a place in the main national side. Despite being a professional club, Sheffield United occasionally contracted players on an amateur basis and those players who represented their country while under such terms are listed below.
List of Sheffield United F.C. players making amateur international appearances
With the outbreak of World War I in 1914, organised football continued until the end of the season in 1915. However, there were growing calls for organised sports to be suspended in favour of the war effort and The Football Association duly halted all competitive fixtures from 1915, a cessation which remained in place until the commencement of the 1919–20 season. Despite this a number of exhibition games did take place, mainly immediately following the cessation of the conflict.[121]
List of Sheffield United F.C. players making appearances during World War I
With the outbreak of war in 1939 the government immediately imposed a ban on the assembly of crowds and as such, organised football was halted for the duration of the war. Despite this a series of unofficial exhibition games were organised throughout the wartime period, with the details of Sheffield United's involvement listed below.[121]
List of Sheffield United F.C. players making appearances during World War II
Between 1899 and 1978 the four football associations of the UK undertook occasional summer tours, playing friendly fixtures against their host nations. Although the representative sides were often almost a full international team, these games were not considered full internationals.[128] A number of United players were members of the touring parties on four of those tours between 1910 and 1951, with those players being listed below.[100]
^Brian Deane had three separate spells with United. For simplicities sake only his first spell with the club, during which he was capped by England, is listed.[24]
^ abBob Evans made ten appearances for Wales between 1906 and 1910 qualifying through his parentage. Whilst with Sheffield United it was discovered that he had been born in Chester and therefore qualified to play for England. He subsequently changed his allegiance and made four appearances for the England team, something that was later outlawed by FIFA.[28]
^Jimmy Dunne made seven appearances for Ireland (IFA) between 1928 and 1932 and 1 appearance for Ireland (FAI) in 1930 while being a Sheffield United player. He later played for the latter.
Clubs are grouped by their division in the 2024–25 season. Includes the Welsh clubs where lists have been created. 'POTY' = 'Player of the Year / Season'.