under-21 team from 2000 to 2001. He made his debut for the senior team in September 2001 in their World Cup qualifying win against Iceland, scoring his only goal in his professional career until that for West Ham in 2007. In 2005, he fell out with the then manager of the Northern Ireland senior team, Lawrie Sanchez and retired from international football. However, after Nigel Worthington took charge of the national team, McCartney stated his willingness to return and on 22 August 2007, he came out of international retirement and returned to international football in the 3–1 win against Liechtenstein. Following regular run of games for Leeds, in November 2010 McCartney was recalled to the Northern Ireland Squad. In February 2011 McCartney was called into the Northern Ireland squad to face Scotland, but on 8 February 2011 he once again announced his retirement from international football. Coaching career During the 2021–22 NIFL Premiership season, McCartney joined Linfield as a coach, reuniting with former Northern Irish teammate David Healy. Honours Club Sunderland Football League Championship 2004–05 West Ham United Football League Championship play-offs: 2012 Individual PFA Team of the Year: 2004–05 Football League Championship Sunderland Player of the Season: 2004–05 West Ham United Player's Player of the Season: 2011–12 References External links George McCartney profile at the Sunderland website 1981 births Living people Association footballers from Belfast Association footballers from Northern Ireland Northern Ireland youth international footballers Northern Ireland under-21 international footballers Northern Ireland international footballers Association football defenders Sunderland A.F.C. players West Ham United F.C. players Leeds United F.C. players Premier League players English Football League players Association football coaches