Darron Gibson

Darron Gibson is a centre midfielder of Liverpool side Everton and the Republic of Ireland national football team. He was born in Derry, like his teammate and compatriot Shane Duffy.

Darron began his career in 2003 by joining Northern Irish side Institute, from where he moved to the Manchester United academy in 2004. In 2005 the footballer became the first team player and tried to become a regular for a long time (however, he eventually failed to do that). At the beginning of 2006 he was loaned to Belgian side Royal Antwerp, made 31 appearances for the temporary club and scored one goal. The Irish player went on loan to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the following season, took part in 21 games and netted one goal as well.

Darron started to periodically perform for his parent Manchester United only in 2008/2009. He made three appearances during the season, but the poor statistics was sweetened by a spectacular goal in the game against Hull City on 24 May 2009. That goal consolidated ‘The Red Devils’ at the top line of the league table and helped them to become the champions.

In 2009/2010 Gibson started to get closer to the MU main team level. He made a double in the League Cup match against Tottenham on 1 December 2009 and went on to West Ham’s net four days later. After some time the Irish footballer belted the ball into Bolton’s net in a spectacular 4-0 victory. Then he kicked another goal in the 2009/2010 UEFA Champions League quarter-final match against Bayern Munich, but Manchester United did not manage to proceed in the tournament. The majority of Gibson’s goals were scored from a long distance and that’s why he gained the reputation of a real ace at that football element.

The 2010/2011 season was not that fruitful for the midfielder, because he made 20 appearances for his team and contributed only two goals. It became clear that Darron cannot stay in the main team as a regular. The first half of the following season confirmed that, because Gibson came on the pitch twice. On 1 January 2012, the Irish footballer was sold to Everton for £500,000.

The midfielder began to take more active part in matches of ‘The Toffees’. He made 11 appearances in the Barclays Premier League matches and four appearances in the FA Cup games during the second half of the 2011/2012 season. On 31 January 2012, Darron chipped in the winner in the match against future champion of that season Manchester City.

Gibson became the reason of the dispute between two Irish football organizations. One of them represented Northern Ireland and another represented the Republic of Ireland. The question was in Northern Irish-born footballers’ eligibility to perform for the Republic of Ireland at the international level. Usually in such cases the players have to convince the FA of blood ties in the country they want to represent. However, in Darron’s case it was more about close link of two Irish nations. Everything was settled by peace and the legislation was corrected after Gibson decided to cap for the Republic of Ireland.

So, from 2007 Gibson has been invited to the national team. He took part in 19 matches of ‘The Boys in Green’ and fired one goal. The footballer was included in the squad for Euro 2012, but he did not participate in any matches and his team took last place in the group.