Darron Gibson

Darron Thomas Daniel Gibson (born 25 October 1987) is an Ireland association football who has played for Manchester United F.C., Royal Antwerp FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.. In 2007, Gibson, who was born in Derry, was at the centre of a dispute between the Football Association of Ireland and the Irish Football Association, after Darron Gibson opted to play for the Republic of Ireland national football team instead of Northern Ireland national football team. The issue was referred to FIFA and has even been discussed in the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Club career

A former pupil of St Columb's College, Gibson played junior football in the Derry and District League, and then with Institute F.C before joining Manchester United F.C. in 2004. Darron Gibson made Darron Gibson senior debut for United on 26 October 2005 in a Football League Cup game against Barnet F.C., coming on as a substitute for Lee Robert Martin. During the 2005-06 season Darron Gibson played regularly for Manchester United F.C. Reserves, helping them win a treble. Darron Gibson made 19 appearances, scoring twice. In May 2006, Darron Gibson won the prestigious Jimmy Murphy Award as United's youth player of the year and then played regularly for the United senior team during their pre-season summer games. Together with Dong Fangzhuo, Jonny Evans, Fraizer Campbell and Danny Simpson, Darron Gibson was one of several United players who spent the Manchester United F.C. season 2006-07 Loan out on loan at Royal Antwerp FC. In October 2007, Darron Gibson was loaned out again, this time to Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C., where Darron Gibson spent the majority of the 2007-08 in English football.

Gibson made Darron Gibson Premier League debut on 15 November 2008, appearing as a second half substitute against Stoke City F.C., before making Darron Gibson UEFA Champions League debut ten days later, coming on as a substitute for Darren Fletcher against Villarreal CF on 25 November 2008. In December 2008, Darron Gibson travelled with the United squad to the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup in Japan, where, despite not making any appearances, Darron Gibson picked up a winners' medal. On 4 January 2009, Gibson scored Darron Gibson first goal for the club, firing home United's third in a 3–0 victory over Southampton F.C. in the FA Cup Third Round. Darron Gibson then got another in the Fifth Round of the competition, scoring United's second goal in a 4–1 win away to Derby County F.C. on 15 February 2009, winning the "man of the match" award in the process. On 1 March 2009, Gibson started in the centre of midfield alongside Paul Scholes against Tottenham Hotspur F.C. in the 2009 Football League Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, playing the full initial 90 minutes before being replaced by Ryan Giggs at the start of extra time. The match finished goalless at the end of extra time, and United went on to win 4–1 on penalties, granting Gibson the second cup winners' medal of Darron Gibson career. On 24 May, Darron Gibson scored Darron Gibson first league goal for Manchester United in the last game of the Premier League 2008–09 against Hull City A.F.C.. From the left wing, Federico Macheda played the ball to Gibson on the edge of the penalty area, and the Irish international fired the ball into the far side of the goal from around 25 yards.

In response to performances during the season, Gibson was rewarded with a three-year extension to Darron Gibson Manchester United contract, tying Darron Gibson to the club until at least 2012.

Irish international

Gibson was at the centre of a dispute between the Irish Football Association and the Football Association of Ireland over the eligibility of players born within Northern Ireland to represent the Republic of Ireland. Normally, players not born within the territory of the Association they wish to represent must demonstrate to FIFA that they have a valid "connection" (ancestry or residence) with that territory. However, the unique constitutional position of Northern Ireland, as specified in the Good Friday Agreement whereby Irish citizenship is the "birthright" of every person born on the island of Ireland if they so wish, meant that Gibson was eligible to play for the Republic of Ireland at international level. As a result, Gibson was approached to represent both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland at international level..
In the wake of the controversy which this dispute engendered, certain other players from Northern Ireland have sought to take advantage of this application of the eligibility rules by FIFA. However, this does not (as yet, at least) appear to have "opened the floodgates", since of the three other senior players who sought to declare for the Republic of Ireland, Tony Kane and Michael O'Connor (footballer born 1987) both reversed their initial decision and reverted to Northern Ireland and a third, Marc Wilson (Irish footballer), has opted to stay with the Republic of Ireland.

Northern Ireland

Gibson initially represented Northern Ireland at Under-16 level and was included in Victory Shield squads. However, Darron Gibson was dropped from the team after attending trials with Manchester United F.C. and subsequently switched allegiance to the Republic of Ireland. Before Gibson made Darron Gibson senior international debut for the Republic of Ireland, Nigel Worthington, the Northern Ireland national football team manager, made an unsuccessful attempt to persuade Darron Gibson to switch Darron Gibson allegiances back.

Republic of Ireland

Gibson first represented the Republic of Ireland at under-17 level. Then during the 2005-06 season Darron Gibson captained both the Republic of Ireland under-19 and Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team squads. On 14 November 2006, Darron Gibson also played for Republic of Ireland B national football team in a 0-0 draw against Scotland B national football team. In 2007, Gibson was included in several senior Republic of Ireland national football team squads for UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying Group D, before Darron Gibson eventually made Darron Gibson debut in a 4-0 win against Denmark national football team. During the away friendly, Darron Gibson came on as half-time substitute, replacing Andy Reid (footballer). In the 54th minute, Gibson fired a shot from outside the penalty area that the Danish keeper, Jesper Christiansen, could only palm away, allowing Shane Long to follow up and score the Republic's third goal. Gibson won Darron Gibson second full cap on 8 September 2007 in an away game against Slovakia national football team. The Euro 2008 qualifier, which finished as a 2-2 draw, saw Darron Gibson again used as substitute, this time replacing Aiden McGeady after 61 minutes.

Gibson made Darron Gibson first start for the Republic of Ireland national team in a 1–0 win at home to Cyprus national football team on 15 October 2008. After Steven Reid dropped out of the Irish squad due to injury, Gibson was called up to provide extra physicality in the centre of the Irish midfield. Manager Giovanni Trapattoni also cited Gibson's confidence on the football pitch as the reason for choosing Darron Gibson ahead of Liam Miller and Andy Reid (footballer).