Darron Gibson

Darron Gibson (born October 25, 1987 in Derry, Northern Ireland) is an Irish people Football (soccer) player. He is a former pupil of St. Columb's College in Derry.

Club career

Gibson joined Manchester United F.C. from Institute F.C. as a junior. He made his first-team debut for Manchester United on 26 October 2005 in a Football League Cup match against Barnet F.C. coming on as a substitute for Lee R. Martin. In May 2006 he was voted as the Youth Team player of the year.

Gibson was sent on loan to the Belgian Second Division club Royal Antwerp FC for the whole of the 2006-07 season to gain experience. Antwerp reached the play-off stage, but were unable to secure promotion to the top division.

Gibson is seen as a powerful and athletic midfielder, who can both attack and defend.

International career

Gibson is a Republic of Ireland national football team international. In 2005 he rejected Northern Ireland national football team, whom he had previously represented at under-16 level, in favour of fulfilling his dream of representing the Republic of Ireland at senior international level, the country he and his family have supported all his life.

However, the Irish Football Association (the organisation that governs football in Northern Ireland) considers Gibson's eligibility for the Republic of Ireland as a matter of dispute, since it feels that Gibson may not meet certain new, stricter eligibility criteria introduced by FIFA in May 2004. The association has claimed that the Football Association of Ireland has no right to claim a player from Northern Ireland, and while it has appealed to FIFA to adjudicate on the matter, it appears that the FAI has taken a risk and included the player in recent qualifier squads. Another political argument aiming to prove that Gibson indeed qualifies to play for the Republic is by way of a provision in the Good Friday Agreement recognising:

"The birthright of all the people of Northern Ireland to identify themselves and be accepted as Irish or British, or both, as they may so choose, and accordingly confirm that their right to hold both British and Irish citizenship is accepted by both Governments and would not be affected by any future change in the status of Northern Ireland."

On 30 January 2007 he was called up by manager Steve Staunton to the Republic of Ireland national football team for the Euro 2008 qualifier against San Marino national football team. He retained his place in the squad for the qualifiers against Wales national football team and Slovakia national football team in March 2007, but did not make an appearance. He eventually made his full international debut for the Republic of Ireland in a 4-0 win against Denmark national football team on August 22 2007. In which he set up the third goal by proving his strike was too hot for the Denmark national football team keeper to handle, making the keeper drop the ball for another player to net.

In his first game for the Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team, Gibson was named captain of the team.

Darron has since stated that it is his prerogative to dictate whether he is British or Irish and has decided to stand by decision to play for the Republic of Ireland.