English Premier League - Player Profile: Darren Gibson
Darren Gibson is a Manchester United footballer, who also plays for the Irish national team as well at the international level. Gibson was born in the Irish city of Derry, which was previously under dispute when Catholic and Protestant sections of the Irish
nation were at war with each other.
As a result of his qualification for international football, Darren was a bone of contention between the Northern Irish Football Association and the Republic of Ireland football association.
Gibson went to St.Columb’s college and played his junior football for Derry and in his district’s league. He joined Institute Football Club before he made the move to the English giants Manchester United in 2004. United gave Gibson his debut in a league
cup match against Barnet, the Irish national midfielder came on as a substitute in place of Lee Martin during the match.
In the 2005-2006 season, Gibson made regular appearances for Manchester United’s reserve team as the young squad won the treble. He made 19 appearances for the reserve squad and scored two goals for United. The youngster won the famous Jimmy Murphy award
for being United’s best youth team player of the season which ended in 2006.
The pre-season that followed the 2005-2006 season saw Gibson participating in the pre-season tour along with United’s senior team. United then sent Gibson to Royal Antwerp, their feeder club for some precious first team experience. Gibson was also joined
on the loan move by Johnny Evans, Dong Fangzhou, Frazier Campbell and Danny Simpson.
In 2007 October, Gibson was again sent on loan but this time it was the Premiership club Wolverhampton Wanderers, also known as the Wolves, the Irish youngster spent the 2007-2008 season on loan to Wolves. He scored two goals in his time with the Wolves
but returned to Manchester United for the start of the 2008-2009 season.
Gibson made his debut for the Manchester United senior side in the English Premier League on the 15th of November 2008 as he came on as a substitute against Stoke City. Shortly after, he also made his debut in the UEFA Champions League for the
Red Devils, as he came on as a substitute for Darren Fletcher in United’s match against Villarreal.
In December 2008, Gibson travelled with the first team squad to Japan where United competed in the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup. Despite not playing a single game during the club’s tour to Japan, Gibson got the winner’s medal as Manchester United became Club
World Cup champions. Irishman’s first goal for United came in their F.A Cup match against Southampton, a match that the English giants won by a score line of 3-0.
On 24th of May, Gibson opened his league goals account for United as he scored against Hull City in the last league game of the season. He has continuously impressed for United as his career has progressed at the Manchester club.
In the 2009-2010 season, Gibson made more first team appearances than his fellow youngsters as he featured in a total number of 23 games throughout the season for United. He also managed to score five goals during these appearances.
Gibson’s biggest game for United was arguably against Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals. A game that United won by 3 goals to 2 but they were knocked out of the competition on aggregate goals.
The young Irish midfielder has been touted by many at United as the eventual successor at the club to Paul Scholes. He was on tour to U.S.A, Canada and Mexico with Manchester United in the summer. Since the start of the 2010-2011 season, Darren has had little
chance to feature in the first team for Manchester United as Sir Alex has used Darren Fletcher and Paul Scholes in central midfield.
Darren Gibson did feature for Manchester United in their UEFA Champions League tie again Rangers at Old Trafford. A match in which Gibson failed to give a satisfactory performance for the Red Devils, nonetheless it is anticipated that the Irishman will be
crucial to United's squad rotation policy in the 2010-2011 season.
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