He also played in the Football League for Swansea City, Wigan Athletic, Scunthorpe United and Tranmere Rovers, as well as in his native country for Portadown and Glentoran.
Born in Lurgan, County Armagh, McGibbon began his career at his local Irish Premier League club, Portadown, signing a professional contract with them in 1991, aged just 18.
He made his debut for the Red Devils in a League Cup tie against York City in September 1995; United lost the match 3–0 and McGibbon was sent off.
McGibbon made ten appearances for the Latics during a successful loan spell at Springfield Park, and even scored the goal that guaranteed Wigan's promotion to Division Two.
Wigan signed McGibbon on a permanent deal in the summer of 1997, paying Manchester United £250,000 for the defender's services (a fee which would eventually rise to £380,000).
[4] However, he was granted a transfer request in 2001,[3] and began to fall out of favour with manager Paul Jewell towards the end of his tenure at the Lancashire club.