Former Manchester United player Darron Gibson reveals addiction to sleeping pills

Former Manchester United midfielder Darron Gibson has recently disclosed his battles with addiction to sleeping pills, shedding light on a tumultuous period marked by health concerns and personal turmoil. Gibson, renowned for his career at Manchester United, Everton, and Sunderland, revealed the severity of his struggles, admitting to consuming a staggering 12 to 14 sleeping tablets per night during the darkest phases of his addiction.

Reflecting on the gravity of his situation, the ex-Ireland international recounted a harrowing incident last year when he was rushed to the hospital after a seizure, a moment that left him contemplating the fragility of life. Recounting the details in an interview with The 42, Gibson emphasized the toll the addiction had taken on him, both physically and emotionally, acknowledging that he had reached a critical point where his life was in peril. He confessed to concealing the extent of his dependency from loved ones, adept at camouflaging the severity of his addiction.

Expressing empathy for fellow footballer Dele Alli, who also shared his struggles with sleeping medication earlier this year, Gibson emphasized the importance of confronting and acknowledging one's struggles. He attributed the genesis of his troubles to a long-term knee injury sustained during his tenure at Everton in 2013, a setback that seemingly exacerbated the challenges he faced.


The former football star faced additional tribulations, including a 2018 arrest for drink driving during his Sunderland days, which led to a 40-month driving ban. Despite his turbulent past, Gibson expressed a sense of liberation and contentment in his current phase, highlighting the relief of shedding the relentless pressures and anxieties that accompanied his professional football career.

Gibson candidly shared insights into the pressures he faced during his tenure at Manchester United, describing the perpetual stress, anxiety, and fear of being replaced as a pervasive backdrop to his time at the club. In his reflective account, he indicated a newfound sense of happiness and relief, attributing it to the absence of the intense pressures that had defined his footballing career. As Gibson embarks on a journey of recovery and self-discovery, his honest account serves as a poignant reminder of the resilience and strength required to navigate the complexities of mental health and addiction in the realm of professional sports.