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. A year later, he was signed by Manchester United for £100,000. He made his debut for the Red Devils in a League Cup tie against York Cityin September 1995; United lost the match 3–0 and McGibbon was sent off. He was loaned out to Swansea City and Wigan Athletic during the 1996–97 season. McGibbon impressed in his only appearance for the Swans, before injury struck. He trained some days with Manchester United during his time at Swansea and was injured in training, spending five months on the sidelines, requiring two operations. 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. He was offered a two-year contract extension by United but opted to leave Old Trafford saying he wanted regular, competitive football. In his five years at Wigan, McGibbon made over 150 appearances and scored 11 goals for the Latics. He also played in the final as Wigan won the 1998–99 Football League Trophy. However, he was granted a transfer request in 2001, and began to fall out of favour with manager Paul Jewell towards the end of his tenure at the Lancashire club. In February 2002, he was loaned out to Scunthorpe United for two months with a view to a permanent deal. However, McGibbon could not agree personal terms with Scunthorpe, and he returned to Wigan. Nevertheless, he was released that summer, and was soon picked up by Tranmere Rovers, managed by McGibbon's former boss at Wigan, Ray Mathias. However, McGibbon only stayed at Tranmere for a month, and moved back to Portadown in September 2002. Two years later, he signed for Glentoran and picked up an Irish Premier League winner's medal in his first season there. McGibbon did not complete a second season at The Oval, as he retired from professional football to go back to his physiotherapy business in Portadown in March 2003. Injury was originally cited as the reason for McGibbon's retirement, but after he went on record with major criticisms of the Glentoran board, it became apparent that there were deeper reasons for his departure. McGibbon won seven caps for the senior Northern Ireland team between 1995 and 2000. He also made five appearances for the Northern Ireland B team.
