Victor Gibson
Arthur Henry Gibson | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 18, 1888 Woolwich, England |
| Died | April 8, 1958 (aged 69) Ruislip, England |
| Occupation(s) | Professional footballer, football coach |
| Years active | 1911–1926 (player), 1912–1930s (coach) |
| Known for | Midfielder for RCD Espanyol; coaching career in Spain and France |
Arthur Henry Gibson, also referred to as Victor Raine Gibson (18 July 1888 – 8 April 1958), was an English professional football player who operated mainly as a midfielder for RCD Espanyol before transitioning into a coaching role in both Spain and France.
Early and personal life
Gibson was born in Woolwich in 1888. He married in 1910 and had a daughter who passed away during infancy. After divorcing his English spouse in 1938, he remarried a French woman the following year, with whom he fathered another daughter.
Playing career
His playing tenure included spells at Morton, Falkirk, and Plumstead, with the latter touring Catalonia in 1911. Following a standout performance against Espanyol on 18 May 1911, Gibson was signed alongside Frank Allack and William Hodge. He swiftly assumed the roles of captain and manager at Espanyol. However, in July 1912, both Gibson and Allack were released due to disciplinary issues, prompting Gibson to join the French club Olympique Cettois. On 5 April 1914, he featured as a defender in the USFSA Football Championship final, which Olympique Cettois lost 0–3 to Olympique Lillois. Gibson remained with Olympique Cettois until 1924 before transferring to Montpellier, where he concluded his playing career in 1926 at age 38.
Coaching career
In Spain, Gibson took charge of the Catalonia national team during their inaugural FIFA-recognized fixture on 20 February 1912, which ended in a 7–0 defeat to France. His coaching career in France included appointments at FC Cette, Montpellier, Marseille, Sochaux, SC Bastidienne, and Hispano-Bastidienne. Under his leadership, FC Cette reached back-to-back Coupe de France finals in 1923 and 1924 but were defeated on both occasions: first as coach (4–2 loss to Red Star Olympique) and then as player-coach (3–2 loss to Marseille). Subsequently, Gibson secured two Coupe de France titles with Marseille in 1926 and 1927 by overcoming AS Valentigney and US Quevilly respectively. Additionally, he guided Sochaux to victory in the Peugeot Cup in 1931.
Later life and death
During the 1930s, Gibson returned to England where he worked as a gardener and groundskeeper. Following his divorce from his English wife in 1938, he remarried a Frenchwoman in 1939; they had a daughter together. He passed away in Ruislip on 8 April 1958 at the age of 69.
As a player
- FC Sète
- USFSA Football Championship:
- Runner-up (1): 1914
As a manager
- FC Sète
- Olympique de Marseille
- Sochaux
- Peugeot Cup
- Winners (1): 1931