Gibraltar: Premier League Nations
Continuing our alphabetical world tour, next up is Gibraltar. Having been a member of UEFA since 2013, Gibraltar were not granted FIFA membership until 2016. According to the Premier League website, one player has represented Gibraltar in the Premier League; quite a recognisable name too.
First (and only) Player – Danny Higginbotham (Manchester United, Derby County, Southampton, Sunderland, Stoke; 1997-05, 2007-13)
You don’t play for five different Premier League clubs, let alone over 16 years, if you’re not a decent player. Higginbotham began his career at Manchester United, making four league appearances before moving to fellow Premier League side Derby County in 2000.
After suffering relegation with Derby and Southampton, he moved to Stoke, staying for one season before moving north to Sunderland. He returned to Stoke another season later; the club then in the Premier League, and stayed for five seasons.
Qualifying through his grandmother, Higginbotham was selected to play for Gibraltar in their first international as a UEFA member. He played the full 90 minutes as Gibraltar claimed a momentous draw in a friendly with Slovakia. 34 at the time of his international debut, Higginbotham made two more international appearances before retiring in 2014.
Records
- Most appearances – Danny Higginbotham (210)
- First appearance – Danny Higginbotham (Barnsley 0-2 MAN UNITED, May 10th 1998)
- Most goals – Danny Higginbotham (9)
- First goal – Danny Higginbotham (Bolton 1-3 DERBY, March 16th 2002)
Trivia
- Gibraltar are one of 26 FIFA nations that are not a UN-recognised sovereign state.
- Only five UN recognised countries have a population smaller than that of Gibraltar. Of those, only San Marino is a FIFA member.
- Danny Higginbotham has played in five of the top six tiers of English football. He never played in League Two.