Danny Gabbidon: A Footballing Chronicle
An in-depth exploration of the career of Welsh defender Danny Gabbidon, from his formative years to his professional achievements and contributions beyond the pitch.
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Personal Information
Full Name
Daniel Leon Gabbidon
Date of Birth
8 August 1979 (Age 46)
Place of Birth
Cwmbran, Wales
Height
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position
Defender
Youth Development
Early Footballing Years
Gabbidon commenced his footballing journey through local youth systems, participating in teams such as Court Farm and Cwmbrรขn Town. This foundational period was crucial in developing his early skills and passion for the sport.
Professional Pathway
His transition into professional football began with an apprenticeship at West Bromwich Albion in November 1996, leading to his professional contract in July 1998. This marked the commencement of his senior career.
Club Career Trajectory
West Bromwich Albion
Gabbidon began his senior career at West Bromwich Albion, making his debut in March 1999. He accumulated 27 appearances across all competitions during his tenure before moving on loan to Cardiff City.
Cardiff City
After an initial loan spell, Gabbidon signed permanently with Cardiff City in September 2000. He became a key player, contributing to their promotion to Division 1 in 2003 and earning accolades such as Welsh Clubman of the Year. He later returned for a second spell in a player-coach capacity.
West Ham United
In July 2005, Gabbidon transferred to West Ham United, forming a notable defensive partnership. His performances earned him the Welsh Footballer of the Year award in 2005 and a runners-up medal in the 2006 FA Cup final. Despite injuries, he remained a significant figure until his release in 2011.
Later Career Stages
Following West Ham, Gabbidon played for Queens Park Rangers (2011-2012), Crystal Palace (2012-2014), and concluded his playing career with a player-coach role at his hometown club, Panteg (2014-2015).
International Representation
Welsh National Team
Born in Wales to parents of Jamaican and Barbadian heritage, Gabbidon represented Wales internationally. He made 17 appearances for the Welsh Under-21 team before debuting for the senior squad in March 2002 against the Czech Republic. He earned a total of 49 caps for Wales, often playing a crucial role in defense and even captaining the side on occasion.
International Retirement and Return
Gabbidon initially announced his retirement from international football in October 2010. However, he was persuaded by new manager Gary Speed to reconsider and was subsequently included in the squad for the match against the Republic of Ireland in February 2011, demonstrating his continued value to the national team.
Career Statistics
Club Appearances and Goals
The following table details Danny Gabbidon's senior club career statistics across various competitions:
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Continental | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| West Bromwich Albion | 1998โ99 | First Division | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | โ | 2 | 0 | |
| 1999โ00 | 18 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | โ | 25 | 0 | |||
| Total | 20 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 0 | ||
| Cardiff City | 2000โ01 | Third Division | 43 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | โ | 49 | 3 | |
| 2001โ02 | Second Division | 44 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | โ | 49 | 3 | ||
| 2002โ03 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | โ | 28 | 0 | |||
| 2003โ04 | First Division | 41 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | โ | 44 | 3 | ||
| 2004โ05 | Championship | 45 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | โ | 49 | 1 | ||
| Total | 200 | 10 | 11 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 219 | 10 | ||
| West Ham United | 2005โ06 | Premier League | 32 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | โ | 39 | 0 | |
| 2006โ07 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 22 | 0 | ||
| 2007โ08 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | โ | 14 | 0 | |||
| 2008โ09 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | โ | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2009โ10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | โ | 11 | 0 | |||
| 2010โ11 | 26 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | โ | 27 | 0 | |||
| Total | 96 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 113 | 0 | ||
| Queens Park Rangers | 2011โ12 | Premier League | 17 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | โ | 18 | 1 | |
| Crystal Palace | 2012โ13 | Championship | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | โ | 10 | 1 | |
| 2013โ14 | Premier League | 24 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | โ | 25 | 1 | ||
| Total | 33 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 2 | ||
| Cardiff City | 2014โ15 | Championship | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | โ | 2 | 0 | |
| Career total | 367 | 12 | 25 | 1 | 20 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 414 | 13 | ||
International Statistics
Gabbidon's contributions to the Welsh national team are summarized below:
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wales | 2002 | 4 | 0 |
| 2003 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2004 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2005 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2006 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2007 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2008 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2009 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 49 | 0 | |
Accolades and Achievements
Team Honours
Gabbidon was part of successful teams throughout his career:
- Cardiff City: Football League Second Division play-off winners (2003).
- West Ham United: FA Cup runners-up (2005โ06).
- Crystal Palace: Football League Championship play-offs (2013).
Individual Recognition
His individual performances were also recognized:
- Welsh Footballer of the Year: 2005.
- PFA Team of the Year: 2003โ04 First Division.
Managerial and Coaching Roles
Interim Management
Following Ole Gunnar Solskjรฆr's departure, Gabbidon stepped into an interim management role for Cardiff City in September 2014. His brief tenure involved guiding the team through a transitional period.
Managerial Record (Cardiff City - Interim):
Played: 5 | Won: 1 | Drawn: 2 | Lost: 2 | Win Percentage: 20.0%
Player-Coach
In addition to his playing duties, Gabbidon served as a player-coach at Cardiff City (2014-2015) and later at Panteg (2015), blending his experience on the field with developing coaching responsibilities.
Post-Playing Career
Broadcasting Contributions
Post-retirement, Gabbidon has transitioned into sports media. He is a regular contributor to BBC Radio Wales, providing co-commentary for Welsh club matches. His insights offer valuable analysis for listeners.
Football Analysis
He also participates in a weekly BBC Welsh Football podcast alongside comedian Elis James and fellow Welsh international Iwan Roberts. This platform allows for engaging discussions on the sport, leveraging his extensive experience.
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References
References
- Danny Gabbidon at National-Football-Teams.com
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Disclaimer
Important Notice
This content has been generated by an AI, drawing upon publicly available data from Wikipedia. While efforts have been made to ensure accuracy and adherence to the source material, it is intended for informational and educational purposes only.
This is not professional sports or career advice. The information provided should not substitute consultation with qualified sports analysts, career counselors, or relevant professionals. Always verify information with official sources and consult experts for personalized guidance.
The creators of this page are not liable for any errors, omissions, or actions taken based on the information presented herein.