Gibbons took charge of the Israel national football team in 1956. His tenure began with a 7–1 aggregate defeat over two legs to the Soviet Union in qualifying for the 1956 Summer Olympics. In September 1956, Gibbons presided over Israel's campaign in the inaugural AFC Asian Cup, defeating Hong Kong and South Vietnam on the way to finishing as runners-up to South Korea. After leaving the job, Gibbons stayed on in Israel to manage Liga Leumit club Hapoel Petah Tikva and guided the club to a runners-up finish in the 1956–57 season. After a spell coaching in Australia, he returned to Israel to manage Hapoel Jerusalem between 1961 and 1963.