Former Newcastle United midfielder Gael Bigirimana has found peace and stability in Northern Ireland, where he captains Dungannon Swifts, having previously relied on benefits during the coronavirus pandemic.
Bigirimana joined Newcastle from Coventry City in the summer of 2012 as a teenager, having been named the EFL Apprentice of the Year. He made 25 appearances across all competitions in his first season on Tyneside, featuring heavily in the club's run to the Europa League quarter-finals. A standout moment was his goal in a 3-0 win over Wigan Athletic.
A career of highs and lows
After loan spells with Rangers and Coventry, Bigirimana returned to Coventry permanently in 2016. He scored in the EFL Trophy final as Coventry beat Oxford United 2-1 at Wembley, a win he believes was the catalyst for the club's revival. He left in 2017 to join Motherwell, later moving to Hibernian in January 2019 where he made just one appearance.
In the summer of 2019, he represented Burundi at the Africa Cup of Nations in their first-ever appearance in the competition. After the tournament, offers were not forthcoming, and he trained with Solihull Moors before signing a two-month contract. A trial with a mid-table club in Croatia fell through when the move was called off, and by the end of February, Covid hit.
Rebuilding in Northern Ireland
Bigirimana described the period as one of the 'hardest' of his life, saying: "I had no club, no income and we had to rely on benefit income." He also noted that he had invested money into something that turned out to be a Ponzi scheme.
In the summer of 2020, a former manager helped him secure a move to Glentoran in Northern Ireland. After two seasons in Belfast, he signed with Tanzanian Premier League champions Young Africans, but was de-registered just six months into his stay. He then reached out to Dungannon Swifts manager Rodney McAree, and an initial loan move became permanent.
Now 32, Bigirimana captains Dungannon Swifts and led them to victory in the Northern Irish Cup final in 2025. He has launched his own coaching business and says his family have fallen in love with living in Northern Ireland. "I am just at peace. I know I am where I am meant to be right now," he said.
