Darron Gibson has been handed a two-year community order and banned from driving for 40 months at South Tyneside Magistrates' Court after he admitted drink-driving.
District Judge Roger Elsey did not jail him after hearing the former Sunderland player was going through a number of psychological issues at the time, for which he is now receiving treatment.
Gibson has left Sunderland by mutual consent in March, two weeks after being charged with drink-driving following a car crash.
The Sky Bet Championship club had already suspended Gibson with immediate effect following his charge for driving with excess alcohol on Saturday, March 17.
Police were called following reports of a crash in Dovedale Road in Sunderland just before midday on the day of the incident.
Sunderland had said it had undertaken "a full investigation into the matter" before suspending Gibson.
The former Republic of Ireland international began his career with Manchester United, spending seven years at Old Trafford before going on to play for Everton and Sunderland.