English football champion Kevin Campbell has died aged 54 following a short illness.
The beloved forward won a league title with Arsenal in 1991 and the FA Cup two years later, later becoming a fans’ favourite at Everton, while in retirement he became a TV pundit.
Campbell’s death, coming two weeks after it was announced he was very unwell and in hospital, plunged football into more grief after Millwall and Montenegro goalkeeper Matija Sarkic died aged 26 on Saturday.
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Campbell’s loss was mourned across the world, with son Tyrese — who followed in his footsteps to become a striker himself — saying the “outpouring of love has been some comfort” for the family.
“The pain of this is indescribable and as a son you look at your dad as invincible,” the 24-year-old said.
“He is my idol, the one who I wanted to be when I grew up. He was the life and soul of every party and room he blessed, a one-in-a-million person that was loved by everyone. A special, special person. I’ll miss you Dad.
“I would now ask that the privacy of our family is respected as we mourn the loss of an irreplaceable father, brother, uncle and all-round amazing human being. Love you always dad.”
Campbell played alongside Socceroos great Tim Cahill and England star Wayne Rooney at Everton in the mid-2000s.
“Rest in peace my brother,” Cahill wrote.
Rooney wrote: “Absolutely devastated to hear the news about Kev. Thinking of all his family and friends. Kev was a great teammate but more importantly a brilliant person who helped me a lot in my earlier years.”
Arsenal said “everyone is devastated” by the news that their “much-loved” champion had died.
“A boyhood Arsenal supporter, Kevin joined our youth set-up in 1985 aged 15 and soon set about demonstrating his incredible eye for goal, becoming the most prolific young striker in the country,” the club said.
Campbell scored 59 goals in 228 appearances for Arsenal, helping them win the league title in 1991.
He also won the FA Cup, League Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup with the London-based team before moving to Nottingham Forest in 1995.
A brief spell in Turkish soccer also followed before Campbell joined Everton in March 1999.
He netted 51 goals in 164 matches for Everton during his six-year spell at the club, helping them stave off relegation from the top flight.
Everton were “deeply saddened to learn of the passing of one of the club’s most popular and much-loved former strikers”.
“Not just a true Goodison Park hero and huge fans’ favourite, Kevin was the Blues’ first Black captain and also an incredible person, as anyone who had the pleasure of meeting him would know,” the club said.
“Kevin was always afforded the warmest of welcomes when he returned to Merseyside, and quite right, too.
“He was a giant of a man, a fabulous footballer and he will be sorely missed by everyone fortunate enough to know him.”
Campbell went on to play for West Bromwich Albion before ending his career at Cardiff.