Former Arsenal and Everton striker Kevin Campbell has died at the age of 54 after a short illness. Campbell scored 148 goals in 542 appearances across spells with eight clubs during his career. He won four major trophies with Arsenal before going on to play for Leyton Orient, Leicester, Nottingham Forest, Trabzonspor, Everton, West Brom and Cardiff. He was capped four times by England U21, scoring once and received a call-up to the England B team in 1991, for whom he earned one cap. Campbell made his final appearance as a player in February 2007 before moving into broadcasting. earlier this month he became ill in May and was “very unwell” in hospital.
After coming through Arsenal’s youth set-up, Campbell made his senior debut for the club in 1988, following loan spells with Leyton Orient and Leicester. He scored nine goals in 22 appearances for the Gunners during their title-winning 1990-91 campaign. Campbell then helped the London club win the FA Cup and League Cup double in 1993, and the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1994. Forest signed Campbell in the summer of 1995, and he spent three seasons at the City Ground, scoring 22 goals in 39 games during his final term to help the club win promotion to the Premier League.
Following a short stint in Turkey with Trabzonspor, Campbell moved to Everton on loan in March 1999, scoring nine times in their final eight Premier League games to help the Toffees avoid relegation. He was rewarded with a permanent deal that summer, and stayed for more than five seasons. Campbell’s playing career came to an end with spells at West Brom and Cardiff. After his death was announced, Campbell’s former Arsenal team-mate Ian Wright posted a number of crying emojis on X and images of the pair together.
Tony Adams – Campbell’s former Arsenal team-mate and captain – wrote on X: “Super Kev: a goal machine, a giant of a man, with an even bigger heart. “An intensely private and a truly wonderful human being. I’m devastated for his loved ones, and all of us. Love you Super Kev, Skipper.” Alan Smith – another former team-mate – told Sky Sports News it was a “tragic day”. Campbell was featured on the Sky Sports series Where are They Now? in 2008, when he was the co-owner of security company T1 Protection, specialising in supplying bodyguards to celebrities and other wealthy customers whilst travelling abroad.
He also worked with Asia-based Sony TEN as a commentator for their Premier League and Champions League coverage. Campbell ran a record label, 2 Wikid, with the label’s first signing being rapper Mark Morrison, who had previously topped the charts with “Return of the Mack” in 1996. His son Tyrese is also a footballer. He plays for Stoke City.