An exciting player that was loved by everyone
Everyone at European Super Football was saddened by the news of the passing of the iconic Kevin Campbell.
A striker whose blend of finesse, power, and finishing made him a standout player at several clubs.
Campbell is best remembered for his spells at Arsenal and Everton. At Highbury, he helped The Gunners win the First Division title in 1991 and secured both the FA Cup and League Cup in 1993. He also played a crucial role in Arsenal's victory in the European Cup Winners’ Cup final against Parma in 1994.
Another highlight of Campbell's career was his loan move to Everton from Turkish side Trabzonspor in March 1999. Escaping a difficult stint in Turkey, he scored nine goals in eight games, helping Walter Smith’s team avoid relegation. Campbell's popularity soared at Everton, especially after he scored the winning goal in a 1-0 Merseyside derby against Liverpool at Anfield in September 1999. This victory was particularly memorable as it marked the last time Everton won at Anfield for the next 22 years, cementing Campbell’s place in Everton folklore.
A closer look at his career
Born in Lambeth, Campbell rose through Arsenal's youth ranks, winning the FA Youth Cup in 1988 and once scoring an impressive 59 goals in a single season. Despite often being overshadowed by more high-profile forwards like Alan Smith, Paul Merson, and Ian Wright, Campbell’s adaptability, versatility, and team spirit made him an essential part of manager George Graham’s successes at Arsenal.
Campbell’s Arsenal career started to after loan spells at Leyton Orient, where he helped them gain promotion from the Fourth Division in 1989, and Leicester City in Division Two. He returned to Arsenal, scoring eight goals in 10 games during the 1990-91 title-winning season, a period that marked a resurgence for the Gunners under Graham. He then went onto win the League Cup, FA Cup and European Cup Winners Cup.
In the summer of 1995, Campbell was sold to Nottingham Forest for £2.5 million. Although Forest were relegated at the end of his second season, Campbell formed a formidable partnership with Pierre van Hooijdonk, scoring 23 goals to help Forest return to the Premier League immediately. Fans were shocked when the club sold Campbell to Trabzonspor, where he scored 36 goals in 88 appearances. Van Hooijdonk even went on strike in protest, eventually leaving for Vitesse Arnhem.
Campbell’s time in Turkey ended bitterly after a controversial comment from the Trabzonspor chairman and he returned to the Premier League, initially on loan to Everton.
Campbell joined the Goodison Park side permanently in the summer of 1999 after helping them avoid relegation. He became a key player for more than five seasons, first under Walter Smith and then David Moyes. With 45 Premier League goals and 51 in 164 appearances in all competitions, he is Everton’s fifth-highest Premier League scorer.
Campbell also played a significant role in mentoring younger players, such as Wayne Rooney, who emerged as a prodigious talent at Everton. He had previously guided Francis Jeffers, another promising player, who later played for Arsenal and England.
Kevin Campbell's legacy is marked by his skill, dedication, and the positive influence he had on his teammates and the clubs he served.
In January 2005, he moved to West Bromwich Albion on a free transfer. That season, the Baggies pulled off The Great Escape at The Hawthorns, becoming the first team in Premier League history to avoid relegation after being bottom of the table at Christmas.
