Former Arsenal and Everton striker Kevin Campbell has died aged 54.
Campbell was inundated with messages of support from well-wishers after it emerged he had been admitted to hospital last month. His passing was confirmed on Saturday with former club Arsenal saying in a statement: "We are devastated to learn that our former striker Kevin Campbell has died after a short illness. Kevin was adored by everyone at the club. All of us are thinking of his friends and family at this difficult time. Rest in peace, Kevin."
Campbell started his career as a trainee at Arsenal and made his senior debut back in 1988 against Everton. He went on to enjoy productive loan spells with Leyton Orient and Leicester City before returning and establishing himself at Highbury. The striker scored eight times in 10 matches as Arsenal won the First Division title in the 1990/91 campaign and went on to play alongside Arsenal royalty in Ian Wright. In total, Campbell scored 60 goals in 224 appearances for the Gunners.
After leaving Arsenal in 1995, Campbell spent three years at Nottingham Forest and a brief stint in Turkey before returning to the Premier League with Everton. Campbell impressed on loan initially before signing on permanently and went on to become an iconic figure at Goodison Park. He scored in the Merseyside derby against Liverpool in the 1999/00 campaign and went on to finish the season as the club's top scorer.
"We are devastated to learn that our former striker Kevin Campbell has died after a short illness," Campbell's former club Arsenal wrote on social media. "Kevin was adored by everyone at the club. All of us are thinking of his friends and family at this difficult time. Rest in peace, Kevin."
Everton also paid tribute, saying: "Everyone at Everton is deeply saddened by the death of our former striker Kevin Campbell at the age of just 54. Not just a true Goodison Park hero and icon of the English game, but an incredible person as well - as anyone who ever met him will know. RIP, Super Kev."
"Life can be so cruel at times," wrote Mark Crossley, who played with Campbell at Nottingham Forest. "Absolutely devastated with news of my ex forest team mate Kevin Campbell’s passing, a true gentleman, a great player, a shining light of a dressing room, fun loving guy, thoughts are with all his family and friends RIP mate."
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Ian Wright, who played with Campbell at Arsenal, shared a tribute of his own. The ex-England striker and broadcaster posted a selection of photos of the pair during their time together in North London. Campbell impressed during an initial loan at Everton before signing permanently, and went on to become an iconic figure at Goodison Park. He scored in the Merseyside derby against Liverpool in the 1999/00 campaign and went on to finish the season as the club's top scorer.
In total, Campbell made 139 appearances for the Toffees scoring 52 goals. He remains the club's fifth all-time highest goalscorer in the Premier League. After brief spells at West Bromwich Albion and Cardiff City, Campbell hung up his boots in 2007. In recent years he was a regular on Sky Sports after moving into the media world covering the Premier League.
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"All of us at Cardiff City are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former striker, Kevin Campbell," the Welsh club wrote. "The thoughts of everyone at the Club are with Kevin's friends and family at this incredibly difficult time. Rest in peace, Kevin." Former Nottingham Forest team-mate Alan Rogers was another ex-colleague to pay tribute. "Actually can’t believe the news about my former team mate Kevin Campbell," he wrote. "So young too. Super Kev was not just a great footballer but was a great lad to. RIP super Kev."
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