SOCCER

Ex-Arsenal and Everton striker Kevin Campbell dies aged 54: what was the cause of death?

Ian Wright has led the tributes to former strike partner Campbell, best known for his spell with The Gunners.

The world of English soccer is in mourning. Hours after learning of the tragic death of Matija Sarkic, Millwall’s 26-year-old goalkeeper, news came through that former Arsenal and Everton striker Kevin Campbell had also passed away at the age of 54 after a short illness.

Campbell’s career in the Premier League: Arsenal, Everton...

Campbell came through the ranks with The Gunners as a youngster, breaking into the first team and scoring 55 goals in 210 appearances for the club in all competitions. In 1995, he left for Nottingham Forest, where he netted 31 times in 85 games, before another productive spell at Everton, where he made 160 appearances, scoring 50 goals.

After a year and a half with West Bromwich Albion, Campbell ended his career at Cardiff City, retiring at the age of 37 at the end of the 2006/07 season. He then did some media work with British broadcaster Sky Sports, among others, all the while closely following the career of son Tyrese, a 24-year-old defender who was released by Stoke City this summer.

Ian Wright, Arsenal and Everton lead tributes to Kevin Campbell

“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,” The Toffees wrote in a heartfelt post on X.

First club Arsenal published a similarly touching message on the social media platform. “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.”

Several of the former striker’s other teams, including Forest and England, who he represented at under-21 and B team level, also paid tribute, along with several ex-teammates, including Arsenal icon Ian Wright.

Wright and Campbell played alongside one another for four seasons in North London, with the former paying homage to his ex-strike partner through a number of photos of the pair together in the 1990s.

Campbell “seriously ill” in hospital

It was reported two weeks ago that Campbell was “seriously ill” in hospital, with news of his sad passing breaking on an especially difficult Saturday morning, with the English Football Association forced to comment on the deaths of two players, past and present, within hours of one another.

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