By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Former Arsenal and Everton striker Kevin Campbell has died aged 54 after falling seriously ill earlier this month.
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 Leceister 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.
Campbell scored 148 goals in 542 appearances across spells with eight clubs during his career.
Everton said earlier this month he became ill in May and was “very unwell” in hospital.
The club said: “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.”
Campbell became a Merseyside legend for his heroics at Everton, where he spent six years at Goodison Park from 1999-2005.
There, he scored 50 goals in 160 appearances for Everton, with many of his efforts helping to ensure that the club staved off the threat of relegation at the beginning of the millennium.
Arsenal posted a touching tribute to their former player on Saturday morning, writing: ‘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’s playing career came to an end with spells at West Bromwich Albion and Cardiff, and after retiring in 2007 he moved into punditry.