Former Arsenal Star Campbell Dies at 54 After a Short illness

Kevin Campbell, the former Premier League striker, has passed away at the age of 54, as announced by his former clubs Arsenal and Everton on Saturday.

Campbell, who died after a short illness, holds the record for the most Premier League goals—83—by a player never to win an international cap.

“Everyone at Arsenal Football Club is devastated to hear of the death of our much-loved former player Kevin Campbell,” said Arsenal.

Campbell joined Arsenal as a schoolboy in 1985 and made his first-team debut in 1988. He played 228 times for Arsenal, scoring 59 goals and winning a league title, an FA Cup, a European Cup Winners Cup, and a League Cup.

“To actually play for the team I supported was a dream come true,” he once said.

During his time at Everton, Campbell scored 51 goals in 164 games, including nine in five games that saved them from relegation in 1999.

“Everyone at Everton Football Club is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of one of the Club’s most popular and much-loved former strikers, Kevin Campbell,” the club stated on their website.

Campbell also played for Leicester, Leyton Orient, Nottingham Forest, Trabzonspor, West Bromwich Albion, and Cardiff. One of his favorite memories was scoring the winner in the 2000 Merseyside derby, Everton’s last victory at Anfield for 22 years.

“It was at the Kop End and my view, which will live with me until the day I die, is the Blues in the Kop going crazy,” he recalled.

In January 2001, manager Walter Smith made Campbell Everton’s first black captain.

“He made me the first black captain of Everton, which is something that I’m so proud of,” Campbell said.

Campbell moved to West Brom in January 2005 and was part of their “great escape,” as they became the first club bottom of the Premier League at Christmas to survive.

His son, Tyrese Campbell, is a striker who has recently been released by Championship side Stoke City after seven seasons at the club.