From mediocre Spur to double winning Gunner...
Born in London as one of twelve children, Sulzeer 'Sol' Campbell started his youth career at West Ham but took a break from football before it had even began due to indifferences at the club. It took months of persuasion from Tottenham's Chief Scout to convince him to join their youth set up, and it is here where he established himself as a real prospect. Big, physical, powerful and determined, Campbell forced his way into the club's first team regularly by 1992/93 and began to make a real name for himself. In Summer 2001 however it wasn't so rosy for the Lilywhites as Campbell's Spurs contract had officially expired and he, to many's surprise, struck a deal with Arsenal on a Bosman free transfer. Campbell stated that David Dein and Arsene Wenger played huge roles in his decision to join the club saying "he (Dein) made me feel protected. He was going to help and promised to be there for me. Come to us, he said, and you will be part of our family. We will protect you."
During his first Arsenal season, he was a mainstay and was either partnered by the ageing Tony Adams (who retired at the end of the season) or veteran Martin Keown. This was the year he clinched his first major honours as the Gunners went on to win a domestic double in May 2002, topping the Premier League table and beating Chelsea in the FA Cup final. The following season he remained a regular starter and was really showing signs of leadership in a back line that went on to dominate. He was named in the PFA Team of the Year that year (2002/03) alongside colleagues Lauren, Cole, Pires, Vieira and Henry having not won anything as Manchester United went on to claim the league title.
The Invincible season came around and started with the same optimism a dominant Arsenal team started every season; confident. Campbell's new partner was Ivorian defender Kolo Toure and the two struck up a real good, solid relationship. A spine of Lehmann, Campbell, Toure, Gilberto, Vieira and Henry would carry any side, let alone one with World Cup Winner Pires, England full back Cole and Dutch dynamo Bergkamp in for further quality. It was the best it ever got, the best anyone has ever seen. The Arsenal Invincibles were not only good at football, they were good at keeping clean sheets - a positive sign for England with both Campbell and Cole starting regularly for their country too.
The following two seasons were hit with injury as he struggled for a run in the side. Toure had to make do with Cygan or Senderos at times as the dominant Campbell just couldn't put a run of form together. The Gunners did go onto win the FA Cup in 2005 but having come runners up to United again in the league, investment and restructuring was clearly high on the agenda for that Summer. 2005/06 ended better than it started for Campbell, as his side got past Real Madrid (L16), Patrick Vieira's Juventus (QF) and Villareal (SF) in a devastating Champions League run. Playing a pivotal role across the rounds, Campbell was back with Toure in the beloved solid partnership. Sol started the 2006 Champions League final in Paris against Barcelona that May and scored Arsenal's lone goal with a bullet header. Sadly, much like many of his Invincible colleagues, Jens Lehmann's red card ultimately cost Arsenal as Barcelona's man advantage took its toll. The Catalans went on to win 2-1 and left Arsenal (and Campbell) in tatters.
That Summer, Campbell left the club by mutual consent stating that he needed a "fresh challenge". He moved to fellow Premier League club Portsmouth for three seasons followed by a stay at league side Notts County. This contract only lasted a month or so as a Sven Goran Eriksen-related drama was kicking off at the club - Campbell walked and had his five year contract terminated. He rejoined Arsenal that season (2009/10) and due to injuries to Vermaelen and Gallas, he found himself starting more often than not. He scored the first goal of his second coming in the Champions League in February 2010 against Porto but that was to be it in an Arsenal shirt as he moved to Newcastle in the off season. Amassing 146 appearances across two stints at Arsenal, Campbell really was a brilliant addition and a reliably consistent performer - he would be missed. One more crack at pro football saw him in and out of the side at Newcastle playing only seven times before retiring at the end of the 2010/11 season.
A 73-cap England international yet much like other top pros, Campbell's career on the international stage didn't quite make it in terms of honours and success. He was a valuable and consistent member of the SGE management-era and beyond. He not only lead Arsenal's defence for years but England's too alongside a developing John Terry and the in-and-out Rio Ferdinand. More recently, he had his first crack at management in the professional game, at Macclesfield Town. He had mild success before suddenly vacating his post very early on this season. He remains not only Arsenal's sole Champions League final goalscorer but one of only five English footballers to be a Premier League Invincible - a feat that no one can take away from him.
Sol Campbell, from a Bosman bargain to an invincible champion.
@craigbennett10
Born in London as one of twelve children, Sulzeer 'Sol' Campbell started his youth career at West Ham but took a break from football before it had even began due to indifferences at the club. It took months of persuasion from Tottenham's Chief Scout to convince him to join their youth set up, and it is here where he established himself as a real prospect. Big, physical, powerful and determined, Campbell forced his way into the club's first team regularly by 1992/93 and began to make a real name for himself. In Summer 2001 however it wasn't so rosy for the Lilywhites as Campbell's Spurs contract had officially expired and he, to many's surprise, struck a deal with Arsenal on a Bosman free transfer. Campbell stated that David Dein and Arsene Wenger played huge roles in his decision to join the club saying "he (Dein) made me feel protected. He was going to help and promised to be there for me. Come to us, he said, and you will be part of our family. We will protect you."
During his first Arsenal season, he was a mainstay and was either partnered by the ageing Tony Adams (who retired at the end of the season) or veteran Martin Keown. This was the year he clinched his first major honours as the Gunners went on to win a domestic double in May 2002, topping the Premier League table and beating Chelsea in the FA Cup final. The following season he remained a regular starter and was really showing signs of leadership in a back line that went on to dominate. He was named in the PFA Team of the Year that year (2002/03) alongside colleagues Lauren, Cole, Pires, Vieira and Henry having not won anything as Manchester United went on to claim the league title.
The Invincible season came around and started with the same optimism a dominant Arsenal team started every season; confident. Campbell's new partner was Ivorian defender Kolo Toure and the two struck up a real good, solid relationship. A spine of Lehmann, Campbell, Toure, Gilberto, Vieira and Henry would carry any side, let alone one with World Cup Winner Pires, England full back Cole and Dutch dynamo Bergkamp in for further quality. It was the best it ever got, the best anyone has ever seen. The Arsenal Invincibles were not only good at football, they were good at keeping clean sheets - a positive sign for England with both Campbell and Cole starting regularly for their country too.
The following two seasons were hit with injury as he struggled for a run in the side. Toure had to make do with Cygan or Senderos at times as the dominant Campbell just couldn't put a run of form together. The Gunners did go onto win the FA Cup in 2005 but having come runners up to United again in the league, investment and restructuring was clearly high on the agenda for that Summer. 2005/06 ended better than it started for Campbell, as his side got past Real Madrid (L16), Patrick Vieira's Juventus (QF) and Villareal (SF) in a devastating Champions League run. Playing a pivotal role across the rounds, Campbell was back with Toure in the beloved solid partnership. Sol started the 2006 Champions League final in Paris against Barcelona that May and scored Arsenal's lone goal with a bullet header. Sadly, much like many of his Invincible colleagues, Jens Lehmann's red card ultimately cost Arsenal as Barcelona's man advantage took its toll. The Catalans went on to win 2-1 and left Arsenal (and Campbell) in tatters.
That Summer, Campbell left the club by mutual consent stating that he needed a "fresh challenge". He moved to fellow Premier League club Portsmouth for three seasons followed by a stay at league side Notts County. This contract only lasted a month or so as a Sven Goran Eriksen-related drama was kicking off at the club - Campbell walked and had his five year contract terminated. He rejoined Arsenal that season (2009/10) and due to injuries to Vermaelen and Gallas, he found himself starting more often than not. He scored the first goal of his second coming in the Champions League in February 2010 against Porto but that was to be it in an Arsenal shirt as he moved to Newcastle in the off season. Amassing 146 appearances across two stints at Arsenal, Campbell really was a brilliant addition and a reliably consistent performer - he would be missed. One more crack at pro football saw him in and out of the side at Newcastle playing only seven times before retiring at the end of the 2010/11 season.
A 73-cap England international yet much like other top pros, Campbell's career on the international stage didn't quite make it in terms of honours and success. He was a valuable and consistent member of the SGE management-era and beyond. He not only lead Arsenal's defence for years but England's too alongside a developing John Terry and the in-and-out Rio Ferdinand. More recently, he had his first crack at management in the professional game, at Macclesfield Town. He had mild success before suddenly vacating his post very early on this season. He remains not only Arsenal's sole Champions League final goalscorer but one of only five English footballers to be a Premier League Invincible - a feat that no one can take away from him.
Sol Campbell, from a Bosman bargain to an invincible champion.
@craigbennett10
Comments
Post a Comment