Kevin Campbell dead: Arsenal & Everton legend dies aged 54 after being rushed to hospital as emotional tributes pour in

ARSENAL and Everton legend Kevin Campbell has died aged 54 after being raced to hospital.

Emotional tributes are now pouring in for the 54-year-old who enjoyed two decades playing professional football and had since become a pundit.

Campbell scored 59 goals for the Gunners in all competitions

GettyCampbell became a pundit in later life[/caption]

NEWS GROUP NEWSPAPERS LTDCampbell played at Everton between 1999 and 2005[/caption]

Campbell, a striker, made 213 appearances for Arsenal between 1988 and 1995, scoring 59 goals in all competitions.

Arsenal said: “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.”

During his time at the Gunners he won the old First Division, the FA Cup, the League Cup and the European Cup Winners’ Cup.

It was revealed on Sunday he had been rushed to hospital the week prior after falling unwell.

Everton said he was “very unwell”.

Toffees said on X: “We have been made aware our former striker Kevin Campbell is currently very unwell.

“Not just a great footballer but an incredible person, Kevin is, and always has been, a fighter and we wish him and his family well at this challenging time.

“Sending all our love.”

Campbell made a name for himself after kicking off his career in 1988.

After stints in Nottingham and Turkey he made 137 appearances for Everton where he scored another 39 goals and played with a young Wayne Rooney.

At Trebizond, club president Mehmet Alu Yilmaz had frozen him out of the team and called him a “cannibal” and “discoloured”, the Guardian reported.

At Everton, he became the club’s first black skipper.

Campbell played for the Toffees between 1999 and 2005 before finishing off his career with a year at West Brom and then Cardiff City.

He called time on his career in May 2007 after the Baggies released him following their relegation from the Premier League.

In a two-decade career, Campbell scored 149 goals and made 521 professional appearances.

He holds the record for the most Premier League goals without representing England.

He did, however, make four appearances for England U21s and one appearance for the England B squad.

Campbell began his career at Arsenal and broke into the first team in 1988.

His 24-year-old son Tyrese has played 146 matches for Stoke City beginning in 2018, but has not had his contracted renewed.

GettyCampbell playing in 1994 for Arsenal against Blackburn Rovers[/caption]