The striker's former clubs Everton and Arsenal were among those to pay tribute to him on the first anniversary of his passing
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Goodison Park pays its respects for former Everton and Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell
Goodison Park pays its respects for former Everton and Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell
(Image: Getty Images)
Everton led the tributes to former striker Kevin Campbell as the world of football marked the anniversary of his death.
The 54-year-old passed away in June 2024 after becoming seriously unwell with heart and kidney failure. His death sparked an outpouring of grief, with his former clubs, teammates and the supporters who fell in love with him marking his life and career up and down the country.
Twelve months on, Everton shared a compilation of his goals for the club along with the message: “Today marks one year since the sad passing of one of our most popular strikers, Kevin Campbell – an incredible man and the Blues' first black captain. Always in our hearts, Super Kev.”
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Arsenal, whose academy he graduated from and where he went on to clinch domestic and European silverware, posted on social media images of his time with the club and the words: “Forever Arsenal. Today we’re remembering Kevin Campbell on the one-year anniversary of his passing.”
The meeting between the two clubs at the Emirates in December, the first game between the sides for which Campbell had the greatest impact, was an emotional affair and prefaced by a billboard outside the stadium entrance displaying images of him celebrating goals for both clubs, split by the words: “He’s one of our own.”
Everton’s season became an ongoing tribute to Campbell, who made 164 appearances for the club and was a popular guest on his regular returns.
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The club’s first black captain, he was also the scorer of a Merseyside derby winner at Anfield back in 1999.
His ‘Super Kev’ chant was a soundtrack to the campaign and often dominated the airwaves at away games.
(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Following his death, Everton held a memorial service for him at St Luke’s Church and the home match with Bournemouth in August.
Supporter organisation the 1878s also marked his legacy with a display in the stands at Goodison Park.
Campbell, who also played for Nottingham Forest, West Bromwich Albion and Trabzonspor in Turkey, had been well until around January 2024 but then needed hospital treatment for heart and kidney issues.
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His death at the Manchester Royal Infirmary came after he was readmitted to the hospital in May of that year.
It prompted an investigation into whether a delay in diagnosing an infection that played a role in his death could have contributed to his passing. At his inquest, coroner Zak Golombek found it "did not more than minimally contribute".