[79] On 3 October, he made his Premier League debut for the club as a 38th-minute substitute for Fabricio Coloccini in a 21 defeat to Manchester City at the City of Manchester Stadium. [85] Campbell started all four of England's matches in the 1998 World Cup. A deal that would have made him the highest-paid player in the clubs history was effectively rejected, and a counter-proposal put forward by Andrew. Sol Campbell. The clubs head of communications was actually abroad on holiday, caught on the hop as much as everyone else, with a deputy ushering the writers into the main building at the complex and upstairs into an area more usually used as the players canteen. Arsenal have called a press conference at their training ground. New head coach Fabio Capello did not select Campbell for his first squad in January 2008. One simply read John 13:27 in reference to a Bible verse that begins, When Judas took the bread, Satan entered him. The club went into severe financial difficulties, and Redknapp resigned, but Campbell stayed and helped the club to avoid relegation in the 200809 campaign. After a long period out with viruses, Campbell returned to bench duty in January, making his first appearance in two months as a substitute in Newcastle's 20 win over Birmingham City on 15 February. [81] Campbell announced his retirement from football a year later in May 2012. Had he come from Dover, wed have had Dover Sol! That at least broke the ice because everyone had been in a state of shock., That sense of disbelief would extend to Campbells new team-mates, struggling to comprehend how a man who was their arch-rivals captain weeks before would now be in their ranks instead. So maybe it had all been a big game to keep everybody off his back before he made the move, because it was always going to be controversial. As you can imagine, it was incredibly sensitive for him to meet somebody from Arsenal. Yes, we all thought it was for Wright. And that's it, you're all set. Through all that, Sol was consistent with me that he wanted to stay at the club. Im not disrespecting anyone. towards the end of last month but Southend chairman Ron Martin made Larsson his first choice before discussions ended. Sol Campbell: Wishing someone is going to die? What world are we living in? Sol Campbell at his home in London this week. He has never taken any of his children to a football match. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian Former Spurs defender is still abused 22 years on for joining Arsenal. The player had most likely been primed that the question was coming, and that the issue had to be addressed. [4] His father was a railway worker and his mother, Wihelmina, was a Ford factory worker. Others have made that short move along north Londons Seven Sisters Road. That was the consistent way he thought: Can he stay at Spurs and win stuff? Gavin, in a very relaxed, matter-of-fact way, just said, Hi guys. Hed had a glittering career at Spurs and was worshipped there. Campbell made his international debut as a substitute against Hungary on 18 May 1996. We all made our decisions, you accept it and you move on.. He was named as captain for the 200708 season by manager Harry Redknapp, and signed a new two-year contract with the club. [89], After the retirement of Tony Adams, Campbell partnered Rio Ferdinand in England's successful qualification campaign for the 2002 World Cup, held in Korea and Japan.