An emotional Ian Wright struggled to fight back the tears as he paid an emotional tribute to his former Arsenal teammate Kevin Campbell.
News reached Wright earlier on Saturday that his one-time striker partner had died, aged54 following a short illness.
The pair struck up an immediate chemistry, both on and off the pitch, following Wright’s move to Highbury in 1992 and the duo enjoyed great success during the tail end of George Graham’s trophy-laden managerial reign.
‘I can’t go to deep into it Pougs,’ said a visibily distraught Wright, addressing ITV host Mark Pougatch who was presenting coverage of Spain’s Euro 2024 group stage game against Croatia.
‘It’s very fresh, I only heard it this morning. Obviously my best wishes and condolences go to his family.
‘It’s too soon for me to talk, any time I start talking about it I start to well up. He meant the whole world to a lot of people, especially myself.’
Before ITV’s broadcast, Wright had shared a number of now poignant images of him and Cambpell during their Arsenal playing days, all of which clearly highlighted the joy they found in playing alongside one another.
Campbell has been described as ‘my idol’ and a ‘one in a million person’ by son Tyrese after his death at the age of 54.
The former Everton star became a hero at Goodison Park after saving the Toffees from relegation in 1999.
‘I appreciate my Dad was admired by many and the outpouring of love has been some comfort as a family, so thank you for that at such a difficult time,’ former Stoke striker Tyrese said in a message released on his behalf by journalist Alan Myers.
‘The pain of this is indescribable and as a son you look at your dad as invincible. He is my idol, the one I wanted to be when I grew up.
‘He was the life and soul of every party and room he blessed, a one in a million person that was loved by everyone, a special, special person. I’ll miss you dad.
‘I would now ask that the privacy of our family is respected as we mourn the loss of an irreplaceable father, brother, uncle and all round amazing human being. Love you always dad.’
Campbell’s former clubs – he also played for Nottingham Forest, Trabzonspor, West Brom and Cardiff, as well as having loan spells at Leyton Orient and Leicester – and ex-teammates also paid tribute to a forward who scored 148 goals in 542 appearances during his career.
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Former England captain and Everton teammate Wayne Rooney wrote on X: ‘Absolutely devastated to hear the news about Kev.
‘Thinking of all his family and friends. Kev was a great teammate but more importantly a brilliant person who helped me a lot in my earlier years.’
Tony Adams, Campbell’s former Arsenal teammate and captain, posted: ‘Super Kev: a goal machine, a giant of a man, with an even bigger heart.
‘An intensely private and a truly wonderful human being. I’m devastated for his loved ones, and all of us. Love you Super Kev, Skipper.’
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