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Sulzeer Jeremiah Campbell, better known as Sol
Campbell (born Newham, London, 18 September 1974),
is an English football (soccer)|footballer with
Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal and England national football
team|England.

Campbell, a powerful central defender, was a
prodigious schoolboy talent and was therefore
part-educated at the Football Association|FA's
School of Excellence before joining the ranks at
Arsenal's deadly North London rivals Tottenham
Hotspur.

He made his first team debut in December 1992,
scoring a goal after coming on as a substitute
(soccer)|substitute for Nick Barmby, though didn't
appear again that season. He eventually became
Spurs' lynchpin defender over the course of the
next two seasons.

Campbell was picked for the England team which
faced Republic of Ireland national football
team|the Republic of Ireland in 1995, but lost the
cap and had the game struck from his record
because violence among supporters forced the game
to be abandoned. He had to wait more than a year
for his "next" debut, which came against Hungary
national football team|Hungary in May 1996, coming
on as a substitute. Although he had only one cap
by the time Terry Venables selected his squad for
1996 European Football Championship|Euro 96,
Campbell got in as defensive cover, and came on in
England's famous 2-0 win over Scotland national
football team|Scotland for his second cap.

Over the next two years, Campbell became a strong
and brave presence at the heart of England's
defence, largely displacing Gareth Southgate in
the race to partner Tony Adams (footballer)|Tony
Adams. The pairing were first choice as new
England coach Glenn Hoddle shaped his squad for
the Football World Cup 1998|1998 World Cup in
France.

Campbell was involved in a highly controversial
incident in England's second round clash against
old footballing foes Argentina national football
team|Argentina. The game was locked at 2-2 with
fewer than ten minutes to go (and with England
down to ten men after David Beckham was sent off)
when Campbell managed to head a corner into the
Argentinian net. He wheeled away to celebrate his
first international goal, which looked certain to
put England into the quarter finals, but a push by
Alan Shearer had caused the referee to blow for a
foul. Campbell was still in the corner of the
pitch with England supporters as Argentina
restarted the game and counter-attacked. England
went out on penalties but Campbell emerged a hero.

Campbell played in England's successful
qualification campaign for 2000 European Football
Championship|Euro 2000 and in all the three group
games at the tournament, which England exited
after defeat by Romania national football
team|Romania. His club career, however, was
starting to evoke major concern among Spurs
supporters and interest within the media because
he was entering the last year of his contract and
was stalling on a new deal. Word spread that he
was determined to achieve domestic honours,
something which Spurs had failed to do.

In the summer of 2001 Campbell's contract expired
and, with several top European clubs courting him,
he stunned football (and left Spurs fans raging)
by joining Arsenal. Ever since, he has been
labelled Judas Iscariot|Judas by Spurs supporters,
though Campbell always maintained that he loved
Tottenham, and that his decision was entirely
professional. Away from Tottenham, the rest of
football admired his guts for taking such a
decision, which was vindicated further when he won
the FA Premier League|Premiership and FA Cup in
his first season. His partner at the back was
Adams, who had retired from England duty late in
2000, and would do so with Arsenal at the end of
that 2002 season, leaving Campbell as the senior
defender for both club and country.

Campbell scored his first England goal at the
Football World Cup 2002|2002 World Cup in the
opening group game against Sweden national
football team|Sweden. England drew the game 1-1,
but then beat the old enemy Argentina in the next
match (in which Campbell was outstanding) and
ultimately progressed to the quarter finals, where
they lost to eventual winners Brazil. 

In 2003 Campbell maintained his Arsenal and
England place, but an injury he suffered towards
the end of the season curtailed the Gunners' title
chances and he also missed their successful
retention of the FA Cup. He did, however, help his
country qualify for 2004 European Football
Championship|Euro 2004.

After a successful domestic season for Campbell in
2004, when Arsenal regained the Premiership title
without losing a game, Campbell yet again had a
late goal disallowed as England fought to make
progress in a major tournament.

Against hosts Portugal national football
team|Portugal in the quarter finals, the game was
locked at 1-1 with a minute to go when Campbell
won a header in the opposition six-yard box to
score what seemed to be a dramatic, late winner
for England. However, the referee, Urs Meier, once
more noticed a push by an England team-mate (this
time Campbell's defensive partner John Terry - in
the team because of Rio Ferdinand's suspension
from playing) and gave a free kick. The game ended
level after 120 minutes of football, and England
failed to progress to the next stage after a
penalty shootout (football)|penalty shootout.
Meier was beseieged with threats to his life
afterwards.

Campbell continues to play for Arsenal and England
and has 65 caps. Though now past the age of 30, he
shows no sign of ageing and will be a key member
of the Football World Cup 2006|2006 World Cup
squad should England qualify. His expected
selection for the squad will make him only the
sixth (alongside skipper Beckham, who will also be
in the squad) player to represent England at three
separate World Cup competitions. In 2005, injury
concerns and the emergence of Chelsea
F.C.|Chelsea's Terry made Campbell's place in the
England team less secure, though he is one of the
country's most respected footballers both among
players and supporters, apart from those who
frequent the terraces at White Hart Lane.

As a single man, Campbell is often photographed on
evenings out and has dated some high-profile women
in showbusiness, but he has also kept much of his
private life private. He has most recently been
linked with Dido (singer)|Dido, the singer who is
also a devout Arsenal fan.

Campbell has a son, Joseph, from a previous
relationship.

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