Kevin Campbell tributes show he was 'amazing character' - England boss Gareth Southgate

Footballers from all over have expressed admiration for Kevin Campbell, describing him as a "massively loved" and "incredible personality", according to Gareth Southgate, coach of the England national team.

Campbell, who passed away at the age of 54 after a brief illness, began his career as a player at Arsenal. He achieved several triumphs with the club, including the top-tier title, the FA Cup, the League Cup, and the European Cup Winners' Cup.

In addition, he has also been a player for Leyton Orient, Leicester City, Nottingham Forest, Everton, West Brom, Cardiff City, and the Turkish team Trabzonspor.

In February 2007, he played his last game and then transitioned into a career in broadcasting.

Southgate mentioned that Kevin is approximately the same age as himself, while talking prior to England's first game against Serbia in the Euro 2024 tournament on Sunday.

I recall encountering him during his stint in the Arsenal youth squad, around the same period, while also facing off against him in reserve team matches.

He's a very well-liked individual, and his offspring has also been a part of our youth development program.

We are deeply sympathetic to his family during this period, and some of the accolades have been astounding.

"Obviously, individuals who were more acquainted with him than me have shared their thoughts on what a remarkable person he was. It is indeed a mournful day."

Matija Sarkic, who was a goalkeeper for Millwall and represented Montenegro on the international level, has passed away at the age of 26.

Southgate expressed that he was aware that some of his teammates and colleagues had previously played and worked alongside Matija. Therefore, both updates came as a surprise and brought about overwhelming feelings of grief.

The lads who were his playmates are experiencing an even greater degree of emotion.

The son of Campbell, Tyrese, plays as a striker for Stoke City in the Championship. He expressed in words that he could not describe the feeling of losing his father.

She said that he was a beloved individual who graced every party and space with his lively and exuberant presence. He was a unique and special person who was adored by all.

In 1988, Kevin Campbell started playing for Arsenal at a senior level. During the 1990-91 season, in which Arsenal won the title, he played in 22 games and managed to score nine goals for the team.

Afterwards, he assisted the team from London in achieving victory for both the FA Cup and League Cup in 1993, and then went on to acquire the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1994.

Clinton Morrison, a former Crystal Palace striker who is 45 years old, shared with BBC Radio 5 Live how great it was for the young generation growing up in London while watching him and Ian Wright play together.

The manner in which they obtained goals and the manner in which they rejoiced was similar to ours. We regarded those two athletes as role models.

Even after Kev stopped playing football, he remained the same. He maintained his cheerful grin and the only memories I have of him are positive ones - he had the ability to lighten up a room and was an outstanding athlete and person overall.

After his career as a player, Campbell transitioned into the broadcasting industry and was employed by both BBC Sport and Sky.

Mark Chapman, presenter of BBC Radio 5 Live expressed that everyone loved him.

Regardless of whether you had collaborated with him at 5 Live or showed your allegiance to Arsenal, West Brom or Everton, he was beloved by all.

He consistently radiated positivity and displayed a cheerful expression every time he visited the 5 Live sport studio. Moreover, he was an outstanding goal scorer.

In 1995, Campbell left Arsenal to join Forest and played there for three years. In his last season, he managed to score 22 times in 39 games which greatly contributed to Forest's promotion to the Premier League.

After a brief time with Trabzonspor, he transferred to Everton on a temporary basis in March of 1999. He managed to score nine times in their last eight games in the Premier League, ultimately helping the Toffees stay clear of relegation.

During that summer, he received a permanent contract and stayed with the team for over five seasons.

Campbell's time as a player ended after spending some time with West Brom and Cardiff.

According to ex Everton player Phil Jagielka, while watching television, all guests have expressed positive opinions about an individual, stating he was an exceptional person. Jagielka arrived at the Goodison Park team after the mentioned person had already left.

He brought joy to many with his laughter and his constant cheerful expression. I'd spotted him before at Goodison, during my visits there.

I had the chance to engage with Tyrese, his son, while at Stoke. It's undoubtedly a sorrowful day for the family, and the best we can do is extend our sympathies and wish them strength during this challenging moment.

Wow, what a man! He was such a polite and unique individual. I never witnessed him without having that cheerful expression on his face. He was always one of those people who approached you with open arms, ready to embrace you and share some lighthearted banter.

Paul Robinson, a former Tottenham goalkeeper, stated on BBC Radio 5 Live that the recently departed media personality had a significant impact on our lives. We were all given a taste of his delightful personality.

We have unfortunately lost a great person today, someone who was truly kind-hearted and pleasant.

Ex-England forward Alan Shearer shared with BBC One's Match of the Day that he was fortunate to have played alongside Campbell during their time with the England Under-21s. He also mentioned that they had collaborated on several TV projects over the years.

Shearer stated that he possessed a captivating persona and remarkable demeanor.

As we observe the immense sorrow being expressed today, it is evident how deeply he will be mourned. Our sympathies go out to his loved ones and associates during this heartbreaking time. This announcement is truly disheartening.

Beforehand, several of Campbell's former teammates honored him, such as Ian Wright, Tony Adams, and Wayne Rooney.

Wright, who used to play for Arsenal, recently shared a series of crying emojis and pictures that showed him together with someone on a social media platform called X.

I cannot discuss it in great detail because it causes me to become emotional. He was extremely important to many individuals, specifically to me," he expressed to ITV.

According to ex-Arsenal skipper Tony Adams, "Super Kev" is a prolific scorer who is also an imposing figure with a very kind-hearted nature.

"A person who valued their privacy greatly and was an absolutely amazing individual. I feel heartbroken for those close to him and for all of us. You will be missed, Super Kev."

When Rooney first started playing football as a young teenager, Campbell was already on the team at Everton.

Rooney stated that Kev was not only an excellent team member but also an outstanding individual who provided him with significant assistance during his formative years.