The highs and lows of Sol Campbell’s days post-football
England international and a member of Arsenal’s Invincible team – where the team went a whole season unbeaten – Sol Campbell has nurtured a career which has taken him from the lower rungs of the football leagues to the very top of the game. Most recently, he was appointed as manager of League Two outfit Macclesfield Town football club. His eternal love for the beautiful game recently led him to Malaysia, where he served as a pundit for this year’s World Cup tournament.
On the World Cup
I remember in the 1998 World Cup – an epic match – where I thought I had headed in the winning goal against Argentina in the quarter-final, only for the ref to disallow it (the match was famous for Beckham’s red card and Argentina went on to win on penalties). That was a defining moment for me, for England. It hurts and even if the hurt is gone, when I think about it, my stomach kind of clenches. I do think about what if we had gone through, we would have played Holland and who knows what would have happened. Some players are lucky to win everything but not so many of us can.
On footballing memories
I’ve had many great memories; my first time pulling on the country jersey and playing as a full international against Hungary in the Euros of 1996. Also winning the League Cup and winning the double in my first year at Arsenal. I think to top off the highlights, it would be going unbeaten for the whole season (2003-04). When you first do something like that, you don’t immediately realise the magnitude of this; and then the facts start coming in – it’s not happened in the English football’s top tier for over 100 years, not since Preston North End in 1888 – 89. Plus, Arsenal had to do it across more games. Last season, Man City tried and were not successful, which shows how hard, and how many things have to fall your way, for it to happen. And when you realise that, it is a bit special.
On being in Kuala Lumpur
I’m really enjoying my second time here in Kuala Lumpur. The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur has been fantastic to me. The franchise, and brand, is synonymous with class and when you look around, it’s all top level. The staff has been very welcoming with their service, food is great and I really love the location – it’s so easy to walk around. I tried the spa treatments which was excellent as well.
I do enjoy the heat here in Kuala Lumpur, and I’ve had some street food which was nice. I really like moving around in cities I visit, to see how people live. I noticed that there’s a big bar scene here, and obviously people love to eat here, they are out a lot and socialising which is quite nice.
On the World Cup
In this World Cup year, I have also been to Russia, to open the FIFA Fan Fest in Volgograd. Just learning the history of the place was amazing; it was the beginning of the end for the Nazis who thought they would have a quick campaign there. And the Russians – with their never-say-die attitude – dragged it into the winter which caused heavy casualties. The city is also the home of the longest river in Europe, the Volga, and it was just fascinating to see how it has recovered after being bombed out in the war, like Coventry.
St Petersburg for me, is another place I enjoyed. It’s really the Venice of Russia; a beautiful, stunning – I would say good-looking kind of city. For me, that’s been an eye opener and I am definitely going back with the family for a few days.
On the present and the future
Right now, it’s all about football for me. I helped out with various parties because I’m very passionate about my city, London (In 2015, Campbell was bidding to become one of the Tory Party’s candidates to run as Mayor of London). If it needs help, I’m happy to do it because I want London to work, to be open and to continue to be prosperous. We need to understand that we have to look after people with heart and soul, by finding the balance and not scaring people who may not have all the money. London’s always been open to people since centuries ago, and that’s what I want it to always be.
In the present, happiness for me means family – my kids, my wife and having opportunities. I love when things flourish and grow – even with the bumps on the road – and seeing how far my kids can go, helping people when we can. I also love to have time for myself; to access nature and to find the beauty in every shape and in both the good and bad.
