Former England defender Campbell retires

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LONDON — Former England defender Sol Campbell has announced his retirement from football, ending a stellar 19-year career that was marked by his acrimonious switch from Tottenham to fierce north London rival Arsenal.

The 37-year-old Campbell — a powerful, ball-playing centre-back who played 73 times for his country — called time on his career on Wednesday having failed to find a club following his release from Newcastle at the end of last season.

Campbell made one of the most controversial moves in the history of English football when he left Tottenham — where he was captain — to join Arsenal in 2001, provoking a deluge of criticism from angry Spurs fans.

Campbell won two league titles and two FA Cups with Arsenal. He also played for Portsmouth and Notts County.

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