Twenty-four years on, Sol Campbell knows his name will be chanted by both sets of fans in this week’s North London derby.
Campbell is loved by the Arsenal fanbase as his arrival in 2001 helped the club win the Double and he was a huge part of the Invincibles title-winning season in 2003/04.
But there remains pure hatred from Tottenham supporters who saw their captain – just 26 and at the peak of his powers – walk out on a free transfer to join their deadliest rivals in 2001.
Campbell can at last smile about it all – underlined by him doing an advert for Google Pixel entitled Switch Like Sol – and is still adamant about the choice he made.
Former England defender Campbell said: “It was a move by a young man who wanted to win. I wanted to win football games, I wanted to win championships, I wanted to see how far I could push my country, to see if I could win something for my country.
“Everywhere I’ve played I’ve tried my best, wanted to win and I knew my time was running out and I had to think about what was the best possible chance of winning and joining a team which I can enhance.
“Sometimes if you’re in a team which only has four or five players then it’s hard work if you want to win anything. You need nine, 10, maybe 11 and then two or three on the bench who can make a difference.
“I’d never had that before and I wanted to be in the best environment. Arsenal’s training ground was second to none and Highbury was beautiful, historic ground, the pitch was always amazing.
“The players were magnificent. They were incredible. Incredible quality, human beings and great players. I wanted to be in that environment. Then you had Arsene Wenger with his new ideas on and off the pitch and his record.”
The Emirates will host Wednesday’s North London derby and, even though it is certain to be fierce, it is unlikely to be on the same level as Campbell’s infamous first game back at White Hart Lane in November 2001 as an Arsenal player.
There were unparalleled levels of abuse, effigies hanging outside the ground and missiles thrown at the Arsenal team bus. It was toxic.
“It was more than toxic!” said Campbell. “If people went back and saw it again then they would say: ‘This is horrendous.’ It was movie-like and I had to grow. I had to be calm and play football.
“I had to be incredibly strong, I don’t think anyone now realises what it was like. I think it would be impossible for any player now. The ones out there now know what they said. Everyone had their way but no-one has apologised.
“Obviously Luis Figo from Barcelona to Real Madrid and that’s a long way. Loads of players did it in Italy. London is a big city, I’m a Londoner and you come across people who want to say something, especially at that time. I get it every now and again.
“It’s definitely time to move on. I’ve move on. But it does make me think. Other players have done moves like this. So, what is it? Is it a racial thing? They’re not singing songs about them. What is going on? If you’re 20 or 25 years old, you weren’t even born. It makes no sense.”
Sky did a documentary on the move last year but he was not part of it. However, he does have a very different take on the Sky post-match interview with their superb former pitchside reporter Clare Tomlinson which is always held against him by Spurs fans.
“I think Sky wanted to set the record straight. For me, one of the biggest things that people hang on is the famous quote. Clare Tomlinson said: ‘Are you staying?’ And I said: ‘yeah, I’m staying.’
“But then it cut short. People frame that. But you go another 10 or 15 seconds later and it’s a different story. It’s more balanced. ‘Did you listen to the whole interview?’
“Further on I say: ‘I’m here.’ Then she asks are you staying next season and I say: ‘Well, I’m here.’ Then she told me I’d forgotten the champagne because I’m man of the match and that gets cut off.”
Campbell is now an Arsenal ambassador, regular at the Emirates and, after a couple of managerial jobs, he has been traveling, studying and is particularly keen on returning to the game with a scientific outlook.
He added: “Technology in sport is so important and so hopefully it’s something I can work on in football and in the football world.”
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