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Sol Campbell rants on Twitter after he was not named in the New Year’s Honors list as the former England star claims he was once ‘pound for pound the best defender in the world’ on a list of reasons why should have been recognized
- Sol Campbell has questioned why he was not named to the New Year’s Honors list
- He published a list of his sporting achievements on Twitter to justify his complaint
- Campbell claimed he was once ‘pound for pound the best defender in the world’
- Several England Women’s Euro Cup winning teams were named on the list.
Sol Campbell has posted a list of his football achievements on Twitter in outrage at not being named to this year’s New Year’s Honors list.
The former Arsenal and Tottenham defender said he has seen “a lot of people” earn MBEs, OBEs and knighthoods for their services to the sport, and made it clear he felt he should be among them.
Other soccer stars did make the list, with Leah Williamson, Beth Mead, Ellen White and Lucy Bronze all recognized after their role in the Lionesses’ Euro Cup triumph.
Sol Campbell has questioned why he was not named to the New Year’s Honors list
The defender played for Arsenal and Tottenham in an illustrious career spanning two decades.
The list faced some criticism, as fans argued that more of Sarina Wiegman’s team should have been named after her historic win.
Campbell gave eight reasons why he should have made the cut, since tweeted: ‘I have seen many people get MBE OBE Sir’s for services to sport. I will put my name for the reasons.
‘First are the 56 games without losing, [it] is a record Two, invincible Arsenal team 49 games without losing, a record. Three, first black player to score in the World Cup final for England!
The 48-year-old claimed he was once ‘pound for pound the best defender in the world’
He published a list of his sporting achievements on Twitter to justify his complaint
The third point left some fans scratching their heads as Campbell has never played in a World Cup final, although his only goal for England came in the World Cup final against Sweden in 2002.
He continued: ‘Four, first black captain to lift a cup at Wembley. Five, the first black English-speaking player to score in a Champions League final.
‘Six, I played two decades and more than 500 games in the position of prime minister. Seven, stood up for racism in football here and abroad!’
England captain Leah Williamson to receive an OBE after the Lionesses’ Euro win
‘Eight, only English player to play six consecutive tournaments for England. Nine, I made the best World Cup team in 1998 and 2002 and a European team in 2004, so at one point I was, pound for pound, the best defender in the world. How many English can say that?
Campbell’s rant was called “weird” by one fan, while another added: “This is what happens when you surround yourself with people who don’t challenge your ridiculous opinions.”
A notable absence from the 48-year-old achievement list was his brief managerial career, which most recently saw him depart Southend in 2020 when they were relegated after winning just four of 23 games with him.