Full name Ivan Campo Ramos Playing position 1993â1995 Alaves Role Footballer Weight 81 kg | Years Team Name Ivan Campo Height 1.85 m | |
Date of birth (1974-02-21) 21 February 1974 (age 41) Similar People Ivan Helguera, Fernando Hierro, Fernando Morientes, Steve McManaman, Michel Salgado | ||
IVÁN CAMPO | Goals, goals and more goals!
Iván Campo Ramos (born 21 February 1974) is a Spanish retired footballer. Originally a central defender, he featured in a defensive midfield role in his later years.
Contents
- IVN CAMPO Goals goals and more goals
- Ivan Campo goal
- Spain
- Bolton Wanderers
- Later years
- International career
- Other ventures
- Honours
- References
He played for Real Madrid and four other teams in his country, and is also remembered for his spell in England with Bolton Wanderers.
Campo represented Spain in the 1998 World Cup.
Ivan Campo-goal
Spain
Born in San Sebastián, Basque Country, Campo started his career at Deportivo Alavés, in the third division. He stayed there for two 1/2 years, signing with Valencia CF who immediately loaned him for the rest of the season to Real Valladolid, which he helped narrowly avoid relegation from La Liga.
Subsequently, Campo returned to Valencia only to be released, joining recently promoted RCD Mallorca. In the Balearic Islands side, he formed a formidable partnership with Marcelino Elena (later of Newcastle United), as they finished fifth in 1997–98.
In 1998 Campo signed with Real Madrid, and contributed to the club's 1999–2000 conquest of the UEFA Champions League, playing all 90 minutes in the final against former club Valencia.
Bolton Wanderers
After falling out of favor at the Merengues, Campo was sent to Bolton Wanderers on a one-year loan in August 2002. Following the 2002–03 campaign, he was expected to return to the Spanish capital, but unexpectedly signed a three-year permanent deal with the English, deciding he preferred living in Bolton.
On 19 August 2006, in the first match of the new season, Campo scored a 43-yard drive which caught Tottenham Hotspur and England's Paul Robinson off-guard and flew into the bottom corner of the net. In a post-match interview, his boss Sam Allardyce admitted Bolton's goal of the season competition may have already been decided by the wonder strike.
Campo fitted in well with Bolton's style of play, but also topped the charts for most red and yellow cards received of any player in the Premier League in 2006–07. In May 2008, he was not offered a new contract by manager Gary Megson and left the team.
Shortly before the UEFA Euro 2008 tournament, Campo wrote a letter to the Bolton supporters expressing his regret at not having been able to bid the club a proper farewell, and the letter appeared on a website run by Sky Sports presenter Guillem Balagué. He eventually played in a testimonial match at the Reebok Stadium, in honour of teammate Jussi Jääskeläinen.
Later years
On 11 August 2008, Campo signed for Ipswich Town in the Football League Championship, after passing a medical. He scored his first goal against Barnsley in a 3–0 win, but after only featuring in roughly a third of the league's games for the club, the 35-year-old was released by manager Roy Keane at the end of the season.
In December 2009, Campo joined Cypriot Second Division side AEK Larnaca FC.
International career
Campo appeared four times for Spain, his debut coming on 25 March 1998 in a 4–0 friendly win over Sweden, in Vigo. He was picked for the squad for the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France, with the national team exiting in the group stage.
Other ventures
Campo featured in a Spanish TV advert for a fruit drink. In the advert two men take off their shirts to reveal tattoos of Campo's head on their chests.