Joel Campbell
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 7/2014
Personal information
Full name:
Joel Nathaniel Campbell Samuels
Date of birth:
26 June 1992
Place of birth:
San José, Costa Rica
Height:
1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position:
Forward / Winger
Club information
Current team:
Arsenal
Youth career
Saprissa:
2004-2009
Senior career*
Saprissa:
2009-2011
2x apps / 0x goals
→ Puntarenas (loan):
2011
5x apps / 0x goals
Arsenal:
2011-
0x apps / 0x goals
→ Lorient (loan):
2011-2012
25x apps / 3x goals
→ Real Betis (loan):
2012-2013
28x apps / 2x goals
→ Olympiacos (loan):
2013-2014
32x apps / 8x goals
National team
Costa Rica U17:
2008-2009
9x apps / 8x goals
Costa Rica U20:
2010-2011
13x apps / 10x goals
Costa Rica:
2011-
36x apps / 10x goals
* (appearances national team caps and goals correct as of 14 June 2014)
Joel Nathaniel Campbell Samuels, born 26 June 1992, is a Costa Rican footballer who plays for the English club Arsenal and the Costa Rica national football team. Campbell plays as a forward but can also be deployed on the wings.
He joined Arsenal in 2011, and spent his first three seasons out on loan at three clubs in three different countries: Lorient, Real Betis and Olympiacos.
Campbell has earned over 35 caps for Costa Rica.
He made his senior international debut in 2011 and was selected for that year's CONCACAF Gold Cup and Copa América, as well as the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Club career
Deportivo Saprissa
Campbell's career began with Deportivo Saprissa S.A.D. in 2009 before being sent on loan to Puntarenas in January 2011.
On 28 July 2011 Costa Rican television reported that Campbell had come to an agreement with Arsenal, although he later admitted he had not yet signed but that talks were taking place.
On 6 August, Costa Rican media reported that Campbell was set to sign a five-year deal with Arsenal after rejecting Sevilla and Fiorentina.
Arsenal
On 19 August 2011, Arsenal confirmed that they had signed Campbell, but it was revealed eight days later that he had failed to obtain a work permit to enable him to play in England.
Campbell finally received that permit in July 2013.
Loan to FC Lorient
Unable to get a work permit in England, Campbell along with Gilles Sunu both joined Lorient of France, with Campbell moving on loan and Sunu on a permanent transfer.
He made his debut for Lorient as a 79th-minute substitute for Grégory Bourillon in the 1:1 draw away to Sochaux, and created the assist for Innocent Emeghara to score and earn Lorient an away point.
On 1 October, he scored his first goal for Lorient against Valenciennes in the 2:0 win, Campbell's right footed shot found the bottom left hand corner of the goal.
On 26 October, Campbell scored his second goal for Lorient in a Coupe de la Ligue match against Montpellier. He scored his third goal also against Montpellier in a 2:1 win which proved to be the winner.
Loan to Real Betis
On 6 July 2012, Campbell joined La Liga side Real Betis on a season-long loan.
He made his debut on 25 August, coming on as a substitute for Salvador Agra to play the last 20 minutes in their 2:1 home defeat to Rayo Vallecano.
Campbell played 28 league matches and scored 2 goals; his first was on 2 December, to give Betis a 3:2 away win against Deportivo La Coruña, and his second came in the 7th minute of a 2:0 home victory against Levante on 13 January.
Loan to Olympiacos
By summer 2013, Campbell had been granted work-permit in England but he joined Olympiacos on another one-year loan.
On 27 October 2013, Campbell starred in Olympiacos' win over rivals OFI Crete, picking up four assists to help his side win 5:1.
Campbell impressed again on 10 November, scoring once and earning two assists as Olympiacos thrashed PAOK Thessaloniki 4:0.
On 25 February 2014, Campbell scored the second goal Olympiacos' 2:0 win over Manchester United in the last 16 of the Champions League.
International career
Campbell was selected for Costa Rica's squad for the 2009 CONCACAF U-17 Championship.
He was the team's highest scorer, although he had only two goals in total. He was named in the 2011 CONCACAF U-20 Championship two years later and tied for top scorer with six goals.
Campbell was first called up to the senior team in March 2011, for friendlies with China and Argentina.
He would juggle cans on the streets of San José.
Before the friendlies he was spotted doing this by national team manager Ricardo La Volpe.
In announcing Campbell's inclusion in the squad, La Volpe said: "Who is Messi? Who is Neymar? Gentlemen of the press - I present to you: Campbell. I discovered him playing with cans."
In September 2013, Campbell became the subject of controversy when video emerged of his off-the-ball dive against the United States' Matt Besler in a World Cup Qualifying match.
Besler received a yellow card and was suspended.
On 14 June 2014, Campbell scored Costa Rica's first goal in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, equalising against Uruguay in an eventual 3:1 victory.
His pass to Marco Ureña also set up Costa Rica's third goal in the game.
During the round of 16, Campbell was the fourth of five Costa Rican players to successfully convert his kick in a 5:3 penalty shootout defeat of Greece.