• Premier League

Sol Campbell tells Spurs fans: 'Sorry I hurt you'

Former Arsenal defender Sol Campbell has apologised to Tottenham fans for hurting them by leaving for their north London rivals - but says he has absolutely no regrets because he was so successful.

Campbell left Spurs on a Bosman transfer in 2001 after running out his contract to join their neighbours and was the subject of torrid abuse from fans as a result.

Sol Campbell won five trophies with Arsenal © Getty Images

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With the two clubs facing each other in the Premier League on Sunday in a vital clash in terms of potential qualification for the Champions League as well as traditional bragging rights, Campbell says he is content with his "very successful" decision.

'I'm sorry about the situation with me going and I'm sorry how it happened," said Campbell in an interview with Sky Sports. "I'm not going to apologise for the move [to Arsenal] because I was very successful. I'm sorry about the hurt it inflicted on them."

Having won just one trophy - the League Cup - during his time with Tottenham, Campbell went on to lift the Premier League twice and the FA Cup three times while at Arsenal. He also featured in the World Cup team of the tournament in 2002, a year after his move, all of which only served to anger jilted Spurs supporters.

Asked about the level of abuse that he receives even now, Campbell added: "I am shocked a little bit. It's been well over a decade, but you've got to look at the situation. The Spurs fans appreciated me and I tried to move the club on when I was there.

"I even proposed a contract to them and I thought If they can pay me this, they can pay other guys to move the club on."

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