Iván Campo

Football player infobox
playername = Iván Campo


fullname = Iván Campo Ramos
height = height|ft=6|in=1
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1974|2|21
cityofbirth = San Sebastián
countryofbirth = Spain
currentclub = Ipswich Town
clubnumber = 21
position = Defender/midfielder
years = 1993–1995
1995–1997
1995–1996
1997–1998
1998–2003
2002–2003
2003–2008
2008–
clubs = Alavés
Valencia CF
Real Valladolid "(loan)"
Real Mallorca
Real Madrid
→Bolton Wanderers "(loan)"
Bolton Wanderers
Ipswich Town
caps(goals) = 045 00(2)
007 00(1)
024 00(2)
033 00(1)
060 00(1)
031 00(2)
141 0(11)
007 00(0)
nationalyears = 1998–2000
nationalteam = Spain
nationalcaps(goals) = 004 00(0)
pcupdate = 11:55, 9 October 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 1 August 2008

Iván Campo Ramos, Iván Campo or Campo (born 21 February 1974 in San Sebastián, Basque Country), is a Spanish footballer, currently playing for Ipswich Town F.C..

Originally a central defender, Campo featured in a defensive midfield role in his later years.

Club career

Campo started his playing career at Spanish side Deportivo Alavés. He stayed there for two seasons until midway through his third, signing with Valencia CF, who immediately loaned him for the rest of the season to Real Valladolid, which he helped narrowly avoid relegation.

After completing the year with Valladolid, 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 Mallorca finished fifth in 1997-98.

In 1998, Campo signed with Real Madrid, and contributed to Madrid's 2000 Champions League winning side. However, after falling out of favor, he was sent to Bolton Wanderers F.C. on a one-year loan in August 2002. Following the 2002–03 season, Campo was expected to return to the Spanish capital, but unexpectedly re-signed a three year deal with the English club, deciding he preferred living in Bolton. [ [http://www.4thegame.com/club/bolton-wanderers-fc/player-profile/3046/ramosivan_campo.html 4thegame profile] ]

On 19 August 2006, in the first match of Bolton's new season, Campo scored a 43-yard drive which caught Tottenham Hotspur and England goalkeeper 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 Campo's wonder strike.

In May 2008, Campo was not offered a new contract by manager Gary Megson and left Bolton. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bolton_wanderers/7406200.stm Campo goes as Bolton release trio] ]

Shortly before the 2008 European Championships, Campo wrote a letter to the Bolton supporters expressing his regret at not having been able to bid the club a proper farewell. The letter appeared on a website run by the Sky Television presenter Guillem Balague. [ [http://guillembalague.com/guestwriter_desp.php?id=5 An Open Letter To The Fans Of Bolton Wanderers by Ivan Campo] ]

Campo signed for Ipswich Town after passing a medical on 11 August, 2008. [Cite web | url = http://www.greenun24.co.uk/content/greenun/sport/football/championship/ipswich-town/story.aspx?brand=EADOnline&category=IpswichTownFC&tBrand=GreenUnOnline&tCategory=xDefault&itemid=IPED11%20Aug%202008%2015%3A18%3A25%3A903| title = Campo deal done after passing medical| accessdate = 2008-08-11 | date = 2008-08-11| publisher = The Green 'Un|author = Derek Davis]

International career

Campo appeared four times for Spain, his debut coming on March 25, 1998 in a friendly win over Sweden (4-0, Vigo), and was part of their 1998 FIFA World Cup squad.

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. [ [http://mannyroad.wordpress.com/2008/08/03/bolton-wanderers-ivan-campo/ The Ivan Campo Appreciation Society: Exhibit B] . "Manny Road", August 3 2008.]

An Indie band from Preston, England named themselves "Ivan Campo" after the player had become a cult hero at Bolton. The drummer of the band is a Bolton Wanderers fan. [ [http://mannyroad.wordpress.com/2008/08/20/bolton-wanderers-ivan-campo-2/ The Ivan Campo Appreciation Society: Exhibit C] . "Manny Road", August 20 2008.]

References

External links

* [http://www.lfp.es/historico/primera/plantillas/historial.asp?jug=6210 Stats at Liga de Fútbol Profesional] es icon
* [http://futbol.sportec.es/seleccion/ficha_jugador.asp?j=277&n=ivan/campo/ivan/campo/ramos National team data] es icon
* [http://www.burndenaces.co.uk/players/profile.php?id=12 Bolton Wanderers profile] at [http://www.burndenaces.co.uk/ Burnden Aces]
*soccerbase|id=16317|name=Iván Campo

Persondata
NAME = Iván Campo Ramos
ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Footballer
DATE OF BIRTH = 21 February 1974
PLACE OF BIRTH = San Sebastián, Basque Country, Spain
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =