- Former Cote d’Ivoire international Sol Bamba has died at the age of 39
- The one time Cardiff City and captained Leeds United sweeper, was the technical director at Turkish side Adanspor
- In his final post on X, Bamba paid tribute to late Sven-Goran Eriksson, who he briefly played for at Leicester City
Former Premier League defender Sol Bamba has died at the age of 39 after falling ill before a match in Turkey.
The erstwhile Cardiff City and Leeds United defender who had been employed at Turkish club Adanaspor died on Saturday after a brief illness.
A statement from Adanaspor announced the news late on Saturday night.
“Our technical director Souleymane Bamba, who fell ill before the match against Manisa Football Club yesterday, was taken to Manisa Celal Bayar University Hospital and unfortunately lost his battle for life there. Our condolences to his family and our community,” the club statement read.
Having grown up in Paris, Bamba started his career with Paris Saint-Germain’s youth setup before heading to Scotland where he played for Dunfermline and then Hibernian.
In 2011, he joined Leicester City, where he played under the late Sven-Goran Eriksson, a man who had previously managed him with the Ivory Coast national team and died four days ago.
Spells with Trabzonspor and Palermo followed, before the defender joined Leeds United in 2015.
Bamba moved to Cardiff City in 2016 where he formed a close relationship with his manager Neil Warnock.
It was during his time in Wales that Bamba was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and spent four months undergoing chemotherapy before making a triumphant return in the final match of the 2020/21 season.
Bamba then joined Middlesbrough, who were managed by Warnock, for the 2021/22 season.
He made 28 appearances and scored the winning penalty in the FA Cup fourth round clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford before retiring as a player after that summer and moving into coaching.
Bamba moved into coaching upon retirement in January 2023 and worked with former club Cardiff as assistant manager.
Bamba was an inspirational figure at Cardiff, helping the Bluebirds win promotion to the Premier League in 2018 and making more than 100 appearances for the club.
Cardiff wrote on social media: “It is with the deepest sadness that we have learnt this evening about the passing of Club legend, Sol Bamba.
“As a player and coach, Sol’s impact on our football club was immeasurable. He was a hero to all of us, a leader in every dressing room and a true gentleman.
Bamba then joined Turkish side Adanaspor, where he has been working as the club’s technical director since the summer.
Sol, who made almost 500 appearances for nine clubs during an 18-year career was also mourned at former club Middlesbrough where he finished his career.
The club said their thoughts are “with Sol’s family and friends at this time”.
Sol leaves behind wife Chloe and children Roonea, Lily, and Amy friends and loved ones to mourn him.
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