Former Cardiff City, Leeds, Leicester and Ivory Coast defender Sol Bamba has tragically passed away aged just 39.
Turkish side Adanaspor broke the news in a statement released on X which read: ‘Our Technical Director Souleymane Bamba, who fell ill before the Manisa Football Club match played 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.’
He was previously diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a rare form of cancer back on Christmas Eve in 2020 but was believed to be in the clear.
However Turkish outlet hurriyet have reported that he ‘fell ill before the Manisa FK match due to a relapse of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.’
Sol Bamba, former Leeds, Cardiff and Middlesbrough defender has died at the age of 39
Bamba fell ill before he was due to take charge of a match for Turkish club Adanaspor
The former defender was a popular figure in English football having donned the jerseys of Leicester City, Leeds, Cardiff City and Middlesbrough.
Since retiring in 2022, Bamba made the move into coaching, becoming an assistant manager for his former club Cardiff before joining Turkish side Adanaspor.
The 39-year-old had been working as the club’s technical director since the summer until his untimely passing.
Many of Bamba’s former clubs have already released tributes to the French-born centre-back.
Cardiff City who he spent the majority of his playing career with released a heartfelt statement on X which read: ‘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.
‘Our thoughts are with his friends, family and everyone lucky enough to know and love Sol.’
Cardiff City released a tribute which read ‘as a player and coach, Sol’s impact on our football club was immeasurable’
Leeds wrote on X: ‘Everyone at #LUFC is devastated to learn of the news that former #LUFC captain Sol Bamba has passed away.
‘Our thoughts and condolences are with his family and friends at this tragic time. Rest in peace, Sol, you will be forever in our hearts.
Middlesbrough also paid tribute to their former player on X writing: ‘We are devastated to learn of the passing of Sol Bamba at the age of 39.
‘Our thoughts are with Sol’s family and friends at this time. RIP Sol’
Bamba captained Leeds United during his time with the club in 2016
Whilst fellow Turkish side Galatasaray side paid their respects by posting a tribute which read:’We have learned with sorrow that Adanaspor Technical Director Sol Bamba has passed away.
‘We offer our condolences to Sol Bamba’s family, loved ones and the Adanaspor community.’
Bamba grew up in Paris and that is where his love for the game sprung, starting his career with Paris Saint-Germain’s youth setup before taking the leap and deciding to move to Scotland where he played for both Dunfermline and then Hibernian.
In 2011 his affair with English football began when he joined Leicester City, where he played under Sven-Goran Eriksson.
Bamba paid tribute to his former manager after their death at the age of 76 earlier this week.
He wrote on X: ‘Deeply devastated by the news of Sven’s passing today. He was not just an exquisite person, but he was also the best coach I’ve ever had, inspiring my journey as a player but also as a manager.
‘My sincere condolences to his family and loved ones. Rest in peace, Sven.’
The pair shared a good relationship having previously worked together in the Ivory Coast national team setup where the Swede manager also coached Bamba.
He then headed away from England, playing for Trabzonspor and Palermo before returning in 2015 to play for Leeds.
His captaincy stint with Leeds was pulled short when he moved to Cardiff City in 2016 where he made 118 appearances for the club.
Many of Bamba’s former clubs have paid tribute to the 39-year-old, one of which was Leeds where he captained the team
Bamba moved to Cardiff City in 2016 from Leeds where he made 118 appearances for the club
Since retiring in 2022, Bamba returned to Cardiff taking up a role as an assistant manage for his former club
It was during his time in Wales that Bamba was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a rare form of cancer.
The centre-back spent four mounts months battling the aggressive cancer by undergoing chemotherapy.
‘After the first chemo I was down for four days,’ he told Mail Sport back in 2022.
‘I could not get out of bed. I lost weight. After that, I told my missus, “I’m not going for the second round”. The way I was, in that moment, it was awful.
Bamba made a triumphant return in the final match of the 2020-21 season and went on to sign for Middlesbrough ahead of the 2021-22 season.
He went on to make 28 appearances and even scored the winning penalty in the FA Cup fourth round clash against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Speaking about the experience he said: ‘When I was going through chemo, I never thought for one minute I would come back and play. And I never thought about scoring penalties at Old Trafford – nights like that seemed a million miles away.’
