Sol Bamba, the former defender who played for Leeds United, Leicester City, Cardiff City, and Hibernian, has passed away at the age of 39.
The Ivorian center-back, who began his career at Paris Saint-Germain and also had stints with Dunfermline and Middlesbrough, was a key part of the Cardiff team that earned promotion to the Premier League in 2018.
Bamba, who overcame non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2021 while playing for Cardiff, had been working with Turkish club Adanaspor, which announced the sad news on Saturday night.
According to a statement from the club, Bamba fell ill before a match against Manisa on Friday and was taken to the hospital, where he sadly lost his battle for life. The club extended condolences to his family and community.
Cardiff City expressed deep sorrow, describing Bamba as a “club legend” and highlighting his immeasurable impact both as a player and coach.
The club remembered him as a hero, a leader in every dressing room, and a true gentleman.
Leeds United, where Bamba served as captain during his tenure from 2015 to 2016, also paid tribute, saying they were devastated by the news of his passing and that he would be forever in their hearts.
Bamba first gained recognition in British football during his time in Scotland with Dunfermline and Hibernian.
He later joined Leicester City under Sven-Goran Eriksson in 2011, and following Eriksson’s recent death, Bamba paid tribute to the Swede, describing him as the best coach he had ever had.
Bamba moved on to Leeds after playing for Trabzonspor in Turkey and Palermo in Italy. However, it was at Cardiff where he made perhaps his biggest impact, becoming a fan favorite after being signed on a free transfer by Neil Warnock in 2016.
He scored on his debut against Bristol City and was instrumental in the club’s promotion to the Premier League the following season.
Bamba made his Premier League debut with Cardiff, scoring four goals during the club’s sole season in the topflight under Warnock.
In January 2021, Cardiff announced that Bamba, then 35, was undergoing treatment for cancer, and he later returned to playing just four months after announcing he was cancer-free following chemotherapy.
Bamba was released by Cardiff in the summer of 2021 and rejoined Warnock at Middlesbrough, where he described the veteran manager as a father figure. Bamba’s season at Middlesbrough included a memorable penalty in an FA Cup shootout victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford in February 2022.
He returned to Cardiff the following year as assistant manager to Sabri Lamouchi, helping the club retain its Championship status.
Bamba had been linked with the Bluebirds’ managerial role after earning his coaching badges with the Football Association of Wales.
Bamba left his role at Cardiff following Lamouchi’s departure in the summer of 2023 before taking up a position in Turkey.
His former club Dunfermline expressed shock and sadness at his passing, offering condolences to all who knew him.
Middlesbrough and Hibernian both expressed their devastation at the news of Bamba’s death.
