Former Cardiff City player, Sol Bamba dies at the age of 39

Sol Bamba, a former defender for Leeds United, Leicester City, Cardiff City, and Hibernian, passed away at the age of 39. During his playing career at Cardiff, he battled non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2021. He has since been working with Turkish team Adanaspor, who announced on Saturday night. A statement from Adanaspor said: "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."

Following stints at Palermo in Italy and Trabzonspor in Turkey, Bamba joined Leeds. In his first game against Bristol City, he scored. During the 2015/16 season, Sol Bamba served as captain for Leeds United. Leeds United have also sent their condolences, stating that they were, "devastated to learn of the news that former captain Sol Bamba has passed away". 

In the 2016 season Sol Bamba moved to Cardiff City and was a key member of the game as the next season, he was crucial to the team's promotion to the Premier League. He would make his Premier League debut with Cardiff, where he would score four goals in the Welsh team's first season under Warnock at the top level. 

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… pic.twitter.com/f4eOicxMyt

— Cardiff City FC (@CardiffCityFC) August 31, 2024

In January 2021, Sol Bamba was diagnosed with cancer and started his treatment and was admired by teammates, staff and supporters. After undergoing chemotherapy, he declared himself cancer-free four months later and went back to playing. Cardiff released Bamba the next month, and he reunited with Warnock before joining Middlesbrough in August 2021. 

Sol Bamba joined Cardiff City as assistant manager

During his time at Middlesbrough, Bamba scored a penalty in February 2022's FA Cup shootout triumph over Manchester United at Old Trafford. The next year, he returned back to Cardiff City to support Sabri Lamouchi as assistant manager, which helped the team maintain its Championship status. Meanwhile, he also represented his nation Ivory Coast in the Olympics in 2008 and was part of the team in 2012 which played in the Africa Cup of Nations. His last appearance for Ivory Coast which two years back.