Former Ivory Coast international Sol Bamba has died at the age of 39, Afrosport reports.
The former Leeds United, Leicester City, Cardiff City and Hibernian defender, who was recently appointed as head coach of Turkish club Adanaspor in July, was said to have taken ill shortly before his death.
Bamba overcame non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2021 while playing for Cardiff, but the defender has now passed on with Adanaspor annoucing the news of his demise on Saturday.
A statement from Adanaspor said: “Our technical director Souleymane Bamba, who fell ill before the match against Manisa on Friday, was taken to hospital and unfortunately lost his battle for life there. Our condolences to his family and our community.”
The Ivorian began his career at French club Paris St-Germain before moving to Dunfermline and then to Hibernian. He joined Leicester in 2011, playing under former Ivory Coast and England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson.
After his time with the Foxes, he moved to Turkey with Trabzonspor, and then to Italy with Palermo.
In 2015, his services were acquired by Leeds, who he captained during his time at Elland Road. Leeds paid tribute to the defender, saying they were “devastated to learn of the news that former captain Sol Bamba has passed away”.
The club also added: “Rest in peace, Sol, you will be forever in our hearts.”
Bamba’s football journey took him to Cardiff, where he enjoyed arguably the best periods of his career, helping the Welsh club gain promotion to the Premier League in 2018, under manager Neil Warnock.
He scored on his debut for Cardiff and also bagged four goals in their only season in the Premier League under Warnock.
It was at Cardifff he was initially diagnosed with Cancer in January 2011, but he made a miraculous return four month later, announcing he was free of cancer following chemotherapy treatment.
Bamba was released by Cardiff the following month and linked up again with Warnock at Middlesbrough, where he was famous for scoring a penalty in a FA Cup shootout win 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 their Championship status.
Cardiff described Bamba as a “club legend” and they said the news was received with “the deepest sadness”.
They added: “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.”
At international level, Bamba played 46 times for Ivory Coast since his debut in 2008, representing the Elephants at five major tournaments, including three Africa Cup of Nations and two World Cups.
