Former Ivory Coast defender Sol Bamba has sadly passed away at the age of 39. The news was announced on Saturday by Turkish club Adanaspor, where Bamba was serving as technical director.
Bamba enjoyed a successful career, playing for a number of prominent clubs including Cardiff City, Leeds United, and Leicester City in England. He also had stints with Italian side Palermo, Scottish clubs Dunfermline Athletic and Hibernian, and Turkish club Trabzonspor. Bamba represented his country on 46 occasions, scoring one goal. He retired from playing in January 2023 and transitioned into coaching, serving as assistant manager at Cardiff before taking on the technical director role at Adanaspor.
Adanaspor released a statement expressing their deep sorrow: “Our technical director Souleymane Bamba, who fell ill before yesterday’s match against Manisa Football Club, was taken to Manisa Celal Bayar University Hospital and sadly lost his battle for life. Our condolences go out to his family and our community.”
Bamba had previously faced a health challenge in 2021 when he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. However, after undergoing chemotherapy, he was declared cancer-free.
Tributes have poured in from across the football world. Cardiff City, where Bamba achieved promotion to the Premier League in his first season, lauded his immense impact on the club: “It is with the deepest sadness that we have learnt this evening about the passing of Club legend, Sol Bamba. He was a hero to all of us, a leader in every dressing room and a true gentleman.”
The Ivory Coast national football team expressed their profound grief on Instagram: “This is absolutely tragic news. Sol Bamba has passed away at the age of just 39. Our deepest condolences to the family.”
Leeds United, another club where Bamba played, remembered him as “one of the nicest people in football.” The club shared a heartfelt statement: “The thoughts of everyone at Leeds United are with Sol’s family and friends at this tragic time. Rest in peace Sol, you will forever be in our hearts.”
Sol Bamba will be deeply missed by the football community and his many fans around the world.
