Sol Bamba, a former Premier League defender who had a career spanning several clubs, passed away at the age of 39 while overseeing a match for a Turkish team.
His death was announced on Saturday.
The ex-defender, who played for Leeds United, Cardiff City, and Leicester City, had been fighting Non-Hodgkin lymphoma since 2020.
At the time of his passing, Bamba, who also played for the Ivory Coast national team, was the technical director of the Turkish club Adanaspor.
The club announced the news in a statement on X, stating, “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.”
The ex-defender for Cardiff City, Leeds, and Leicester was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, an uncommon type of cancer, on December 24, 2020.
Even though it was thought that he was in remission, the Turkish news source Hurriyet revealed that he “became unwell before the Manisa FK game due to a recurrence of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.”
Reflecting on his battle with cancer, Bamba once told Mail Sport, “After the first chemo, I was down for four days. 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.”
Despite the challenges, Bamba made a return to the pitch, inspiring many with his resilience.
Tributes
Leeds United, where Bamba served as captain in 2016, expressed their sorrow: “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, where Bamba played in the 2021-22 season, also paid tribute on X: “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.”
Cardiff City, where he spent a significant portion of his career, released a heartfelt statement on X: “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.”
