Former Leeds and Cardiff defender Sol Bamba dies aged 39


Sol Bamba, the previous Leeds United, Leicester Metropolis, Cardiff Metropolis and Hibernian defender, has died on the age of 39.

The centre-back, who started his profession with Paris St-Germain and likewise performed for Dunfermline and Middlesbrough, was a part of the Cardiff facet that received promotion to the Premier League in 2018.

The Ivory Coast worldwide, who overcame non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2021 throughout his taking part in days at Cardiff, had been working at Turkish membership Adanaspor who introduced the information on Saturday evening.

A membership assertion mentioned: “Our technical director Souleymane Bamba, who fell sick earlier than the match in opposition to Manisa Soccer Membership yesterday, was taken to Manisa Celal Bayar College Hospital and sadly misplaced his battle for all times there. Our condolences to his household and our neighborhood.”

Leeds, who Bamba captained throughout his time at Elland Street from 2015 to 2016, additionally paid tribute by saying they’re “devastated to be taught of the information that former captain Sol Bamba has handed away”.

Leeds added: “Our ideas and condolences are together with his household and buddies at this tragic time. Relaxation in peace, Sol, you’ll be endlessly in our hearts.”

Bamba went from Paris St-Germain to Dunfermline and on to Hibernian, becoming a member of Leicester beneath Sven-Goran Eriksson in 2011.

Following Eriksson’s loss of life earlier this week, Bamba posted a tribute on social media by which he described the Swede as “not simply an beautiful individual, however he was additionally one of the best coach I’ve ever had, inspiring my journey as a participant but additionally as a supervisor”.

Bamba joined Leeds after spells with Trabzonspor in Turkey and Palermo in Italy.

It was at Cardiff the place he would make maybe his greatest mark, turning into a fan favorite after being signed on a free by Neil Warnock in 2016.

He scored on his debut in opposition to Bristol Metropolis, occurring to play a key function within the membership’s elevation to the highest flight the next season.

He would make his Premier League debut with Cardiff, scoring 4 targets within the Welsh membership’s solitary season on the stage beneath Warnock.

The membership introduced in January 2021 that Bamba, then 35, was being handled for most cancers, with the membership describing him as “universally admired by team-mates, workers and supporters within the Welsh capital”.

He returned to taking part in 4 months later, saying he was freed from most cancers following chemotherapy therapy.

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