Former professional footballer Sol Bamba has tragically passed away at the age of 39. Bamba, who played for clubs such as Leeds United, Leicester City, Cardiff City, and Hibernian, had been battling non-Hodgkin lymphoma since 2021. Despite overcoming the disease, he fell ill before a match while working as a technical director for Turkish club Adanaspor and sadly lost his battle for life. Bamba’s death has been met with deep sadness and condolences from the football community.
Bamba’s career began at Paris St-Germain before he moved on to Dunfermline and Hibernian. He then joined Leicester City under the management of Sven-Goran Eriksson in 2011. Bamba captained Leeds United from 2015 to 2016 and was highly regarded by the club. Leeds expressed their devastation at the news of his passing and stated that he would be forever in their hearts.
However, it was at Cardiff City where Bamba made his biggest impact. He joined the club in 2016 and quickly became a fan favorite. Bamba played a crucial role in Cardiff’s promotion to the Premier League in 2018. During his time at Cardiff, he scored on his debut and went on to make his Premier League debut, where he scored four goals. Bamba’s contribution to the club was immeasurable, and he was regarded as a club legend.
In January 2021, Cardiff City announced that Bamba was being treated for cancer. He returned to playing just four months later after completing chemotherapy treatment and declared himself cancer-free. Bamba was released by Cardiff in February 2021 but reunited with his former manager Neil Warnock at Middlesbrough in August 2021. Bamba’s season at Middlesbrough included a memorable moment when he scored a penalty in an FA Cup shootout victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford in February 2022.
After his playing career, Bamba returned to Cardiff City as an assistant manager to Sabri Lamouchi. He played a crucial role in helping the club retain their Championship status. Bamba had been linked with the Bluebirds’ managerial role, having obtained his coaching badges with the Football Association of Wales. However, he left his position when Lamouchi departed in the summer of 2023 before taking up his role at Adanaspor in Turkey.
The news of Bamba’s death has left the football community shocked and saddened. Clubs such as Dunfermline, Middlesbrough, and Hibernian expressed their devastation upon hearing the news. Bamba will be remembered not only for his contributions on the pitch but also for his resilience in overcoming cancer and his impact as a leader and a gentleman. His loss is deeply felt by all who knew him.