Former defender Sol Bamba has died at the age of 39 after falling ill before a match in Turkey – as his wife paid tribute, saying it was “an honour to have loved and been loved by Sol”.
Bamba, who used to play for Cardiff City and captained Leeds United, was the technical director at Turkish side Adanaspor.
A club statement read: “Our technical director Souleymane Bamba, who fell ill before the match against Manisa Football Club 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 father of three was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2021 while at Cardiff, but was declared cancer-free after a course of chemotherapy and returned to play again for the Bluebirds and Middlesbrough.
His career also took in the likes of Leicester, Hibernian and Dunfermline, in addition to 46 international appearances for the Ivory Coast.
Bamba’s wife Chloe said it was “an honour to have loved and been loved by Sol”.
“I learnt so much from him. He is my hero. My heart is breaking. What a gift, what a gift, what a gift to have been loved by him,” she wrote on Instagram.
She said for the “last few years I have watched Sol fight his cancer head on with an astounding mental and physical strength and stoicism”.
“Unfortunately, it was never a fair fight and just when things were looking up he took a downturn and finally succumbed on 31st August,” she added.
“These years have been indescribably difficult but we still managed to find joy and laughter in it. I’ve experienced my worst days but also some of my best. Sol accepted his fate as God’s will and left this Earth knowing, without a shadow of a doubt, that he was loved wholeheartedly. I made sure of that.”
In his final post on X, Bamba paid tribute to Sven-Goran Eriksson, who he briefly played for at Leicester City.
“He was not just an exquisite person, but he was also the best coach I’ve ever had, inspiring my journey as a player but also as a manager,” he wrote on Monday.
Cardiff City, where Bamba won promotion to the Premier League in his first season, described him as a “club legend”.
“As a player and coach, Sol’s impact on our football club was immeasurable,” they said in a statement.
“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.”
Leeds United said they are “devastated” by the news.
“Our thoughts and condolences are with his family and friends at this tragic time,” a statement read.
“Rest in peace, Sol, you will be forever in our hearts.”
