Ex-Premier League defender, Bamba, dies at 39 after match

Ex-Premier League defender, Bamba, dies at 39 after match

Sol Bamba, a former Premier League defender who had notable stints with clubs such as Leeds United, Cardiff City, and Leicester City, has passed away at the age of 39 while managing a Turkish club.

Bamba had been battling Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a rare form of cancer, since 2020.

Bamba, who also played for the Ivory Coast national team, was serving as the technical director of Adanaspor, a Turkish club, at the time of his death.

The club confirmed his passing in a statement on social media, noting that Bamba fell ill before a match against Manisa Football Club and tragically passed away at the hospital.

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The football world has been quick to pay tribute to Bamba. Cardiff City, where Bamba spent a significant part of his career, described him as a “legend” and a “true gentleman.” Leeds United, where Bamba was captain in 2016, and Middlesbrough, where he played in the 2021-22 season, also expressed their sorrow at his passing.

Bamba began his football journey in Paris with Paris Saint-Germain’s youth academy before moving to Scotland, where he played for Dunfermline and Hibernian. He then moved to England in 2011 to join Leicester City under Sven-Goran Eriksson.

After retiring from professional football in 2022, Bamba transitioned into coaching and served as an assistant manager for Cardiff City before joining Adanaspor in 2024.

Bamba’s story is one of resilience, as he continued to inspire many with his determination to fight his illness, even returning to the pitch after undergoing chemotherapy. His legacy as a player and coach will be remembered by all who knew him.

Ex-Premier League defender, Bamba, dies at 39 after match