Former Cardiff and Leeds defender Sol Bamba dies aged 39 | UK News

Former defender Sol Bamba has died on the age of 39 after falling in poor health earlier than a match in Turkey – as his spouse paid tribute, saying it was “an honour to have liked and been liked by Sol”.

Bamba, who used to play for Cardiff Metropolis and captained Leeds United, was the technical director at Turkish facet Adanaspor.

A membership assertion learn: “Our technical director Souleymane Bamba, who fell in poor health earlier than the match towards 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 group.”

The daddy of three was identified with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2021 whereas at Cardiff, however was declared cancer-free after a course of chemotherapy and returned to play once more for the Bluebirds and Middlesbrough.

His profession additionally took within the likes of Leicester, Hibernian and Dunfermline, along with 46 worldwide appearances for the Ivory Coast.

Bamba’s spouse Chloe stated it was “an honour to have liked and been liked by Sol”.

“I learnt a lot from him. He’s my hero. My coronary heart is breaking. What a present, what a present, what a present to have been liked by him,” she wrote on Instagram.

She stated for the “previous couple of years I’ve watched Sol struggle his most cancers head on with an astounding psychological and bodily power and stoicism”.

“Sadly, it was by no means a good struggle and simply when issues have been wanting up he took a downturn and at last succumbed on thirty first August,” she added.

“These years have been indescribably troublesome however we nonetheless managed to search out pleasure and laughter in it. I’ve skilled my worst days but in addition a few of my finest. Sol accepted his destiny as God’s will and left this Earth realizing, and not using a shadow of a doubt, that he was liked wholeheartedly. I made certain of that.”

In his closing publish on X, Bamba paid tribute to Sven-Goran Eriksson, who he briefly performed for at Leicester Metropolis.

“He was 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 in addition as a supervisor,” he wrote on Monday.

Cardiff Metropolis, the place Bamba gained promotion to the Premier League in his first season, described him as a “membership legend”.

“As a participant and coach, Sol’s impression on our soccer membership was immeasurable,” they stated in an announcement.

“He was a hero to all of us, a pacesetter in each dressing room and a real gentleman. Our ideas are along with his pals, household and everybody fortunate sufficient to know and love Sol.”

Leeds United stated they’re “devastated” by the information.

“Our ideas and condolences are along with his household and pals at this tragic time,” an announcement learn.

“Relaxation in peace, Sol, you may be endlessly in our hearts.”

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Bamba completed his profession with Middlesbrough, the place he performed for one season.

The membership stated their ideas are “with Sol’s household and pals at the moment”.