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Ivorian centre-back Souleymane Bamba, who started his career with Paris St-Germain and later played for Dunfermline and Middlesbrough, was a key member of the Cardiff City team that earned promotion to the Premier League in 2018.
Bamba overcame non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2021 while still playing for Cardiff. He was recently working with Turkish club Adanaspor, which announced his passing on Saturday night.
In a statement, Adanaspor said: “Our technical director Souleymane Bamba fell ill before the match against Manisa on Friday, was taken to hospital, and unfortunately, he lost his battle for life there. Our condolences to his family and our community.”
Cardiff expressed their “deepest sadness” upon hearing the news, describing Bamba as a “club legend” and a “hero” to everyone involved with the club. They praised his immeasurable impact as both a player and coach, calling him a “leader in every dressing room and a true gentleman.”
Leeds United, where Bamba served as captain from 2015 to 2016, also paid tribute, saying they were “devastated to learn” of his passing and adding: “Rest in peace, Sol, you will be forever in our hearts.”
Bamba’s career took him from Paris St-Germain to Dunfermline and then to Hibernian, before joining Leicester City under Sven-Goran Eriksson in 2011. After Eriksson’s recent passing, Bamba posted a tribute on social media, describing the Swede as “not just an exquisite person, but also the best coach I’ve ever had, inspiring my journey as a player and as a manager.”
After spells with Trabzonspor in Turkey and Palermo in Italy, Bamba joined Leeds before making his mark at Cardiff, where he became a fan favorite following his free transfer under Neil Warnock in 2016. He scored on his debut against Bristol City and played a crucial role in Cardiff’s promotion to the Premier League the following season, scoring four goals in their single season at the top level.
In January 2021, Cardiff announced that Bamba, then 35, was undergoing treatment for cancer. Four months later, he made a triumphant return to playing, having been declared cancer-free after chemotherapy.
Bamba was released by Cardiff in June 2021 but reunited with Warnock at Middlesbrough in August. He had previously described Warnock as a “father figure,” and Warnock once humorously claimed that Bamba was “slightly better” than Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk, although he had to remind Bamba not to “try and be Beckenbauer” during games.
Bamba’s season at Middlesbrough saw him score a penalty in an FA Cup shootout win over Manchester United at Old Trafford in February 2022. The following year, he returned to Cardiff as assistant manager to Sabri Lamouchi, helping the club retain their Championship status. He was considered a potential candidate for the Bluebirds’ managerial role, having obtained his coaching badges with the Football Association of Wales.
Bamba left Cardiff following Lamouchi’s departure in the summer of 2023 before taking up a position in Turkey.
Leicester City expressed their sadness on social media, saying: “Sol, a popular figure during his brief but memorable stay in Leicester, made 55 appearances for the Foxes, scoring four goals. Our thoughts are with Sol’s friends and family at this sad time.”
Dunfermline, Middlesbrough, and Hibernian also expressed their shock and sadness at Bamba’s passing, extending condolences to all who knew him.
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