Sun Bamba.
Photo: Michael Zemanek/Shutterstock / TT NEWS AGENCY
Sven-Göran Eriksson.
Photo: JONAS EKSTRÖMER / TT NEWS AGENCY
Souleymane “Sol” Bamba was born in France but represented Ivory Coast on the international stage.
During his time as an active player, he played for Leeds United, where he was team captain, and Leicester City, where he had Sven-Göran Eriksson as coach, before hanging up his football boots in 2022.
The following year, he began the next chapter as a football coach – but it was short-lived.
On Saturday, Turkish Adanspor, where Bamba was technical director, announced that he had fallen ill and been taken to hospital.
Later in the evening the news came that Bamba had died, aged 39.
Last post: Tribute to Svennis
Cardiff City were promoted to the Premier League in Bamba’s first season with the club.
In 2021, he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, but returned to play with the club after being declared cancer-free following chemotherapy treatment.
Cardiff describe Bamba as a “club legend”.
“He was a hero to us all, a leader in every dressing room and a true gentleman. Our thoughts are with his friends, family, and everyone who was lucky enough to get to know Sol,” they write in a post on X.
Bamba’s own last post on the platform was a tribute to Sven-Göran Eriksson.
“I am devastated to hear that Sven has passed away. He was not only an outstanding person but also the best coach I ever had. He has inspired my journey both as a player and coach.”
