Sol Bamba

Souleymane"Sol"Bamba(13 January 1985 – 31 August 2024) was a professionalfootball playerandmanager. As a player, he was acentre-back. Born in France, he played for theIvory Coast national team.
Bamba started his career in his native France withParis Saint-Germain, but failed to establish himself in their first team. He moved to Scotland to joinDunfermline Athleticin 2006, helping the club reach the final of theScottish Cupin his first season. Two years later, he was transferred toHibernian, before joining English sideLeicester Cityin January 2011.
Bamba was transferred to Turkish clubTrabzonsporin 2012 for £750,000 before joiningPalermo. However, he was loaned toLeeds Unitedafter making only one appearance in six months. He eventually joined Leeds on a permanent deal and was appointed club captain, spending a further year with the club before being released and subsequently joiningCardiff City. In his first full season with Cardiff, he helped the side win promotion to thePremier League. He retired in 2022 after one year atMiddlesbrough, and was assistant manager of Cardiff in 2023 and manager ofAdanasporin Turkey at the time of his death.
Born in France to Ivorian parents, Bamba represented Ivory Coast in the2008 Olympic Gamesand earned 46capsfor the senior international team between 2008 and 2014.He was chosen for twoWorld Cupsand threeAfrica Cup of Nations, finishing as a runner-up in the latter in2012.
Bamba began his career withLigue 1clubParis Saint-Germain(PSG) at the age of 11. He had been spotted by club scouts playing street football in Paris but had initially turned the club down as his mother hoped for him to become a doctor.He lived with his parents Sehrata and Bakary Bamba inIvry-sur-Seine,a suburb in central Paris. Since his family could not afford the travel to the club's training facilities outside the city, he moved away from his family home to instead live at the club's academy.Originally playing as adefensive midfielder, he converted to playing as acentral defenderat the age of 15 after impressing there as cover for a teammate who had missed a match due to being stuck in traffic.
Despite impressing for PSG's youth and B teams, he only appeared in two first team games, in his final year at the club at the age of 21.Dissatisfied with his lack of appearances, Bamba asked to be sent out onloanto gain experience but was denied by manager,Vahid Halilhodžić, causing Bamba to reject PSG's offer of a new contract and subsequently leave the club.He later claimed that PSG had damaged potential transfers to other French sides after he left the club, stating "I was disappointed because my club said, 'He's a good player but he's a tough guy – he doesn't listen and he can get the team into trouble."
After an initial trial period, Bamba signed forScottish Premier LeaguesideDunfermline Athleticin July 2006 on a two-year contract.Jim Leishmanlater revealed that he had been intending to bring over another player from France on trial, but this deal fell through and Bamba's agent sent him instead.Leishman was immediately impressed by Bamba's physique and his performance as a trialist during a preseason friendly againstWest Bromwich AlbionstrikerJohn Hartson.He made his competitive debut for the club in Dunfermline's opening league match of the season, a 2–1 defeat toHearts.On 2 December 2006, Bamba wassent offfor the first time in his professional career after pushingSteven Naismithin the chest during a 5–1 defeat toKilmarnock.
In his first season at the club, Bamba was part of the squad that reached the2007 Scottish Cup Finaland played in a 1–0 defeat toCelticin the final.However, the club also sufferedrelegationfrom the Scottish Premier League after a seven-year spell in the division.Bamba signed a two-year contract extension at the start of the2007–08 season.The extension brought an end to rumours of his desire to leave the club in order to play at a higher level and further his chances of breaking into the Ivory Coast national side, having not played in any of Dunfermline's preseason matches.
Bamba was allowed to go on trial withChampionshipsideWatfordin July 2008,appearing in a friendly for them againstBoreham Wood.Soon afterwards, managerJim McIntyresaid he expected a fee to be agreed between Dunfermline and Watford, which would allow Bamba to move to the Championship side.The deal was thought to be almost complete, with Watford sending a doctor to China, where Bamba had travelled with the Ivory Coast Olympic squad, to conduct his medical.However, Watford later pulled out for unknown reasons.A few weeks later, Dunfermline accepted offers of£50,000 for Bamba to move to eitherHibernianandMotherwell, keeping him in the Scottish Premier League.
Bamba chose to move toHibernian, signing a three-year contract with the club.As part of the transfer deal, Dunfermline were due 10% of any future transfer fee.He was sent off on his debut for a second bookable offence againstDundee United, but Bamba subsequently established himself in the Hibs first team. Despite being a natural centre back,managerMixu Paatelainenpraised Bamba's performance as adefensive midfielderduring a 2–0 win over Celtic in December 2008.Paatelainen commented further that he believed Bamba had improved as a player since his spell at Dunfermline, with him no longer going to ground when making a challenge,and described him as possessing "tremendous pace and physical presence."Bamba quickly became a popular player with the Hibs support due to his tough and committed tackling in this new role.
Following Paatelainen's departure, new managerJohn Hughesmoved Bamba back to a central defensive role after the departure ofRob Jonesin the 2009 season.In his second match in this position, Bamba scored his first ever professional goal in a 3–1 win againstFalkirkon 22 August, heading in from aJohn Rankincorner.Coincidentally, he scored his second goal for the club at the same ground against the same team and in another 3–1 win, on 27 March. TheEdinburgh Evening Newsreported on 8 May 2010 that Bamba's performances had "not gone unnoticed", with scouts fromFulhamandRennesdue to watch Bamba.Sven-Göran Eriksson, the newmanagerof the Ivorian national team, was also due to watch Bamba ahead of the2010 World Cup,but was not spotted at the last game played by Hibs in the 2009–10 season.
Bamba angered manager John Hughes when he failed to report for a pre-season tour of the Netherlands in July 2010.Bamba responded angrily to the criticism by claiming that he needed a full three weeks off after returning from the World Cup and had attempted to contact both Hughes and Hibernian's chairman to discuss the situation,but Hughes dropped Bamba from the first team squad when he eventually returned toEdinburgh.Bamba was made to train with the club's youth team on his return but was recalled for the second leg of aUEFA Europa Leaguetie withNK MariboratEaster Road, which Hibs lost 3–2 on the night and 6–2 on aggregate.Following the incident, manager Hughes stated his desire for the situation to be forgotten.During his time with Hibs, he made 80 appearances in all competitions, scoring four times.
With Bamba's contract with Hibs due to expire at the end of the 2010–11 season, the club agreed on a deal with Football League Championship clubLeicester Cityfor his transfer.The deal was confirmed on 2 January 2011, with Bamba joining for an undisclosed fee midway through the season,although sources placed the figure around £250,000 with Hibs also due to receive a percentage of any future transfer fee.He was reunited at Leicester with his former Ivory Coast manager, Sven-Göran Eriksson.He made his debut for the club in a 2–2 draw againstManchester Cityon 9 January in the third round of theFA Cup, scoring with his first touch of the ball.He scored his first two league goals in a 4–2 win overMillwallon 22 January.
After speculation linking him with severalPremier Leaguesides, includingBlackburn Rovers, and French sideMarseilleduring the 2011 summer transfer window,Bamba signed a new contract with Leicester in September 2011.During negotiations, Eriksson compared Bamba's style of play to that of former German international playerFranz Beckenbauer.Blackburn managerSteve Keanhad claimed that the two clubs had made a bid for Bamba and described the move as being "quite close" to being completed.
After Eriksson was replaced byNigel Pearsonas Leicester manager, Bamba played less regularly, particularly after January when the club signedWes Morganand Bamba missed a month to play in theAfrican Cup of Nationswith Ivory Coast.In his 17 months at the club, in total he played 55 games for the club in all competitions, scoring four goals.He later expressed his regret at leaving the club, stating his belief in Pearson's ability to help them win promotion to the Premier League.
Bamba signed for Turkish clubTrabzonsporin June 2012 for a fee of £750,000 after being recommended to the club by his international teammateDidier Zokora.He made his debut for the club on 26 August 2012 playing the full 90 minutes, in a 2–0 victory at home toElazigspor. He only made 18 appearances during his first season at the club,missing a proportion of fixtures in December and January in part because he was away withIvory Coastas they qualified for the2013 African Cup of Nations.
During the 2013–14 season, Bamba made 15 appearances for Trabzonspor in the first half of the season,including being a regular starter in theirEuropa Leaguecampaign. However, on 22 January 2014, he picked up an ankle injury which ruled him out for the majority of the latter part of the season.Bamba was not selected to play for Tranzonspor again after suffering the injury, however he recovered in time to play for Ivory Coast at the2014 FIFA World Cup.
On 26 August 2014, after having been released by Trabzonspor, Bamba agreed a three-year deal with newly promotedSerie AclubPalermo.He made his Palermo debut on 24 September 2014, when he started in a 3–3 draw againstNapoli. However, he made no further appearances for the club.After leaving the club, he expressed his confusion over not playing more for Palermo, commenting "The manager would say 'you're not far off, keep doing what you're doing and you'll be playing.' Well, after one month then two, three and four you start to get worried."
On 23 January 2015, less than six months into his Palermo contract,Bamba was loaned to Championship sideLeeds Unitedfor the remainder of the season, with the possibility of making the transfer permanent at a later date.He made his debut for Leeds in a 2–1West Yorkshire derbywin overHuddersfield Towna week later.Less than a month after joining the side, Bamba was named captain for three games in place ofLiam Cooper.In particular, he served as captain when Leeds beat the then league leaders Middlesbrough 1–0,with Bamba receiving praise for his performance.
Bamba scored his first goal for Leeds against Fulham in a 3–0 away victory in March.After impressing during his time at Leeds, Bamba revealed his desire to join the club on a permanent basis. However, he was also outspoken towards the club's ownerMassimo Cellinoadvising "the person in charge has to do better for the sake of the club and the supporters".In June, Leeds arranged with Bamba's club Palermo to sign him on a permanent basis for an undisclosed fee. The deal was for two years with the option for a third year.New Leeds United head coachUwe Röslerdescribed Bamba as "a match-winner in both boxes", and said that "he brings fantastic qualities with him" and "he can be a leader by himself for the young team he is working with".
In the offseason, Bamba was appointedcaptainof Leeds by head coach Uwe Rösler, taking over from previous captain Liam Cooper.Bamba received theman of the matchaward in a 1–1 draw againstBurnleyin the league on the opening day of the season.Bamba scored a "stunning" long range volley againstWolverhampton Wanderersin a 2–1 win late in the season.At the end of the 2015–16 season, Bamba was again critical of Leeds owner Cellino, calling on him to put 'promises to action'. He revealed the players were unaware if head coachSteve Evanswould be retained for the following 2016–17 season, that the players were unaware of when to return for pre season training and they were told they would find out 'by text' when Cellino had made a decision.
Nonetheless, new head coachGarry Monkannounced Bamba would remain as Leeds captain for the 2016–17 season. On 7 August, Bamba scored an own goal againstQueens Park Rangersin a 3–0 defeat in the opening match of the season and was subsequently dropped from the side, falling behindKyle Bartley, Liam Cooper andPontus Janssonin the pecking order.On 1 September 2016, Bamba, despite being Leeds' captain, was released by the club. His contract was cancelled by mutual consent following the close of the transfer window the previous day.The decision was made after Monk informed him that he would no longer be first choice at the club.
Following his release, Bamba trained withDerby Countywho were managed by his former Leicester boss Nigel Pearson but was not offered a deal.He instead joinedNeil WarnockatCardiff Cityin October 2016, signing a two-year contract.Warnock had long been keen on signing Bamba at previous clubs and had contacted him a month before the move, when both were without a club, and urged him to wait for Warnock's appointment at a new club to join him there.He made his debut for the club in aSevernside derbymatch againstBristol Cityon 14 October, scoring the winning goal as theBluebirdswon 2–1.His performances for Cardiff led manager Warnock to declare that "I wouldn't want anyone else. I don't think there's anyone better."Bamba received his first red card in seven years againstIpswich Townin December, following a scuffle with forward,David McGoldrick. After receiving the red card, Bamba clashed with the fourth official before being physically restrained by Warnock and leaving the pitch. His reaction led to a three match ban.In April, Bamba suffered a groin injury againstBarnsley, which ended his season prematurely.
Bamba returned to the squad at the beginning of the 2017–18 season, helping Cardiff win their three opening games of the season, for the first time in their history.He signed a new three-year contract on 25 August 2017, following it up by heading in the winner against Queens Park Rangers the next day.He went on to help the club win promotion to thePremier Leagueafter finishing the season in second place.He was ever present in the league, appearing in all 46 league matches, and was named in the PFA Championship Team of the Year.
He made his debut in the Premier League in Cardiff's first match of the2018–19 season, a 2–0 defeat toAFC Bournemouth,before scoring his first goal in the top division in a 4–1 defeat toChelseain September 2018.Bamba scored a further 3 goals during the season, including in wins againstBrighton & Hove AlbionandSouthampton.Having missed only one match during the course of the season, he was ruled out for the remainder of the campaign after rupturing his cruciate knee ligaments in a defeat againstWolverhampton Wandererson 5 March 2019.
In July 2019 it was revealed that Bamba would miss the start of the 2019–20 season due to injury.He made his return from injury as a substitute on 2 November in a 4–2 home win overBirmingham Cityand in December he signed a new contract adding one year to his deal.After a cancer diagnosis in January 2021, Bamba returned for the final minute of the season on 8 May in a 1–1 draw at home toRotherham United.In June 2021, Cardiff announced that Bamba was one of five players to be released.He said that he was upset to have learned the news from the club's Twitter post.
Bamba was re-united with former manager Neil Warnock after joining Middlesbrough on a one-year contract on 10 August 2021. He made his first start for the club one day later in a 3–0 defeat away toBlackpoolin theEFL Cup. His first league start came in a 2–0 defeat away toCoventry Cityon 11 September 2021. Bamba won the Sky Bet Man of the Match award for his performance in a 2–0 victory against his former club Cardiff City on 23 October 2021.
On 4 February 2022, Bamba came on as a substitute in the 28th minute of extra time in Middlesbrough's FA Cup tie againstManchester United. Upon the game going to penalties, he took and converted his team's fifth spot kick and ultimately allowed the Boro to progress to the fifth round of the tournament for the first time since 2015.Bamba was released by the club at the end of the2021–22 season.
Although born in France, Bamba represented his parents' nation ofIvory Coast. He featured at the2003 FIFA World Youth Championship,the 2005African Youth Championshipand the2008 Toulon Tournament. Bamba was also part of theIvory Coastsquad that reached thequarter-finalsof the2008 Olympic Games.
Bamba won his firstcapat full international level forIvory Coastin a 2008friendly matchagainstIsrael,and his second cap as a late substitute in a friendly againstTurkey.Bamba made his competitive debut in a 5–0 win againstMalawiin a2010 FIFA World Cup qualifyingmatch, again as a late substitute.This match was played in the aftermath of theHouphouët-Boigny Arena stampede, which killed dozens of Ivorian spectators.Bamba became a regular in the national team as they qualified for the2010 Africa Cup of Nationsand the2010 FIFA World Cup. Bamba scored his first goal for the team in a friendly againstRwanda, as part of the squad's preparation for the 2010 African Cup.He played in all of Ivory Coast's matches at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, but the team suffered a quarter-final defeat toAlgeriaafterextra time.The "uneasy" central defensive partnership betweenKolo Touréand Bamba was cited as one of the reasons for their defeat.The tournament had been played in the shadow of the shooting of theTogoteam bus, however, with death threats also being made against the Ivory Coast team.
Manager Vahid Halilhodžić, who had worked with Bamba at PSG and given him his first appearances at club and international level, was sacked after the tournament.The new Ivorian coach, Sven-Göran Eriksson, selected Bamba in his provisional 30-man squad for the2010 World Cupon 11 May.Bamba scored in Eriksson's first match in charge, a 2–2 draw withParaguay.Bamba was selected in the Ivory Coast's23-man World Cup squad,but was dropped from the starting lineup, withmidfielderDidier Zokora chosen to partner with Kolo Touré in central defence.
Bamba resumed his partnership with Touré at the2012 Africa Cup of Nations. Ivory Coast did not concede a goal during the entire tournament, but lost the final againstZambiaon a penalty shootout.At the2014 FIFA World Cup, Bamba played in central defence alongside Zokora after Touré contracted malaria before the tournament.Bamba was booked in the first match, which Ivory Coast won 2–1 againstJapan.Ivory Coast were eliminated at the group stage after suffering 2–1 defeats against bothColombiaandGreece.
Bamba was called up to the squad for 10 September 2014 fixture againstCameroon, however on 29 December 2014 he was a surprising omission from theIvory Coast squadfor the2015 Africa Cup of Nations.Although he had not retired from international football, he did not appear for the side since 2014.
Bamba was appointed assistant manager of Cardiff City in January 2023. He was appointed by the incomingSabri Lamouchi, who managed him for the Ivory Coast between 2012 and 2014.He left the club in June 2023 asErol Bulutcame in as manager.
He was appointed head coach ofAdanasporin July 2024,who he managed until his death the following month.
Chiefly a centre-back, Bamba played as a defensive midfielder during his emergence at PSG, before becoming a centre-back at age 15.He had sporadically played in the midfield since then, most successfully for Mixu Paatelainen at Hibs.
Jim Leishman, who signed Bamba at Dunfermline Athletic, said of his former charge in 2010: "He's certainly got the physique and he's got the potential to do it. But potential sometimes passes you by, it's all about going out and doing it. He's a great runner, he's as strong as an ox, and he's a strong tackler."Sky Sports'Soriebah Kajue in September 2011 said Bamba "established himself as a rock at the heart of the Foxes defence and has produced a level of consistency this year that has simply been outstanding", paying tribute to "Bamba's burgeoning reputation as a ball-playing defender".
Sven-Göran Eriksson, who managed Bamba at club level for Leicester City and internationally for the Ivory Coast, compared the defender with Franz Beckenbauer.Cardiff manager Neil Warnock regularly told Bamba "Don't be Beckenbauer. Just kick or head it. When it's on, pass it, but if it's not on, just put it up there,"and in December 2017 Warnock branded Bamba and fellow Cardiff centre-halfSean Morrisonas better thanVirgil van Dijk.Bamba's favourite players growing up wereLilian ThuramandGeorge Weah.
Bamba met his English wife Chloe while playing for Leicester.He had three children.One son was born in 2009 from a relationship with a Scottish woman.Bamba wasmultilingual, being able to speakEnglish,French,Italian,Turkishand "theIvorian dialectthat his father used at home".In 2021, he was diagnosed withnon-Hodgkin lymphomaand began undergoing chemotherapy treatment.Four months later in May 2021, he announced that he was cancer-free.However, his wife revealed in a statement made shortly after his death that he had cancer for "the last few years".
On 30 August 2024, Bamba fell ill after theAdanaspormatch againstManisa F.K.and was rushed intoManisa Celal Bayar UniversityHospital. He died the following day, at the age of 39.
Dunfermline Athletic
Cardiff City
Ivory Coast
Individual