Sol Bamba

Who is this?

Souleymane "Sol" Bamba (13 January 1985 – 31 August 2024) was a professional football player and manager. As a player, he was a centre-back. Born in France, he played for the Ivory Coast national team. Bamba started his career in his native France with Paris Saint-Germain, but failed to establish himself in their first team. He moved to Scotland to join Dunfermline Athletic in 2006, helping the club reach the final of the Scottish Cup in his first season. Two years later, he was transferred to Hibernian, before joining English side Leicester City in January 2011. Bamba was transferred to Turkish club Trabzonspor in 2012 for £750,000 before joining Palermo. However, he was loaned to Leeds United after 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 joining Cardiff City. In his first full season with Cardiff, he helped the side win promotion to the Premier League. He retired in 2022 after one year at Middlesbrough, and was assistant manager of Cardiff in 2023 and manager of Adanaspor in Turkey at the time of his death. Born in France to Ivorian parents, Bamba represented Ivory Coast in the 2008 Olympic Games and earned 46 caps for the senior international team between 2008 and 2014. He was chosen for two World Cups and three Africa Cup of Nations, finishing as a runner-up in the latter in 2012.

Career

1. 1985
   Born
2. 2003
   Joined Côte d'Ivoire national under-20 football team
3. 2004
   Joined Paris Saint-Germain FC
4. 2006
   Joined Atlético Madrid
5. 2008
   Joined Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
6. 2008
   Joined Ivory Coast Olympic football team
7. 2008
   Joined Ivory Coast men's national football team
8. 2011
   Joined Leicester City F.C.
9. 2012
   Joined Trabzonspor
10. 2014
    Joined Palermo F.C.
11. 2015
    Joined Leeds United F.C.
12. 2024
    Passed away

Trivia

• •Place of birth: Ivry-sur-Seine
• •Citizenship: France, Ivory Coast
• •Known as: association football player, association football coach
• •Sport: association football