By Gareth James
The manager who took Sol Bamba to Cardiff City has joined the emotional tributes to the former Bluebirds fan favourite, who has died at the age of 39.
Neil Warnock – who took a chance on Bamba when he was without a club and was rewarded when Bamba helped Cardiff win promotion to the Premier League – has spoken of his heartbreak over Bamba’s sudden passing.
The Ivorian, who grew up in Paris, had been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma back in 2020.
It is with the deepest sadness that we have learnt this evening about the passing of Club legend, Sol Bamba.
As a player and coach, Sol's impact on our football club was immeasurable. He was a hero to all of us, a leader in every dressing room and a true gentleman.
Our… pic.twitter.com/f4eOicxMyt
— Cardiff City FC (@CardiffCityFC) August 31, 2024
He recovered after a course of chemotherapy, but fell ill again and died in hospital on Saturday night, his Turkish side Adanaspor, where Bamba was coaching, said in a statement on social media.
Bamba enjoyed a glittering playing career before his retirement in 2022, starring for clubs including Cardiff, Middlesbrough, Leeds and Leicester after coming through the ranks at Paris Saint-Germain.
Warnock managed Bamba during his three-year spell as Cardiff boss between 2016 and 2019, winning promotion in 2018. He later coached the defender at Middlesbrough, too.
A touching tribute from a former Cardiff teammate of Sol Bamba. ❤️ #BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/EqJvHORn51
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) September 1, 2024
Posting an emotional tribute on social media, Warnock said: ‘I can’t believe I won’t see that beaming smile again.
“I’m so happy that Sol was part of my life and we had such brilliant memories together.
‘I’m heartbroken for Chloe and the family and all my thoughts are with them. Sol was a ray of sunshine and I’ll miss him so much.’
Neil Warnock pays an emotional tribute to Sol Bamba following the 39-year-old's passing.#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/ROXdAJqxEA
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) September 1, 2024
Canadian international Junior Hoilett, who played alongside Bamba at Cardiff, led tributes to his former team-mate and said: ‘RIP Big Bro. Love Always.’
Ipswich Town star Sam Morsy followed suit, having played with Bamba at Middlesbrough, and posted: ‘Ahhh man big Sol .. incredible human one of the best I’ve shared a dressing room with, at the start of his coaching career.’
Another of Bamba’s old Cardiff team-mates, Neil Etheridge, said: ‘One of the nicest guys I have met off the field and on it. Always smiling, always so happy, always seeing the brighter side of life.
‘When I joined the club, before he knew me, Sol treated me as a brother. When we got to know each other we became family. Rest in peace Sol.’
https://twitter.com/SkyFootball/status/1830228608071459298
Bamba’s wife Chloe, who is British, wrote on Instagram: “For the last few years I have watched Sol fight his cancer head on with an astounding mental and physical strength and stoicism.
“Unfortunately, it was never a fair fight and just when things were looking up he took a downturn and finally succumbed on 31st August.
“These years have been indescribably difficult but we still managed to find joy and laughter in it. I’ve experienced my worst days but also some of my best. Sol accepted his fate as God’s will and left this earth knowing, without a shadow of a doubt, that he was loved wholeheartedly. I made sure of that.
“It was an honour to have loved and been loved by Sol. I learnt so much from him. He is my hero. My heart is breaking. What a gift, what a gift, what a gift to have been loved by him.”
❤️ Tribute to Sol Bamba
He only spent a year at #Boro and only played 29 games for the club but he was an instant hero who'll be remembered with such love and fondness. The power of being a good person and having such a kind hearthttps://t.co/vNMRvZx91V
— Dominic Shaw (@DomShawEcho) September 1, 2024
Cardiff posted on X: “It is with the deepest sadness that we have learnt this evening about the passing of club legend, Sol Bamba.
“As a player and coach, Sol’s impact on our football club was immeasurable. He was a hero to all of us, a leader in every dressing room and a true gentleman.
“Our thoughts are with his friends, family and everyone lucky enough to know and love Sol.”
Bamba represented the Ivory Coast at the 2008 Olympics and played in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations. He made his final international appearance two years later.
Sol Bamba has sadly died at the age of 39. pic.twitter.com/KazX8eM2rb
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) August 31, 2024
