Sol Bamba, a former Cardiff City and Ivory Coast defender, died at the age of 39.

Sol Bamba, a former defender for Cardiff, Leeds, and Leicester, has died at the age of 39.

Bamba, who appeared 46 times for Ivory Coast and scored one goal, was working for Turkish club Adanaspor when his death was reported on Saturday.

"Our technical director Souleymane Bamba, who fell ill before yesterday's match against Manisa Football Club, was taken to Manisa Celal Bayar University Hospital and sadly lost his battle for life," the Turkish club said in a statement.

"Our condolences go out to his family and our community" .

Bamba concluded his career at Middlesbrough, having previously played for Scottish clubs Dunfermline and Hibernian, Italian side Palermo, and Turkish side Trabzonspor.

He retired in January 2023 and began coaching, first as an assistant manager at Cardiff before becoming technical director at Adanaspor.

Bamba was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2021 but was certified cancer-free after undergoing chemotherapy.

Sol Bamba played for Middlesbrough where he ended his career.

Cardiff City, where Bamba gained promotion to the Premier League in his debut season, described his impact as "immeasurable".

"We learned this evening with great regret that Sol Bamba, a club legend, died. "He was a hero to all of us, a leader in every locker room, and a true gentleman," the club said in a statement.

"This is completely awful news. Sol Bamba went away at the age of 39. "Our heartfelt condolences to the family," the Ivory Coast national football team wrote on Instagram.

"Everyone at Leeds United is thinking of Sol's family and friends during this awful time. Rest in peace, Sol; you will always be in our hearts.

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