FORMER Premier League footballer Sol Bamba passed away on Saturday following a battle with cancer.
The ex-Cardiff City and Leeds star was just 39 and his death has left the football world in mourning.
Bamba also played for Middlesbrough and Leicester and as an international for Ivory Coast he made 46 appearances.
But away from football, Bamba had a loving family which included his wife Chloe.
Bamba met his wife Chloe while playing for Leicester between 2011 and 2012.
They soon married and went on to have three kids together called Roonea, Lily and Amy.
Earlier this summer, Bamba posted a tribute to his wife on Instagram.
He wrote: “Happy birthday my love. Last couple years haven’t be easy but having you by my side made it so much easier I love you. Enjoy your day, you deserve it.”
Following Bamba’s death, Chloe released a statement about her husband’s fight with cancer.
“For the last few years I have watched Sol fight his cancer head on with an astounding mental and physical strength and stoicism,” her statement read.
“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.”
