Sol Bamba reveals how Leeds United FC boss Garry Monk helped him become a Cardiff City hero
Sol Bamba was left out by Leeds at the start of the season
Sol Bamba was Leeds captain before being told by Monk he could leave
By Chris Wathan
Thursday 9th February 2017
Cardiff City’s Bosman behemoth Sol Bamba has revealed the key role former Swansea City boss Garry Monk played in his transformation into Bluebirds cult hero.
And rather than hit out at his old manager for cutting him loose at Leeds, Bamba has thanked Monk for stopping him going crazy at Elland Road ahead of his return this weekend.
Bamba has established himself as a firm fans’ favourite since arriving out of contract and into a relegation battle at Cardiff City Stadium.
The bruising defender was snapped up by Neil Warnock in one of his first acts as new Cardiff manager back in October, a goalscoring, man-of-the-match debut against Bristol City seeing the Ivorian set the tone for his time in South Wales.
It came just weeks after he was told he wasn’t wanted by Monk, despite having been club captain.
But there is no bitterness from Bamba who reckons the old Swansea centre-back’s honesty about his Liberty Stadium frustrations paved the way for his Cardiff switch.
Monk held talks with Bamba, 31, with the summer transfer window about to close and spelling out that he was not in his plans – encouraging him to leave on a free rather than keep him in reserve.
“We spoke about Swansea and about how it had been for him there,” Bamba told the Yorkshire Evening Post , citing Monk’s two seasons of limited playing time under Michael Laudrup before replacing the Dane in a shock first step into management. “He told me it wouldn’t be good for me, and I know he was right.
“My first reaction was to say ‘Things might change, you could get injuries or players could go out of form’ – but he said ‘But what if it doesn’t change? What if it’s still like this in six months? It’ll catch up with you and you’ll go crazy’.
“In my head I was sure I’d always support the team, always be behind them no matter what, but I guess you don’t know how you’d think if you felt like you were on the outside and never getting back in. In a way he’d seen that and I was still only 31. He did what was best for both of us, and for Leeds. It’s great management when you think about it.
“It happened quickly so I was surprised to be going but I appreciated his honesty at the time and I appreciate it more now.”
Especially seeing as it has led to Bamba becoming one of the most important players at Cardiff under Warnock, his determination and domination of opponents a calling card of the change at the Bluebirds. Before Bamba’s arrival, the thoughts of Cardiff supporters were pre-occupied with worries of relegation; now thoughts of a promotion push to emulate Leeds next season is filling fans’ minds.
Bamba admits he knew Leeds would improve under Monk, even if he did not expect his old teammates to go on the run that has seen them move to two points of third ahead of Saturday’s clash.
But there is no regret, and instead the likeable centre-back is loving life in the middle of a battle at the other end of the table.
“I’d be lying if I told you I thought they’d get promoted this season,” Bamba said. “Even now I think they’ve gone further much faster than any of us expected. But I knew they’d be fine. I’d have backed them for top 10, definitely.
“I loved being at Leeds, honestly loved it, but there was a lot of politics in my time there. I didn’t like the politics. But last summer felt different and looking in from a distance, you can tell that it’s not been a problem this season. It’s all about the football.
“I liked the manager straight away. Day one he said to us ‘I’m going to make you into a team. I’m going to make you organised.’ He just needed to get past a difficult start and wait for everything to sink in. I don’t have a bad work to say about him and if I’d still been there now, it might have gone as he said. I wouldn’t have played as much as I have at Cardiff.
“I’ve loved being in the middle of a relegation fight. I don’t mean it’s what you aim for as a player but like chasing promotion, it’s something to motivate you.
“I think a few of us found it difficult at Leeds last season with nothing much to play for, you feel like you’re just ticking off games.
“But I knew there was a job to be done at Cardiff and we’re all digging in. We definitely need the points as much as Leeds on Saturday.”
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