VETERAN defender Sol Bamba has revealed he could call time on his playing career if Middlesbrough can achieve promotion to the Premier League this season.

The 37-year-old has had a playing career that has spanned across 18 years for nine different clubs in the English, Scottish, French, Italian and Turkish leagues. The central defender has been a prominent figure in the Championship for the majority of his career with Leicester City, Leeds United, Cardiff City and Boro.

Bamba has publicly declared a desire to go into coaching once his playing career has come to an end and has been learning the trade on Teesside coaching the Under-23 players and soaking up advice from his manager Chris Wilder.

He’s earned himself a reputation as a fans favourite on Teesside for his imperious displays, heartfelt performances and determination to stop the opposition at any cost but he remains hopeful that he can help the club to earn a place in the Championship play-offs with four games to go.

A man of Bamba’s age might feel a few aches and pains but the Ivorian knows what it takes to keep himself fit. “I just love to be out there. I work hard behind the scenes” he said.

“The whole team and myself personally because you never know when you’re going to be called upon. That’s the case. I’m 37. I know the game and how it works so I keep myself fit and we train hard to so when I need to play in the game, I do the business.

“I’m the first one to say that I will stop before the football stop me like if I can’t move anymore. I will be the first to put my hands up and say it’s not for me.

“It’s not the case at the minute. I feel good and my body leave me alone. Of course I can’t play every game, I know that. With me wanting to go into coaching as well, the gaffer has been unbelievable with me learning under him and doing a couple of sessions behind the scene when I can and when my body says stop, I will stop.”

His body tells him to keep going but he admits that promotion to the top tier, for the second time in his career, might just be the day he calls time on his outstanding career.

“It would be massive. I may stop on that” Bamba continued.

“I said earlier, my body keeps me going and I feel good but I don’t think I can finish without a high so if we can do it, for the team it would be huge but I think this team deserve it.

“For me personally, it would be massive. I don’t want to go back to what I’ve been through because I move forward but I think personally for me and for my family, it would be huge.”

Three defeats from their last four have put a serious dent in Boro’s hopes of promotions. While a place in the play-offs still somehow remains in their hands, they have a big job on their hands in the remaining four games to climb into the top six.

Defeat to Huddersfield Town saw them drop to ninth in the Championship table. Meanwhile, speculation continues to circle around the future of manager Chris Wilder who has failed to answer questions over a potential switch to Burnley.

Read: Burnley: Mike Jackson discusses managerial situation amid Chris Wilder speculation

But Bamba, a man who’s experienced promotion in the past with Cardiff City says there is one reason why Boro are well equipped to mount their promotion bid.

“I think it’s the dressing room. You can’t be successful if you don’t have a good dressing room and we have got a really good one.

“They want to learn, they are hungry, but at the same time when they don’t perform, they know it and they want to learn from it.

“When things don’t go well, the lads take it on board and move on. It’s a very good atmosphere and it’s a good group so that will take you a long way.”