Ex- Serie A footballer involved in armed robberies found dead in sleep

Credit: Le Perisien

Ex- Serie A footballer involved in armed robberies found dead in sleep

Kolawole Babatunde 13:16 - 19.03.2025

Bruce Dombolo, a former French footballer who turned to crime after his career collapsed has passed away.

According to local reports, Dombolo, who was 39 years old, died in his sleep, with his agent confirming the news to Le Parisien, stating that he passed away last weekend.

Born in Marseille, Dombolo was a promising midfielder who came through Auxerre’s academy before earning a move to Serie A side Ancona. 

He later played for Pro Vasto in Italy and Marignane in France. However, his football career came to a sudden halt at the age of 20 when he was sentenced to two years in prison for armed robbery. 

In 2010, he was jailed again, this time for eight years, after being involved in a jewellery heist.

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According to National World, Dombolo once reflected on his life, saying:

“Some people fall into robbery by choice, and unfortunately, I was one of them. I didn’t think, I just followed friends who were making bad decisions. That’s how I ended up joining a gang of armed robbers.”

Bruce Dombolo. Credit: Le Perisien

“I was a young player from Vitrolles, Marseille, with a future in football, but I made the wrong choices. I went from an academy to prison, from Serie A stadiums to committing robberies. My story proves that no matter where you come from, you can turn your life around.”

After serving his sentence, Dombolo stepped into the world of French cinema, securing roles in film and television. According to IMDb, he had 10 acting credits, beginning with L’enfant de Personne (2021). He later appeared in Sage-homme (2023) and Neuilly-Poissy (2024), among other projects.

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