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IN MEMORIES OF LEICESTER CITY CHAIRMAN VICHAI SRIVADDHANAPRABHA
The Foxes chairman died in a helicopter crash on Saturday following his side's match with West Ham, but his impact will be felt for years
It is a tragedy that will go down in footballing infamy. The darkest day in Leicester City’s history arrived just two and a half years after the club’s greatest hour.
Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, the much-loved owner of the Foxes, ties together both of these moments.
On May 2, 2016, the man affectionately known as just Vichai celebrated football’s most heart-warming fairy tale as Leicester were miraculously crowned Premier League champions.
But on October 27, 2018, Vichai’s fairy tale would descend into a nightmare. On Saturday evening – following the 1-1 draw with West Ham - the helicopter that collects Vichai after every home match at the King Power Stadium tragically crashed just seconds after take-off.
All five people on board died, including the 60-year-old Vichai. It is a disaster that has rocked football to its very core.
Even before the terrible news had been confirmed, a vigil began outside the ground. Thousands of fans left flowers, and also, according to the BBC, a statue of Ganesha. Ganesha is one of the most important figures in the Hindu religion, known as a "remover of obstacles".
Srivaddhanaprabha certainly removed obstacles during his lifetime. He treated fans with affection and helped all Foxes live the unthinkable in 2015-16. They began that season 5000-1 outsiders with the bookmarkers, but ended the campaign as the best team in the land.
The team coached by Claudio Ranieri - and led by the previously unheralded Jamie Vardy, N’Golo Kante and Riyad Mahrez - captured the hearts of all football fans across the globe.
But it was Srivaddhanaprabha’s affection for the club - and the club’s affection for him - which ran even deeper. He was an extremely generous man, once laying on free beer, donuts and hot dogs on his own birthday so supporters could celebrate with him.
He also subsidised away travel for fans, capped at £10 per supporter. Two female Foxes interviewed by Sky News after the accident claimed Srivaddhanaprabha had even offered to buy breakfast for the travelling Leicester supporters ahead of next week’s game against Cardiff.
He was similarly generous with the squad; they were each gifted a BMW sports car for winning the title, worth £100,000 each.
He was the fifth-richest person in Thailand at the time of his death, estimated to be worth around £3.8 billion ($4.9bn) by Forbes.
A devout Buddhist, he had Thai monks bless the pitch and gave players amulets before their title success. He loved polo, and was regularly pictured with royal families from across the globe. He also owned Belgian football club OH Leuven.
Srivaddhanaprabha was born Vichai Raksriaksorn, but was bestowed a new surname in 2012 by King Bhumibol, the previous Thai monarch. Srivaddhanaprabha means “light of progressive glory”, and recognised his many contributions towards social responsibility in his homeland.
He bought Leicester City in 2010 for a fee of £39m while they were still in the Championship, naming his son Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha as his vice-chairman. He pumped millions of his own cash into the club and they were promoted to the Premier League in 2014. After narrowly avoiding relegation in their first season back in the big time, Vichai’s team achieved the seemingly impossible a year later.
Adored throughout the city, in 2014 Srivaddhanaprabha was awarded an honorary degree by the University of Leicester, which recognised his achievements in business in Thailand and his contribution to local sport. A man of few words, Srivaddhanaprabha gave a short speech on stage, addressing the professors and students present.
He said: "It is my great honour, having the chance to stand on this stage today.
“I am so proud to be a part of Leicester City, and I am more proud to be a part of the University of Leicester. I promised to do my best for our Leicester board, to the university, and the football club."
He did not succeed in just doing his best. In leading underdogs Leicester to Premier League glory, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha became immortal. His legacy will live on forever.
Led by the club’s leadership trio, Wes Morgan, Andy King and Kasper Schmeichel, City players expressed their condolences for the family of a “truly great man” who helped them achieve their dreams, many signing off with #TheBoss.
Here is what goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel said:
“Dear Mr Chairman, I cannot believe this is happening. I am so totally devastated and heartbroken. I just cannot believe what I saw last night. It just doesn’t seem real.
“It is difficult to put into words how much you have meant to this football club and to the city of Leicester. We all know about the investment in the football club you and your family have made. But this is about so much more. You cared so deeply for not just the club but for the entire community. Your endless contribution to Leicester’s hospitals and charities will never be forgotten. You went above and beyond in every aspect.
“Never have I ever come across a man like you. So hard working, so dedicated, so passionate, so kind and so generous in the extreme. You had time for everyone. You touched everyone. It didn’t matter who it was, you had time for them. I always admired you as a leader, as a father and as a man.
“You changed football. Forever! You gave hope to everyone that the impossible was possible, not just to our fans, but to fans all over the world in any sport! Not many people have done that
“When you signed me back in 2011 you said to me we would be in the Champions League within six years and we would do great things. You inspired me and I believed in you. You made me feel like nothing was impossible. Without and your family, all this, everything we did together, everything we achieved would never have happened. You gave me experiences that only happen in fantasy.
“You literally made my dreams come true.
“But what I am most proud of is to have been part of your vision. The environment you created. This club, this city is a family. And that is all because of you. For this I am eternally grateful to have known you and grown close to you and your amazing family and for all the private moments and joint experiences I had with you on a personal level.
"It breaks my heart to know I will never see you in the dressing room when I come in early from my warm-up and have a chat about everything and nothing. That you won’t be there having fun and laughing with the boys and seeing your infectious smile and enthusiasm that rubbed off on everyone you came into contact with.
“We now have a responsibility as a club, as players and fans to honour you. From knowing you we do this by being the family you created. By sticking together and supporting those closest to you through this horrendous time.
“You had a vision for this club, you wanted the best for us. There was absolutely nothing you wouldn’t do for us. You were so passionate. We must honour your legacy by delivering for you on the pitch like you also wanted and continue being the close-knit family club that you built.
“You will never know how much you meant to me and my family.
“I am truly honoured and privileged to have been a small part of your life.”
the club, and the fans."
The Beautiful Game ⚽ lost one of its Greats 😔
EPL MATCHDAY 11 FIXTURES
Saturday 3/11/18
Bournemouth - Man United 1:30pm
Everton - Brighton 4:00pm
Newcastle - Watford 4:00pm
West Ham - Burnley 4:00pm
Cardiff City - Leicester 4:00pm
Arsenal - Liverpool 6:30pm
Wolves - Tottenham 8:45pm
Sunday 4/11/18
Man City - Southampton 4:00pm
Chelsea - Crystal Palace 5:00pm
Huddersfield Town - Fulham 9:00pm
Post By: Wisdom Joseph
Facebook: Wiz Flames
Instagram: Wizflames
The Foxes chairman died in a helicopter crash on Saturday following his side's match with West Ham, but his impact will be felt for years
It is a tragedy that will go down in footballing infamy. The darkest day in Leicester City’s history arrived just two and a half years after the club’s greatest hour.
Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, the much-loved owner of the Foxes, ties together both of these moments.
On May 2, 2016, the man affectionately known as just Vichai celebrated football’s most heart-warming fairy tale as Leicester were miraculously crowned Premier League champions.
But on October 27, 2018, Vichai’s fairy tale would descend into a nightmare. On Saturday evening – following the 1-1 draw with West Ham - the helicopter that collects Vichai after every home match at the King Power Stadium tragically crashed just seconds after take-off.
All five people on board died, including the 60-year-old Vichai. It is a disaster that has rocked football to its very core.
Even before the terrible news had been confirmed, a vigil began outside the ground. Thousands of fans left flowers, and also, according to the BBC, a statue of Ganesha. Ganesha is one of the most important figures in the Hindu religion, known as a "remover of obstacles".
Srivaddhanaprabha certainly removed obstacles during his lifetime. He treated fans with affection and helped all Foxes live the unthinkable in 2015-16. They began that season 5000-1 outsiders with the bookmarkers, but ended the campaign as the best team in the land.
The team coached by Claudio Ranieri - and led by the previously unheralded Jamie Vardy, N’Golo Kante and Riyad Mahrez - captured the hearts of all football fans across the globe.
But it was Srivaddhanaprabha’s affection for the club - and the club’s affection for him - which ran even deeper. He was an extremely generous man, once laying on free beer, donuts and hot dogs on his own birthday so supporters could celebrate with him.
He also subsidised away travel for fans, capped at £10 per supporter. Two female Foxes interviewed by Sky News after the accident claimed Srivaddhanaprabha had even offered to buy breakfast for the travelling Leicester supporters ahead of next week’s game against Cardiff.
He was similarly generous with the squad; they were each gifted a BMW sports car for winning the title, worth £100,000 each.
He was the fifth-richest person in Thailand at the time of his death, estimated to be worth around £3.8 billion ($4.9bn) by Forbes.
A devout Buddhist, he had Thai monks bless the pitch and gave players amulets before their title success. He loved polo, and was regularly pictured with royal families from across the globe. He also owned Belgian football club OH Leuven.
Srivaddhanaprabha was born Vichai Raksriaksorn, but was bestowed a new surname in 2012 by King Bhumibol, the previous Thai monarch. Srivaddhanaprabha means “light of progressive glory”, and recognised his many contributions towards social responsibility in his homeland.
He bought Leicester City in 2010 for a fee of £39m while they were still in the Championship, naming his son Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha as his vice-chairman. He pumped millions of his own cash into the club and they were promoted to the Premier League in 2014. After narrowly avoiding relegation in their first season back in the big time, Vichai’s team achieved the seemingly impossible a year later.
Adored throughout the city, in 2014 Srivaddhanaprabha was awarded an honorary degree by the University of Leicester, which recognised his achievements in business in Thailand and his contribution to local sport. A man of few words, Srivaddhanaprabha gave a short speech on stage, addressing the professors and students present.
He said: "It is my great honour, having the chance to stand on this stage today.
“I am so proud to be a part of Leicester City, and I am more proud to be a part of the University of Leicester. I promised to do my best for our Leicester board, to the university, and the football club."
He did not succeed in just doing his best. In leading underdogs Leicester to Premier League glory, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha became immortal. His legacy will live on forever.
Led by the club’s leadership trio, Wes Morgan, Andy King and Kasper Schmeichel, City players expressed their condolences for the family of a “truly great man” who helped them achieve their dreams, many signing off with #TheBoss.
Here is what goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel said:
“Dear Mr Chairman, I cannot believe this is happening. I am so totally devastated and heartbroken. I just cannot believe what I saw last night. It just doesn’t seem real.
“It is difficult to put into words how much you have meant to this football club and to the city of Leicester. We all know about the investment in the football club you and your family have made. But this is about so much more. You cared so deeply for not just the club but for the entire community. Your endless contribution to Leicester’s hospitals and charities will never be forgotten. You went above and beyond in every aspect.
“Never have I ever come across a man like you. So hard working, so dedicated, so passionate, so kind and so generous in the extreme. You had time for everyone. You touched everyone. It didn’t matter who it was, you had time for them. I always admired you as a leader, as a father and as a man.
“You changed football. Forever! You gave hope to everyone that the impossible was possible, not just to our fans, but to fans all over the world in any sport! Not many people have done that
“When you signed me back in 2011 you said to me we would be in the Champions League within six years and we would do great things. You inspired me and I believed in you. You made me feel like nothing was impossible. Without and your family, all this, everything we did together, everything we achieved would never have happened. You gave me experiences that only happen in fantasy.
“You literally made my dreams come true.
“But what I am most proud of is to have been part of your vision. The environment you created. This club, this city is a family. And that is all because of you. For this I am eternally grateful to have known you and grown close to you and your amazing family and for all the private moments and joint experiences I had with you on a personal level.
"It breaks my heart to know I will never see you in the dressing room when I come in early from my warm-up and have a chat about everything and nothing. That you won’t be there having fun and laughing with the boys and seeing your infectious smile and enthusiasm that rubbed off on everyone you came into contact with.
“We now have a responsibility as a club, as players and fans to honour you. From knowing you we do this by being the family you created. By sticking together and supporting those closest to you through this horrendous time.
“You had a vision for this club, you wanted the best for us. There was absolutely nothing you wouldn’t do for us. You were so passionate. We must honour your legacy by delivering for you on the pitch like you also wanted and continue being the close-knit family club that you built.
“You will never know how much you meant to me and my family.
“I am truly honoured and privileged to have been a small part of your life.”
the club, and the fans."
The Beautiful Game ⚽ lost one of its Greats 😔
EPL MATCHDAY 11 FIXTURES
Saturday 3/11/18
Bournemouth - Man United 1:30pm
Everton - Brighton 4:00pm
Newcastle - Watford 4:00pm
West Ham - Burnley 4:00pm
Cardiff City - Leicester 4:00pm
Arsenal - Liverpool 6:30pm
Wolves - Tottenham 8:45pm
Sunday 4/11/18
Man City - Southampton 4:00pm
Chelsea - Crystal Palace 5:00pm
Huddersfield Town - Fulham 9:00pm
Post By: Wisdom Joseph
Facebook: Wiz Flames
Instagram: Wizflames
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