“Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha” – The Man Who is Loved by Leicester Community

The first time that I have heard of the name “Leicester City” was back in 2016, when my sister said that the English football team, owned by Thai businessman name Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, would soon hold the Premier League trophy. Later, when the whole Leicester City team came to Thailand for a celebration parade, I heard someone said that he was “just” a man, who happened to be the owner at the time the club won the title.

 

To a lot of people who did not know him, he might be just a businessman who bought the team for fame or leisure, but for Leicester community, he was much more than “just” a businessman.

According to Sven-Goran Eriksson, former manager of Leicester City, Mr. Vichai attended every home game during the time he stayed in the position as team manager.

 

Mr. Vichai bought Leicester City FC for a reported £39 million (฿1.66 billion) in 2010, and in just a short period of time, the club is now worth £371 million (฿15.7 billion). The Fox stunned the world by rising from the second division to Premier League and then won the 2015-2016 title, finished 10 points ahead of the second-placed, Arsenal, and only lost three of its 38 matches.

 

Mr. Vichai was also known by a lot of citizen in the city. He donated £2 million (฿84.6 million) to the local hospital, and another million pound to the city’s university medical department and put some money into the fund to rebury King Richard III in Leicester Cathedral, not to mention free tickets to the match on his 60th birthday, free pint of beers and hot dog. He was not “just” a businessman, he was one of the city, a family to Leicester.

 

“The world has lost a great man”, said the Club. “A man of generosity and a man whose life was defined by the love he devoted to his family and those he so successfully led. Leicester City was a family under his leadership”

“very, very generous man”, said Sven-Goran Eriksson, former manager of Leicester City.

 

Leicester City Football Club has published a statement regarding Mr. Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha as follows:

Club Statement: Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha

It is with the deepest regret and a collective broken heart that we confirm out Chairman, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, was among those to have tragically lost their lives on Saturday evening when a helicopter carrying him and four other people crashed outside King Power Stadium. None of the five people on-board survived.

The primary thoughts of everyone at the Club are with the Srivaddhanaprabha family and the families of all those on-board at this time of unspokenable loss.

In Khun Vichai, the world has lost a great man. A man of kindness, of generosity and a man whose life was defined by the love he devoted to his family and those he so successfully led. Leicester City was a family under his leadership. It is as a family that we will grieve his passing and maintain the pursuit of a vision for the Club that is now his legacy.

A book of condolence, which will be shared with the Srivaddhanaprabha family, will be opened at King Power Stadium from 8amon Tuesday 30 October for supporters wishing to pay their respects.

Supporters unable to visit King Power Stadium that wish to leave a message can do so through online book of condolence, which will be made available via lcfc.com in due course.

Both Tuesday’s First Team fixture against Southampton in the EFL Cup and the Development Squad fixture against Feyenoord in the Premier League International Cup have been postponed.

Everyone at the Club has been truly touched by the remarkable response of the football family, whose thoughtful messages of support and solidarity have been deeply appreciated at this difficult time.

 

Mr. Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was not just a businessman. He was “THE MAN” that changed Leicester.