- News report: Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha confirmed dead
- Stuart James: the quiet man behind a sporting fairytale
- David Conn: Vichai was an owner who cared
- Jacob Steinberg: the man who made dreams come true
On the theme of Vichai’s personal connection to the fans – and to good causes in the city – our sports writer David Conn has been looking at how the Thai magnate stood apart from many foreign owners.
David writes that although Vichai’s regular departure from the King Power by helicopter was “inescapably, and now tragically, emblematic” of overseas ownership, he nevertheless managed to mean something more to supporters of a club founded like so many in Britain during the Victorian era.
Vichai brought success, above all, to Leicester but he also demonstrated awareness of his club’s emotional and civic significance. He was thanked and admired for that and appreciated for making it to matches which, in this modern age, involved flying in and out by helicopter.
Related: Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was an unusual owner – he understood fans | David Conn
The words of the fans who gathered at the stadium on Sunday do most to sum up the grief felt in the city whose mood was transformed by the famous Premier League win in 2016.
Cathy Dunn, 55, told AFP:
He’s put Leicester on the map. He’s made us big, we’re not just a little club anymore.
What a fantastic man! I’ve been a supporter 60 years and personally I think he’s the best ever owner we’ve ever had.
Well you know where we were when he bought the club – we were absolutely nowhere. So I brought down my ‘Champions’ scarf because he made us champions.
Written by Martin Farrer
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2018/oct/28/vichai-srivaddhanaprabha-confirmed-dead-by-leicester-city-updates-and-reaction under the title “Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha confirmed dead – updates and reaction”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
