Sports

Leicester City fans and players pay tribute to the boss Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha ahead of Cardiff City match

261

Leicester City are back in Premier League action against Cardiff City this afternoon (Picture: Getty)

Leicester City fans, players and staff paid emotional tributes to Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha ahead of Saturdays Premier League match against Cardiff City.

The Foxes return to action just a week after the clubs owner died, along with with two of his staff members, Nusara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare and pilot Eric Swaffer and his partner Izabela Roza Lechowicz., in a tragic helicopter crash outside the clubs King Power stadium.

Mr Srivaddhanaprabha helped transform the Foxes from a team struggling in the lower reaches of English football to Premier League champions in 2016,

He endeared himself to the people of Leicester still further by donating £2million to a local hospitals charity. The money is being spent on childrens care and will be used to create a new paediatric intensive care unit.

CARDIFF, WALES - NOVEMBER 03: Leicester City fans with special tribute t-shirts in honour of the Clubs late chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha ahead of the Premier League match between Cardiff City and Leicester City at Cardiff City Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Cardiff, United Kingdom. (Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City via Getty Images ) — Leicester City fans wore specialtribute t-shirts in honour of the Clubs late chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha ahead of the Premier League match between Cardiff City and Leicester City (Picture: Getty)

REFILE - CLARIFYING INFORMATION A monk attends a procession with royal soldiers at the temple where the funeral of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, late chairman of Leicester City Football Club will take place, in Bangkok, Thailand November 3, 2018. REUTERS/Jorge Silva — A monk attends a procession with royal soldiers at the temple where the funeral of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, late chairman of Leicester City Football Club will take place (Picture: Reuters)

Mr Srivaddhanaprabhas funeral, which will last for seven days in keeping with Thai tradition, began earlier on Saturday in Bangok.

Advertisement Advertisement

The Leicester City players are due to fly out to Thailand for the funeral after their game against Cardiff.

Ahead of Saturdays match, manager Calude Puel said: Vichai made Leicester City into a family and made it dream. He invested in the club, in the city and invested in the people.

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

LEICESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 21: Chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha of Leicester City applauds the fans during a lap of the pitch after the Premier League match between Leicester City and Bournemouth at King Power Stadium on May 21 , 2017 in Leicester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images) — Claude Puel paid an emotional tribute to Foxes owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha (Picture: Getty Images)

He truly was loved by everyone inside and outside the club. Personally it was a privilege to work with him.

Seeing all the messages and flowers outside of the stadium this week, shows the amount of lives he has touched.

He leaves behind a legacy and a vision which myself as manager will take forward.

I myself I have never been prouder to manage this football club – the togetherness shows what a special a football club it is. Football has not been at the front of our thoughts but we will play to honour him.