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Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha's helicopter crashed down near his famous King Power Stadium one hour after the game against West Ham United on Saturday night. Last night Leicester City confirmed that the owner of the English outfit along with another four on board have passed away in this horrific manner.
Late Vichai not only contributed towards the club's success but also built a strong bond with the whole city by contributing money to numerous charities in the last eight years.
He built a fantastic relationship with the players, staffs and fans during his stint as the owner of the club. There is no doubt that everybody associated with this football club will miss the presence of this humble man.
The 60-year-old always likes to work behind the scenes by staying out of the limelight because he never chose to speak out publicly. His actions speak for the tremendous hard work he has put in to give ultimate joy to the fans of this football club and made the neutrals believe in miracles.
He leaves back his legacy to his son and Leicester City's Vice-chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, Susa Whelan, the chief executive and John Rudkin, the director of football. These are some of the great gestures made by the Leicester City owner.
#5 Planned stadium expansion and training ground worth more than 100 million:
Vice chairman of the Leicester City, Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha insisted about his aspiration to increase the capacity of King Power Stadium, provide a better training facility and the matchday experience for the fans this April as an honour to his father Vichai.
According to the reliable Leicester Mercury journalist Rob Tanner, "The stadium expansion is still in the early stages of planning. I think the training ground has been the priority and there is still some work to be done with that in terms of opposition from some residents to aspects of the plans."
However, the club has only envisaged for the training facility, which is still in the early days. The total accommodation of the King Power Stadium is 32,243. Additionally, the club has bought a land beside the B stand as they plan to increase the number of seats in the stadium.
The estimated cost to increase the facilities is expected to be more than 100 million.
Like Vichai, Aiyawatt will try to possess a supreme vision forward to take this club to another level. The ambition to increase the capacity and the training base shows they strive hard for the club's success.
#4 Resolving Jamie Vardy's contract situation:
Jamie Vardy was attracting interest from Arsene Wenger's Arsenal during the summer of 2016. The striker had gone on to score 24 goals during that Premier League campaign to lead Leicester City to the Premier League title.
According to the Guardian, the Emirates side took advantage of Vardy's contract rejection at King Power and triggered the release clause of the England international which was worth 22 million.
Vichai had asked Vardy to meet him in a private function room inside the stadium. The Thailand international explained the financial status of Leicester City and the importance of the striker in the squad. The 31-year-old and his agent gently agreed to stay at Leicester beyond the upcoming season.
Following the meeting, the English international was quick to commit to the Foxes by extending his contract until 2019. Vichai was also present during Vardy's wedding day in 2016. The 60-year-old had a close relationship with all the players which is the driving force of this football club.
#3 Handed over 60 season tickets and free beer and doughnut to fans on his birthday:
When Leicester City played Southampton on 3rd April 2016, season ticket holders were told to collect the complimentary free beers/ water bottles and doughnuts from points outside the stadium to celebrate the birthday of the owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.
During the Championship triumph in May 2014, every Leicester City supporter in the King Power were offered a Singha beer.
Susan Whelan, the chief executive said that Vichai as traveled to the UK from Thailand just to be part of this special journey. The Leicester City staff added that: "There are many special bonds that exist at our football club - between the players, the staff, the owners and the fans - and that's been vital to the incredible season we've had. Everywhere we go, people are talking about it.
"We're entering the run-in to the end of the season now, so that bond is going to be as important as it's ever been in the next games, and the support of our fans is an essential part of the final push." added Whelan.
Besides, he handed over 60 season tickets on his 60th birthday to the local people who were not able to afford it. The generosity he shows towards the supporters is really admirable.
#2 BMW cars for every Leicester player upon the title win:
Leicester City overcame 5000/1 odds to emerge as surprise Premier League winners and finished 10 points above the second-placed Arsenal during the 2015/16 campaign. Rightfully, the club bagged ludicrous 93 million prize money from the League and the TV deal.
Vichai was not shy at investing some of that money to keep his players motivated. Henceforth, he decided to buy BMW i8 worth 105,000 each which estimates to nearly 2 million to 19 players who played a crucial hand in the title success.
N'Golo Kante, Andrej Kramaric, Yohan Benalouane and Joe Dodoo are the four players to have missed out on the BMWs. The French International had already moved to Chelsea when the players were handed out the cars, Kramaric, Benalouane and Dodoo got transferred to Hoffenheim, Fiorentina and Rangers respectively.
Some owners are not even bothered about spending on the player's recruitment, but Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha has done something remarkable to reward his players.
#1 Saved Leicester City from debt by paying around 100 million, bought back the stadium and enjoyed success:
The foxes were in severe debt and in danger of losing their home stadium in 2010. Club was getting battered in the second division, and the fans were riling up in numbers in want of an ownership change.
Chairman of King Power, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha showed interest and bought the club for a fee of 34 million. They bought the stadium back and said it would be named King Power Stadium as long as they take charge of this club. Eight years on, Leicester City Football Club is valued at 350 million.
The club started to get stabilized day by day. Four years into the ownership, the Foxes lifted the Championship title in 2014 which paved way for Premier League status. Upon moving to the Premier League, he assured that the Foxes would be challenging to finish in a top 5 spot within three years. Those claims were laughed off by the majority of football watchers.
Nigel Pearson's sack meant the club had appointed the Italian Claudio Ranieri in 2015. The former Chelsea manager went on to win the title during his debut season with the foxes. This will be fondly remembered by the Leicester City faithful. The following season saw Craig Shakespeare take the club to the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in their history.
Vichai is seen as a king of Leicester City for his contribution on and off the field. The cit is shaken by this accident, and the whole football fraternity is pouring in messages and tributes.
