A book of condolences has been open in memory of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.
Gab Marcotti discusses Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha’s legacy as Leicester City chairman, from his community impact to the Foxes’ Premier League title.
Leicester City’s first team and academy players joined family members of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha to honour the club chairman who lost his life in a helicopter accident.
Ipswich Town manager Paul Lambert went to pay his respects to Leicester City’s owner at the King Power Stadium.
Leicester City manager Claude Puel said the club has been left “numb” by the tragic death of chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.
Srivaddhanaprabha was one of five passengers who lost their lives after his helicopter crashed outside Leicester’s stadium following the 1-1 draw with West Ham United on Saturday.
Speaking publicly for the first time since the accident, Puel said the past week has been the hardest of his career and that the result of Leicester’s Premier League fixture against Cardiff on Saturday is “not important.”
“This has been without doubt one the hardest weeks in the history of this football club,” Puel said.
“The tragic loss of five lives has left us all numb with sadness and shock. Vichai made Leicester City into what it is. He made it a family, and he made it a dream. He invested in the club, he invested in the city and he invested in the people.
“This week I’ve never been prouder to be the manager of this football club. In such difficult circumstances, the togetherness shown by the whole club, from the staff, players and fans has shown what a special football club this is.
“Playing football has not been at the front of our minds this week. But for this weekend, and all matches thereafter we will play to honour and remember a man who did so much for our club.
“The result is not important, but our desire, our actions to give our best on the pitch to honour our chairman, is the most important thing.”
Leicester’s match against Cardiff will be their first since the crash. Their Caraboa Cup match against Southampton, scheduled for Tuesday, was postponed as players and fans paid their respects at the King Power Stadium.
Two members of Vichai’s staff, Nursara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare, also died along with pilot Eric Swaffer and co-pilot Izabela Roza Lechowicz.
A minute’s silence will be held before kickoff in Cardiff and players will wear black armbands as a mark of respect for their former chairman.
Leicester will also travel to the match by coach after deciding it would be insensitive to fly.
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