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A tribute for Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha - 'The Boss'
with thanks to Lee Clark
'CHAMPIONS OF ENGLAND' - YOU MADE US SING THAT
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Always in our hearts - Respect, love, admiration, gratitude, appreciation, they are but words, but no words can come close to expressing our thanks & love for all you did for our club, city & community.
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"Vichai was the owner everyone wanted, with deep pockets, a big heart, a genuine interest in football and a wealth of wisdom in his decision making" - Henry Winter
"People may not have known Khun Vichai personally, but they felt like they did, and that is the greatest tribute of all" - Rob Tanner
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'You could just tell something was wrong... it was horrifying, horrible to be that helpless'
Kasper Schmeichel describes how he saw Leicester owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha's helicopter crash outside the King Power Stadium
Leicester City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel has described the 'horrifying' moment he witnessed Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha's helicopter crash outside the King Power Stadium. Schmeichel was close to the Thai businessman who'd helped mastermind Leicester's incredible Premier League title triumph back in 2016. But the Danish keeper also witnessed the moment Srivaddhanaprabha's helicopter spiralled to the ground following Leicester's match with West Ham on October 27, killing all five on board.
'Unfortunately, [I remember] everything. Every little detail,' Schmeichel told Sky Sports. 'I had family over from Denmark and I gave them a little look around the stadium and the pitch - the helicopter was always a big attraction. 'We waved him off, waved him goodbye, and we kind of just watched him go up. I'd seen him do it hundreds of times - it was a kind of ritual thing in the end.
'You could just tell something was wrong, because it doesn't normally stand still like that. And what unfolded, unfolded. 'I ran straight out of the tunnel and round to that side of the stadium. People over that side of the stadium hadn't seen what had gone on. 'So I came sprinting out, shouting for people to call the police, one of our security guards saw me, ran after me.
'We managed to get close - our security guard got closer than I did, and he [the security guard] tried to get in and do something. 'But it was very evident from the heat that there was nothing anyone would be able to do. 'And yeah - it was horrifying, horrible, to be that helpless.' Following Vichai's death, hundreds of tales of his incredible generosity emerged and Schmeichel added his own.
'When I broke my foot I had to go down to London and we were playing against Manchester City in our first season back in the Premier League,' he said. 'He came to the hospital, picked me up and flew me back in his helicopter to Leicester to watch the game with him. He didn't have to do that, but he did.' Schmeichel, 32, also credits the Leicester chairman with turning around his own career having immediately had faith in him.
'If you look back at my career, I've had to constantly prove myself and be compared to others,' Schmeichel added. 'Constantly having to prove I am good enough. Then came a guy who said he believed in me from the first minute. 'He said he'd seen me play and just gave me the platform. 'I've been here nearly eight years now and that says a lot about the stability here and the belief he had in me.
Having gone from nine clubs to just being at one club, I was searching for someone who believed in me - he and his family did. 'It's very easy to be caught up in this world of money, fame and fortune. He is a guy who has done all that and doesn't care about it. He only cares about helping people.
'It just speaks to the man that he was. He didn't need to buy a football club. That's never a good business investment.
'He wasn't in it to make money, he wanted to give. He had a passion for the club, for Leicester, all that he did for the city - the donations to the hospital and such. 'It was ownership done properly. If you're a fan of any club, that's the type of owner you want, the type of owner you dream of having.'
Daily Mail
Kasper Schmeichel describes how he saw Leicester owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha's helicopter crash outside the King Power Stadium
Leicester City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel has described the 'horrifying' moment he witnessed Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha's helicopter crash outside the King Power Stadium. Schmeichel was close to the Thai businessman who'd helped mastermind Leicester's incredible Premier League title triumph back in 2016. But the Danish keeper also witnessed the moment Srivaddhanaprabha's helicopter spiralled to the ground following Leicester's match with West Ham on October 27, killing all five on board.
'Unfortunately, [I remember] everything. Every little detail,' Schmeichel told Sky Sports. 'I had family over from Denmark and I gave them a little look around the stadium and the pitch - the helicopter was always a big attraction. 'We waved him off, waved him goodbye, and we kind of just watched him go up. I'd seen him do it hundreds of times - it was a kind of ritual thing in the end.
'You could just tell something was wrong, because it doesn't normally stand still like that. And what unfolded, unfolded. 'I ran straight out of the tunnel and round to that side of the stadium. People over that side of the stadium hadn't seen what had gone on. 'So I came sprinting out, shouting for people to call the police, one of our security guards saw me, ran after me.
'We managed to get close - our security guard got closer than I did, and he [the security guard] tried to get in and do something. 'But it was very evident from the heat that there was nothing anyone would be able to do. 'And yeah - it was horrifying, horrible, to be that helpless.' Following Vichai's death, hundreds of tales of his incredible generosity emerged and Schmeichel added his own.
'When I broke my foot I had to go down to London and we were playing against Manchester City in our first season back in the Premier League,' he said. 'He came to the hospital, picked me up and flew me back in his helicopter to Leicester to watch the game with him. He didn't have to do that, but he did.' Schmeichel, 32, also credits the Leicester chairman with turning around his own career having immediately had faith in him.
'If you look back at my career, I've had to constantly prove myself and be compared to others,' Schmeichel added. 'Constantly having to prove I am good enough. Then came a guy who said he believed in me from the first minute. 'He said he'd seen me play and just gave me the platform. 'I've been here nearly eight years now and that says a lot about the stability here and the belief he had in me.
Having gone from nine clubs to just being at one club, I was searching for someone who believed in me - he and his family did. 'It's very easy to be caught up in this world of money, fame and fortune. He is a guy who has done all that and doesn't care about it. He only cares about helping people.
'It just speaks to the man that he was. He didn't need to buy a football club. That's never a good business investment.
'He wasn't in it to make money, he wanted to give. He had a passion for the club, for Leicester, all that he did for the city - the donations to the hospital and such. 'It was ownership done properly. If you're a fan of any club, that's the type of owner you want, the type of owner you dream of having.'
Daily Mail
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Kevin Tyres On a a hard and difficult day and days to come you will never be forgotten , our hearts will always be with you and your families God be with you
Margaret Ward The boss did everything for Leicester he was a great and wonderful l man it was so sad we will miss him rest in peace Vichaii God bless Janet Miller Thank you so much for what you done for Leicester you are sadly missed Vichai Deborah Hughes Your legacy will continue throughout our club & our city. RIP Mr Chairman😪 Carolyn O'Connor Thank you Vichai,R.I.P we know your up there watching from above our ground watching down. Please bring us a wish a new striker to be up front with our Vards x Linda Crofts God bless you Vichai you did a wonderful job at Leicester RIP Bindi Nagra Billing So missed. xx Jean Rees You were the beating heart behind our club and your smile was the joy of winning a match |
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