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Football

28th Oct 2018

Leicester City players pay tribute to owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha after fatal helicopter crash

Tributes have been pouring in after it was confirmed that Leicester City chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was among those who died in the helicopter crash

Reuben Pinder

Leicester players have been paying tribute to Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha who died tragically in Saturday’s helicopter crash

The club confirmed on Sunday night that Srivaddhanaprabha was among those to have died in the helicopter crash outside the King Power Stadium shortly after Leicester’s draw against West Ham.

Thousands gathered outside the stadium to pay tribute to Srivaddhanaprabha, leaving flowers and candles to offer their respects to the man who oversaw the club’s transformation from Championship strugglers to 2015/16 Premier League winners.

The Foxes squad sent messages of condolence on social media after all five people on board the helicopter were confirmed to have died.

England defender Harry Maguire tweeted: “Words can’t describe how I feel. A truly great, kind, loving man who will be missed so much by everyone.

“I will never forget the Chairman’s support, not only during my time @LCFC but also during the World Cup.”

Andy King, who played for Leicester in League One, the Championship and the Premier League before moving on to Swansea City, wrote: “RIP Boss. You were a great person who cared so much about our club, city and everything which came with it.

“Thank you for enabling us to make our dreams a reality and I hope you were as proud of your club as we were of you. We will miss you.”

https://twitter.com/BenChilwell/status/1056669941271855104

Jamie Vardy took to Instagram to say: “Struggling to find the right words….but to me you are legend, an incredible man who had the biggest heart, the soul of Leicester City Football Club. Thank you for everything you did for me, my family and our club. I will truly miss you…. may you rest in peace.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BpfkIwHlQVZ/?utm_source=ig_twitter_share&igshid=16x2mqxvdu2y0

Wes Morgan, who captained Leicester to Premier League glory in 2015/16, posted this photograph on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/22Demarai/status/1056678431126183937

The squad’s messages of condolence join tributes throughout the football community.

In a club statement, Leicester said: “A book of condolence, which will be shared with the Srivaddhanaprabha family, will be opened at King Power Stadium from 8am on Tuesday 30 October for supporters wishing to pay their respects.”