Leicester City are in mourning, with the tragic death of owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha shaking the club to its very core. He was the man who achieved the impossible, with the club claiming the 2015/16 Premier League title despite being 5000/1 outsiders at the start of the season. It is perhaps the most remarkable achievement in modern football.
Not only did he lead them to the promised land from the doldrums of English football, he also became heavily involved in the local community. Despite being a very private individual, he regularly contributed to charitable causes in the city. In an age when football club owners come under intense criticism, he was as an example of how things should be done.
Today Leicester City return to the site of the tragic accident which claimed the lives of Srivaddhanaprabha and four others, taking on Burnley in the Premier League. As you can imagine, there were very emotional scenes amongst fans and players alike.
Leicester City fans continue to pay their respects to Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha ahead of their game with Burnley at the King Power Stadium this afternoon.
Follow: https://t.co/RfRM7midgV pic.twitter.com/Z8GqoG7KUh— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 10, 2018
The '5,000/1 walk' from the city centre to the King Power Stadium was an opportunity for the supporters to show their respect for their owner, and they were joined by some members of the playing squad.
Members of the Leicester City squad leading the walk. #WalkForVichai pic.twitter.com/unDXg5JTA1
— BBC East Midlands (@bbcemt) November 10, 2018
Incredible scenes as the 5000-1 walk comes through campus. So moving to see so many come together @LCFC @dmuleicester pic.twitter.com/OidwnOMCx4
— Mel Fowler (@DMUMCDIRECTOR) November 10, 2018
Other members of the squad laid jerseys on a pitch side memorial, with Demarai Gray penning a heartfelt message on the back of his strip.
— Leicester City (@LCFC) November 10, 2018
The players also wore t-shirts during the warmup with featured the owner's image and read 'the boss', the nickname the Leicester players had given to the Thai businessman.
The Foxes have begun warming up for #LeiBur, with the players wearing special tribute t-shirts in honour of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha. pic.twitter.com/XKGsoJS7Fk
— Leicester City (@LCFC) November 10, 2018
A minute's silence before kick-off was impeccably observed was by all inside the ground, with all the members of Leicester's playing squad and club staff draped around the centre circle.
Forever and always. pic.twitter.com/g4krExnbSr
— Leicester City (@LCFC) November 10, 2018
— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 10, 2018
Once the game began, the fans were quick to acknowledge other key members of their memorable rise to the summit of English football. Nigel Pearson and Claudio Ranieri were both in attendance, and their names soon rang out throughout the stadium.
#lcfc fans singing Claudio Ranieri's name, standing up, turning towards directors' box where he is seated and applauding him. Now saluting Nigel Pearson, also here.
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) November 10, 2018
The tragedy of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha's death is sure to be felt by Leicester City for a long time, but the unity displayed by the club and its fans is sure to go a long way to healing those wounds.
