King Power completes Leuven deal
King Power International, part of the King Power Group, has completed the takeover of Belgium club OH Leuven, the company said yesterday.
King Power Group CEO Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha presided over the conclusion of the 92 percent acquisition of the Proximus League (second division) side earlier this month, the firm said in a statement.
Aiyawatt is now a member of the club’s board of directors.
OH Leuven join English Premier League club Leicester City — where Aiyawatt is vice chairman — among King Power’s sporting portfolio.
King Power Group boss Vichai, Aiyawatt’s father, took over Leicester City in 2010.
Aiyawatt said: “This is an exciting development for the King Power Group and an opportunity for us to work with an aspirational club to realise its significant potential.
“Through sustainable investment in both personnel and facilities, engagement with supporters and mobilising the club within its community, it is our long-term objective to re-establish OH Leuven as a competitive force in Belgium’s top flight.
“We are very much looking forward to working with OHL’s existing management and staff, whose knowledge and expertise of their club and their community will be vital to the implementation of a successful, long-term development plan.”
OH Leuven retained their status in the Proximus League at the end of the 2016/17 season.
Prior to last term, OHL spent four of the previous five seasons competing in Belgium’s top-flight, the Jupiler Pro League, which they had reached in just nine years since the club was established in 2002 in Belgium’s third division.
Meanwhile, Nantes closed in on former Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri on Monday after agreeing a two-year contract, but are awaiting league approval because of his age, a club source said.
The LFP does not allow coaches aged over 65 to join French clubs. Ranieri is 65 and the Ligue 1 outfit have requested a waiver from the LFP.
Ranieri was sacked by Leicester in February, just nine months after leading the English side to a stunning Premier League triumph.
It was the first league title of the Italian’s career, although he has won major cup trophies in both Spain and his home country.