Players weep for the victims killed in horror helicopter crash
minute I’m feeling pretty numb. The football world is numb, not just Leicester City. I was fortunate to meet Vichai a few times as we’ve played at the stadium.
“He was a lovely guy. It’s just like your worst nightmare – it’s like losing a member of your family.”
Gary Lineker said Vichai was “a quiet, unassuming man who will always be remembered with great fondness and respect”.
Talking of the 2016 season, when Leicester won the Premier League, he added: “He also helped to bring the most magical, miraculous title win in the history of football.”
Former Leicester City player and club ambassador Alan Birchenall said: “The tributes will be round the stadium by the end of the week.
“This is how we felt about our chairman. When he came here eight years ago we had only just come out of administration.
“These men turn up from Thailand and I thought it was going to HEROES Eric in selfie with the Dalai Lama, and co-pilot and lover Izabela
be a five-minute wonder, but how wrong was I. It’s just incredible what they’ve done.
“Today is a lovely, beautiful, sunny day, but it’s probably the worst day in our history. But we’ll carry on, we’ll go on.” Birchenall, 73, also paid tribute to pilots Eric and Izabela and revealed they were close to the staff.
He said: “They used to have lunch with us at the ground. I feel for them and their families as well.”
As we reported yesterday, Eric, of Camberley, Surrey, saved hundreds of lives by steering the aircraft away from fans on the ground. His friend Lucie Morris-Marr said: “He would have done all he could to save lives.
“He seemed to be living the dream, flying with his girlfriend, which is why their sudden passing in this tragedy is so terribly, terribly sad. It was an aviation love story.
“Not many people get to work and travel with their soulmate.”
Thai sources say King Power bosses plan to re-name the ground the Khun Vichai Stadium.
A book of condolence will open there today.
Vichai together with wife Aimon Prince William praised Vichai