Leicester’s farewell to owner who delivered fairy tale
ENGLAND» The LEICESTER , soundtrack to Leicester’s sporting fairytale now carries a mournful melody.
On the streets where improbable success was toasted two years ago, the “Champions of England” chant reverberated again on Saturday, this time as the chorus for thousands of fans marching with players to the scene of unthinkable tragedy.
A melancholic lyric has been added to honor the owner who made one of the greatest sporting underdog successes possible: “Champions of England. You made us sing that.” It is why Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha will always be held in deep regard by the people of Leicester, where soccer returned for the first time since the Thai entrepreneur’s death.
“The Boss” was the simple message on many T-shirts as up to 20,000 people embarked on a mile-long walk to the stadium where two weeks ago the 60year-old Vichai died when his helicopter spiraled out of control shortly after taking off from the center circle.
It is the field where Vichai lifted the English Premier League trophy in May 2016, the culmination of an incredible journey taking an unglamorous team from the second tier to the pinnacle of English soccer for the first time. That was the day when tears of joy followed as tenor Andrea Bocelli serenaded manager Claudio Ranieri.
“Time to Say Goodbye” carried a new sorrowful significance on Saturday. A recording of Bocelli was played in King Power Stadium after Saturday’s 0-0 draw against Burnley as Vichai’s son, vice chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, led the players around the field to thank fans who twirled white scarves emblazoned with “Forever in our hearts.”
Ranieri, whose reign ended within months of the 5,000-1 longshot’s title win, looked close to tears as he was back on the pitch to mourn the late chairman along with his predecessor and successor as manager.
“His love and his passion helped us to achieve something amazing,” Ranieri said. “Something that will be remembered forever.”
The hiring of Ranieri to coach a team that had only just avoided relegation was a masterstroke by Vichai in 2015. The Italian had been out of work since the previous year after being fired by Greece, and his only job in England had ended 11 years earlier.