Leicester players pay tribute to owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha

Leicester’s players led the tributes to owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha after his death was announced on Sunday, with England defender Harry Maguire hailing a “truly great, kind, loving man”.

The club issued a statement late on Sunday confirming Srivaddhanaprabha and four others were killed when his helicopter fell from the sky and burst into flames at the south east end of the King Power Stadium at about 8.30pm on Saturday, shortly after City had drawn with West Ham.

It said the 60-year-old, who bought the club for £39 million in 2010 and led it to a first Premier League title in 2015-16, was a “great man” – a view shared by those who played for him.

“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,” Maguire wrote on Twitter.

Fellow City defender and England left-back Ben Chilwell hailed “one of the best people you could wish meet”.

Writing on Twitter, he said: “I can’t believe it. I am heartbroken to hear that no-one survived the crash yesterday.

“Vichai was one of the best people you could wish to meet. Making you happy made him happy, he was always smiling and laughing.

“What he did not just for this football club but for Leicester as a city is incredible! He has brought us all together. So now we must stay together as a city and achieve what he knew we could.”

Jamie Vardy – whose meteoric rise through the leagues was matched step-by-step by the club as they came from nowhere to win the Premier League in 2016 – called Srivaddhanaprabha “a legend”.

He said on Instagram: “Struggling to find the right words, but to me you are a 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.”

Srivaddhanaprabha was the driving force of Leicester’s rise from the Championship to the top of the Premier League, bringing together a group of players who were superbly guided by manager Claudio Ranieri.

Wes Morgan was the captain of that side and said: “Absolutely heartbroken and devastated regarding the news of our chairman. A man that was loved and adored by everyone here at LCFC and someone who I personally had the utmost respect for.

“My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and the families of the other victims of this tragedy.”

Leicester’s EFL Cup tie with Southampton on Tuesday has been postponed.