Happy Birthday, Boss – Late Chairman’s Birthday Marked In Memorial Garden
Khun Vichai – affectionally known as ‘The Boss’ at Leicester City – tragically passed away in a helicopter crash outside King Power Stadium in 2018, alongside staff members Kaveporn Punpare, Nusara Suknamai, and pilots Eric Swaffer and Izabela Lechowicz.
As Leicester City’s Chairman over a transformational eight years, which included a long-awaited promotion to the Premier League, an unthinkable English title triumph and a magical European adventure, Khun Vichai inspired the Club’s greatest-ever era of on-field success.
Khun Vichai also cared deeply for Leicester’s people, offering over £2M in personal donations to local causes, including children’s facilities at the city’s Royal Infirmary. Countless other instances of private assistance or financial donations only came to light after Khun Vichai’s passing, offering an insight into his affection for the communities of Leicestershire.
On Tuesday, on the morning of Leicester City’s home Premier League fixture against Aston Villa (7:45pm BST kick-off), Chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha attended a birthday ceremony in tribute to his father, alongside Chief Executive Susan Whelan, directors and senior staff, inside the Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Memorial Garden.
First Team Coaches Adam Sadler and Mike Stowell were in attendance ahead of taking charge of the team on Tuesday night, along with Club Ambassador Alan ‘The Birch’ Birchenall, Club captain Jonny Evans and 2016 title-winning skipper Wes Morgan.
Later in the day, Foxes supporters will be invited to raise a toast to the Club’s former patriarch with free beer, water and cake being provided at King Power Stadium.
Fans wishing to pay their respects at the Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Memorial Garden can do so within daylight hours, while the Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Statue can be accessed at all times in the north-west corner of the King Power Stadium site.