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Claudio Ranieri returns to Leicester City stadium to offer prayers in emotional tribute

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Claudio Ranieri has paid emotional tribute to Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha by visiting the ever-growing shrine to the Leicester City owner at the King Power Stadium.

Ranieri, who managed the Foxes between 2015 and 2017, laid a wreath for Srivaddhanaprabha, who died in a helicopter crash outside the stadium after Leicester’s match with West Ham on Saturday night.

The sea of flags, scarves, shirts and flowers outside the King Power Stadium continues to grow by the hour as Leicester manager Claude Puel prepares to give a press conference on Thursday afternoon ahead of their weekend visit to Cardiff City in the Premier League.

Ranieri was flanked by his wife Rosanna, Vichai’s son, Aiyawatt, and wife, Aimon, as he laid the wreath before pausing for a few moments and saying a prayer to remember the owner, whose image stands at the front of the tributes.

Ranieri, who watched another former club Chelsea play Derby in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night, spoke about Srivaddhanaprabha earlier this week.

He told Sky Italia: ‘I was terribly shaken by the news.

‘He was a good man and always had a positive word for everyone. His positivity and ability to make everybody love him was clear for all to see.

‘He came into the dressing room only to dispense kind words, never to reproach you.
‘One time, soon after my birthday, he arrived in the dressing room with a huge cake and made everyone sing ‘Happy Birthday’.

‘He was an illuminated man and everything he touched became better.

‘Now it’s up to his son [Aiyawatt], who has always been in love with football, to carry on in his father’s footsteps.’

Ranieri added: ‘I remember when we first met, that I immediately thought he was a positive person, full of energy.

‘My objective when I arrived at Leicester was to secure Premier League safety, then we all know what happened.

‘Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha made a very important contribution to the Premier League victory, as he’d arrive 30 minutes before the game to embrace everyone.

‘He never said a word out of turn, was always happy, with a smile on his face.

‘I am so sad right now, I want to join the family in their grief.’

Aiyawatt, known as Top, will fly back to Thailand to aid with the repatriation of his father’s body.
He is expected to return for Leicester’s next home Premier League fixture against Burnley that coincides with Remembrance Sunday.

Aiyawatt confirmed his commitment to Leicester, saying his father had left a legacy and that was something he was keen to continue.

The team decided to abandon plans to fly to Cardiff for Saturday’s match, instead choosing to take a three-hour coach journey on Friday.

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