Player tributes to Vichai; past and present.

[urban.spaceman]

First team squad have now arrived and are there with Top and Jon Rudkin.

 

 

This was after the development squad had visited. 

 

 

P

[urban.spaceman]

[davieG]

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/46015609

 

 

 

[AjcW]

It's going to be difficult managing Kasper through this, as much as the whole squad need at least a week off, he looks like he needs more... but one thing for sure is he wont ask or want it! Looks broken  

[MPH]

Those photos of Top just make me want to cry.. 

[Babylon]

Kasper

[That_Dude]

Kasper's been hit real hard.

[AKCJ]

I don't think ive ever heard a Kasper interview where he's not mentioned the owners.

 

He has sincere love and respect for Vichai and his family. That much is clear. He and Vardy, both the same. I think that's why they've never asked to leave because they could both clearly play at a higher level than what we can offer.

[urban.spaceman]

 

[Finnegan]

The Riyad one, particularly with the choice of picture, really made me laugh and smile. I really like that, nice touch. I'd forgotten about that photo. Amazing. 

[shen]

Staggering to see so many messages. Can imagine Kanté, Drinkwater, Ranieri, Shakespeare and Pearson also being greatly affected. 

[Beechey]

 

[brucey]

Shinji posted this

[urban.spaceman]

 

[Jimothy]

Hadn't seen this one until now

 

[brucey]

Danny Drinkwater: it’s hard to accept I’ll never see Vichai again

It sounds daft, but Vichai wasn’t just the owner of a football club. The Leicester City players will support me when I say this — most of the time it felt like he was one of the lads. He was just a proper nice bloke who tried his hardest to make sure all the players were happy. He was a great person to have around a club.

 

Vichai was everywhere. He was in the dressing room, at club meals, at all the awards nights. He’d put on social nights just for the staff and the players and his team. We’ve been out for dinner loads of times.

 

It sounds weird to say as he’s a billionaire, but he was very approachable. He wanted Leicester to be a club where everyone from the cleaning staff to the captain could come and speak to him, and he achieved that. He loved the football environment. Whenever he was in Leicester he made sure he was in the dressing room with the boys before the game. He genuinely loved football and felt like part of the team.

 

With him in charge it was just a matter of time before Leicester did something special. If he hadn’t have been there we never would have won the title. He was massively involved in that incredible season in particular. The players and the manager took a lot of the credit, but it wouldn’t have been possible without Vichai. He was always pushing the club forward from the moment he took over.

 

I remember the first time I met him, the week after I signed in 2012. He told me about his ideas for the club and his ambitions. I’d heard about the money he was putting in, which helped convince me to leave Manchester United for Leicester, but his ambition in person was extraordinary. He truly believed Leicester could do something special and that rubbed off on the players.

 

Financial backing is one thing, but having an owner who truly believes in the group of players he has put together is another. Some of the decisions he had to make were not easy, but he always had the best interests of the club at heart. The best calls are often the hardest.

 

It’s a terrible loss and hard to put into words. I feel for his family massively. They’re a great family and seem to have similar qualities. I can’t imagine how they’re feeling right now. I’m hurting and I hadn’t seen him for a year, as I left Leicester 18 months ago.

 

I’ve gone from seeing him twice-a-week to not seeing him for over a year, which was weird, but it’s hard to accept that I’ll never see him again. I’ve spoke to the lads at Leicester, who are truly devastated.

 

Vichai was a huge part of Leicester’s success and will continue to be so. His spirit will live on. I’m sure his son, Top, will replicate what his dad was doing in his honour.

 

[urban.spaceman]

On 29/10/2018 at 15:39, Finnegan said:

The Riyad one, particularly with the choice of picture, really made me laugh and smile. I really like that, nice touch. I'd forgotten about that photo. Amazing. 

“You not for sale!”

 

What a class act he was. 

[Jaspa]

Danny Drinkwater did something for The Times, so it's paywalled . . .

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/danny-drinkwater-its-hard-to-accept-ill-never-see-vichai-again-8rtnn2swx

[davieG]

8 minutes ago, Jaspa said:

Danny Drinkwater did something for The Times, so it's paywalled . . .

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/danny-drinkwater-its-hard-to-accept-ill-never-see-vichai-again-8rtnn2swx

Is that the one that’s 2 posts before yours?

[Jaspa]

18 minutes ago, davieG said:

Is that the one that’s 2 posts before yours?

I can't actually believe I missed that mate apologies. I just kinda assumed he would've been forgotten about despite the fact I seem to have read through that part of the thread before, maybe I was skimming.

[davieG]

23 minutes ago, Jaspa said:

I can't actually believe I missed that mate apologies. I just kinda assumed he would've been forgotten about despite the fact I seem to have read through that part of the thread before, maybe I was skimming.

No problems there's so much to look at. I was more interested to know if it was actually different and whether to get around the pay wall.

[UniFox21]

Great tribute from Drinkwater, the quote "He wanted Leicester to be a club where everyone from the cleaning staff to the captain could come and speak to him" is brilliant and really sums up what everyone has said, that Vichai was there for everyone. 

 

I do feel for Drinkwater that his big move failed, more due to the club he chose than his ability.

[Sunbury Fox]

For the third morning running I'm commuting into central London on a packed train, completely in bits after reading a thread on this forum. That tribute from Drinkwater was incredible. As someone else said, this forum has really helped Foxiles like me feel close to the rest of the Leicester family, even though I can't physically be there. 

[urban.spaceman]

 

[urban.spaceman]