Ranieri left shocked by death of 'man of gold' Srivaddhanaprabha

[davieG]

Claudio Ranieri, who guided Leicester City to their famous 2016 Premier League title, has paid tribute to the club's former chairman.

Published
10 min ago
Former Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri has described Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha as "a man of gold" following his death in a helicopter crash.

The Leicester owner and chairman was confirmed as one of five people to have died on Saturday when the aircraft came down just hours after the Premier League draw with West Ham at the King Power Stadium.

Tributes have been sent in from across the football world, while hundreds of mourners have laid flowers outside the ground in the last 48 hours.

Srivaddhanaprabha's family laid a wreath on the pitch on Monday as the Leicester players and management gathered around the centre circle.

Ranieri, who guided Leicester to their famous Premier League title win of 2015-16, had nothing but fond memories of his former chairman.

 

"The news shocked me tremendously," he told Sky Sport Italia. "He was a good person, a man of gold. He always had a word of comfort for everybody.

"His positivity was contagious. He never focused on a negative result. When he came into the dressing room, he touched everyone with his smile.

"He was a father, he put everyone at ease. He was an enlightened man; everything he touched improved, and he knew how to choose his people.

"His son will follow in his father's footsteps. He's in love with football."

Ranieri left his position as Leicester boss last February following a tough run of results, which Srivaddhanaprabha described as "the most difficult decision" made since he took over the club in 2010.

Looking back, Ranieri best remembers the moments of humanity shown by the man who appointed him in 2015.

"If I close my eyes and think of him, I always see him with a smile on his lips, like the time when it was my birthday and he came in with a giant cake and sang 'happy birthday' together with the team," Ranieri added.

"It's hard for me to talk. I share in the pain of the family, because it's a very close family and now I just want to be close to them."

Read more at https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/ranieri-left-shocked-death-man-gold-srivaddhanaprabha#VjYAxVJrmTXgkvVf.99

[StanSP]

1 minute ago, davieG said:

"If I close my eyes and think of him, I always see him with a smile on his lips, like the time when it was my birthday and he came in with a giant cake and sang 'happy birthday' together with the team," Ranieri added

This is somewhat heart-warming to read

[Foxinscouseland]

Could there be anything more fitting than statues of Vichai and Claudio - they made us smile ? 

[Izzy]

1 minute ago, Foxinscouseland said:

Could there be anything more fitting than statues of Vichai and Claudio - they made us smile ? 

[Al-aLondon-Foxile]

4 minutes ago, Foxinscouseland said:

Could there be anything more fitting than statues of Vichai and Claudio - they made us smile ? 

They certainly are the best of us, and I would love for them to be honoured together. 

[RODNEY FERNIO]

One of life's loveliest blokes pays tribute to another of life's loveliest blokes.

 

[Foxinscouseland]

?

[Dan]

It's sad that this is what it is, but get him back over here for this.

 

Classy from Ranieri.

[CosbehFox]

A few weeks back I was very against Ranieri coming back but it needs to happen now 

[Mendi]

1 minute ago, Cardiff_Fox said:

A few weeks back I was very against Ranieri coming back but it needs to happen now 

Ranieri was class but players, stop playing for him.

[CosbehFox]

Just now, Mendi said:

Ranieri was class but players, stop playing for him.

Sorry if I didn’t make myself clear. I mean being presented to the fans, not as a manger 

Edited 29 October 2018 by Cardiff_Fox

[RumbleFox]

I love Claudio. X 

[marcymarc666]

I'm sure there will be some sort of remembrance before the game against Burnley. It would really great if he's there.

[Foxinscouseland]

I cried when Claudio introduced Bocelli and said to us “I love you”, I cried when Leicester won the premiership at the end of Gary Lineker’s documentary, it finally sank in, (I was still worried we might fluff it), I cried when I went to the King Power early this Sunday morning to pay my respects what magic, what sadness ..........

[Bob Weasel Fox]

2 hours ago, Izzy Muzzett said:

The best picture ever. Love this 

[sm1]

2 hours ago, Izzy Muzzett said:

Two men of gold 

[KingsX]

6 hours ago, sm1 said:

Two men of gold 

 

[foxfanazer]

It speaks volumes of the man that people who could have grievances about him due to footballing speak so fondly of him. Ranieri is such a classy guy and you know this will be hurting him

[Alan Frost]

Could money be better spent than a statue of Ranieri and the late Chairman together as per the photo in the post on thjis thread. Two of the good guys, smiling as usual. I can think of few people who desrve a statue more and I'm sure the sum necessary coukd be raised by subscription frm Foxes fans. It would be nicer if the fund for a statue was raised from the fans , all of whom owe both these gentlemen so much.