Milan, October 30: Claudio Ranieri revealed on Monday he had been "terribly shaken" by the death of Leicester City boss Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.
Ranieri, 66, was hired by Vichai in 2015 and led Leicester to their historic Premier League title success the following year. Billionaire Vichai, 60, died along with four others when his helicopter plummeted into a car park outside the King Power stadium shortly after his side's 1-1 draw with West Ham on Saturday. "I was terribly shaken by the news," Ranieri told Sky Sports Italia in his first public reaction since the tragedy. Leicester City Owner, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, Confirmed Dead after His Chopper Crashed outside Home Stadium in UK.
"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 locker room only to dispense kind words, never to reproach you.
"One time soon after my birthday, he arrived in the locker room with a huge cake and made everyone sing 'Happy Birthday.' "He was an illuminated man and everything he touched became better." Ranieri said it was now up to Vichai's son "who has always been in love with football" to carry on in his father's footsteps. He recalled his first meeting with Vichai. "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. Who Was Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha? Leicester City FC Owner Dies in Helicopter Crash Near Football Stadium (See Pics & Video).
Leicester City Player Danny Simpson Also Paid Tributes to Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha on His Twitter Account
Thank you for everything you have done for me, the players, the fans, the club and the whole city of Leicester. You made mine and everyone else’s dream come true.I am devastated and can’t quite process what has happened but we will do our best to help this club grow. RIP #TheBoss pic.twitter.com/4oEuABIg54
— Danny Simpson (@dannysimpson) October 28, 2018
"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." After Ranieri was sacked by Leicester in February 2017 he took charge of French Ligue 1 side Nantes for the 2017-2018 season.
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