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When Thai billionaire Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha made a successful acquisition in Leicester, you think that the Premier League remit would not have been part of the trading plan.
But his involvement in one of the most remarkable football stories of modern times had particularly appealing.
Srivaddhanaprabha, who died at the age of 60 in a helicopter crash following the Foxes home game against West Ham on Saturday, was born on April 4, 1958 in Bangkok, Vichai Raksriaksorn.
After humble beginnings in a Sino-Thai family, which opened a duty-free shop in 1989 and finally saw the King Power brand adorn the country's airports, he would become the fifth richest man in Thailand. His fortune is estimated at $ 4.9 billion by Forbes.
Srivaddhanaprabha's affiliation to the Foxes kicked off as part of a jersey sponsorship deal, before negotiating a buyback deal from a £ 39 million syndicate with the championship club, in 2010, with Milan Mandaric.
Leicester regained its place in the Premier League in 2014 and ensured the richness of modern football.
At the time, Srivaddhanaprabha, who became president in February 2011, pledged to pay some £ 180 million to be part of the top five and the relatively ambitious goal of European football at over the next three years.
The most ardent fan of Leicester, however, could not have dreamed of what would happen next – even if he took chances at 5,000-1.
Quoted by the Wall Street newspaper When he talks about their unexpected success, his son, Aiyawatt, vice president of Leicester, said, "When we bought the team, we had so many projects.
"If you ask us if we thought the team would become Premier League champion when we would have bought it, the truth is we did not dare to believe it."
Declaring the title of the 2015-16 Premier League in a rather remarkable campaign, Claudio Ranieri's men remaining constant while their "bigger" rivals collapse all, would put firmly in the spotlight the Thai tycoon, shy against the media – and would find him a man as an adversary. public demonstrations of emotions or even generosity.
Leicester won the league in 2014 (AFP/ Getty Images)
Before the next campaign, which would see a first Champions League adventure, about 19 BMW i8 cars, costing £ 100,000 each, were handed out to the players as a thank you for their achievements.
A very son of his family, his son Aiyawatt was also nicknamed "the best" in the less formal club environments.
The blue helicopter taking them to and from King Power Stadium was a common feature – as well as free beer and donuts for Foxes fans at home, while regularly subsidizing trips to the outside. .
In an interview with the Guardian in 2016, Ian Bason, president of Foxes Trust, said, "It would be hard to criticize him at all.
"Apart from what the club has achieved, (the owners) have always listened to fans.Vichai has always respected the club's legacy."
The club is now in mourning (REUTERS)
The success of Leicester allowed Foxes shirts to become a sought-after commodity in the homeland of Srivaddhanaprabha, where, in December 2009, King Power received the royal arrest warrant from the King of Thailand.
Pbadionate polo player, contributing to the creation of the Thailand Polo Association and owner of the Bangkok VR Polo Club, Srivaddhanaprabha has also finalized the purchase of the Belgian football club OH Leuven last year. The First Division B team is currently led by former Foxes boss Nigel Pearson.
Married to Aimon, the couple has four children – Voramas, Apichet, Arunroong and Aiyawatt.
The new family name of Srivaddhanaprabha was awarded by King Bhumibol in 2013.
It means "progressive glory light" in Thai, as recognition of the many corporate social and enterprise responsibility programs, including education, charity work, child health, as well as sports and Thai culture.
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