Leicester players to return to Thailand to pay final respects to Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha

The Leicester owner died in the helicopter crash outside the King Power Stadium on 27 October in the tragedy that claimed five lives

Leicester City‘s players and staff will travel to Thailand next week for the cremation of the club’s late owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.

Vichai died in the helicopter crash outside the King Power Stadium on 27 October, aged 60, in the tragedy that claimed five lives.

The squad and staff attended the funeral of the chairman in November, but those not on international duty, plus manager Brendan Rodgers manager and his staff, will travel to the Far East next week to pay their final respects.

Rodgers said: “I was made aware of that (Khun Vichai’s cremation) when I came in.

“Next week, the international players will go away with their teams and the remainder of the staff and players will go and show their respects and travel to Thailand for the funeral.”

Meanwhile, Eduardo Macià, Leicester’s head of recruitment, will leave the club tomorrow.

The 44-year-old former Valencia and Liverpool scout spent two-and-a-half-years at the King Power. Rodgers will play a part in the recruitment of a successor.

He said: “I’m sure they’ll be a number of candidates could help us make the next. I will be involved.

“It will be a club appointment but it is important the manager is involved.

“When I first came in, this was something I was made aware, something that was pre-Christmas and Eduardo was going to move on.

“He wants a fresh challenge but is a really good guy, the club will go through process of finding a replacement.”