Leicester honor Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha with win at Cardiff

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‍Leicester City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel's struggle to hold back the tears summed up the mood in the club's first Premier League game since owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and four others died in a helicopter crash last weekend.

On an emotional day, Leicester managed to grind out a 1-0 victory against Cardiff as both players and fans alike honored Vichai memory in a fitting tribute.

Although the result was only ever going to be secondary to the occasion, Leicester's players were able to rally together to focus on 90 minutes of football.

During the pre-match warm-up, Leicester players wore white T-shirts bearing an image of Vichai accompanied by the words "The Boss" – the title the Thai businessman was known by at the club. On the back were the words "Khun Vichai You Will Be Forever in Our Hearts".

The same T-shirts were worn by fans populated behind one of the goals, while there were plenty of Thai Flags, T-shorts and other signs of respect in the crowd from both sides.

Fans pay their respect during Leicester's game against Cardiff. / Photo AFP

Cardiff also paid their respect, laying down a wreath before the pre-game minute silence as the entire Leicester backroom staff joined the players on the center circle in remembrance of Vichai.

Spurred on by the sound of Leicester fans chanting Vichai's name, Demarai Gray scored the winner on 55 minutes and removed his jersey on which was written “For Khun Vichai”. Although Gray was booked by referee Lee Probert for taking his shirt off, it seemed a small price to pay. Both players and fans joined the celebrations with Schmeichel running the length of the field to join the entire team.

After the final whistle, the Leicester players and backroom team came together and with a sense of union applauded with their fans long after the game had ended.

"That was a tough game, not just on the pitch but mentally," Schmeichel said. "There are a lot of exhausted people in there now but I am proud of this team and the club. The way everyone has handled themselves has been unbelievable.

"It has been hard. We have tried for a few hours a day to be professional and train hard, but everyone wanted to play and win for his family. His family have been strong, [with] the courage they have had.

Leicester City's Jamie Vardy embraces James Maddison, who wears a shirt in remembrance of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha after the match. /Reuters

Describing the impact the 60-year-old had on his career, the goalkeeper said: "I feel just an overwhelming sense of pride of being part of the family that Vichai built and the extended family of Leicester City."

"You couldn't ask for a better chairman. There are few people who come along in this life that have an impact on you. He had that on me and so many people, and the outpouring of grief around the world shows that.”

The whole squad will be traveling to Bangkok for Vichai's funeral, which started on Saturday. Manager Claude Puel stated they will arrive back to the UK midweek.

"It was nice to get a win to take to Thailand now and hopefully we did his family proud," Schmeichel added.

"Everyone grieves in different ways and the opportunity was given [to go the funeral] and we wanted to go. We are a family and wanted to pay our last respects together."