Thailand’s king presided over the cremation of former Leicester City owner and duty-free magnate Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha at a Buddhist temple Thursday in a ceremony that brought together the Thai business and political elites.
His sudden death stunned Thais and football fans who followed his fairytale-like ascent, while also raising questions about the future of his company’s near-monopoly over Thailand’s duty-free sector. More than 40 players and members of Leicester City football club — including star striker Jamie Vardy, captain Wes Morgan and new manager Brendan Rodgers — arrived the day before from England to pay their final respects.
His company’s rapid rise from a single downtown Bangkok store to commanding a near monopoly in the country’s airports can be attributed more to Vichai’s knack for winning — and keeping — the favour of Thailand’s elite.