Tributes paid to late Leicester City chairman on 61st birthday

Players and fans have paid touching tributes to Leicester City's late chairman who would have been 61 today.

Khun Vichai died along with four others in October when his helicopter crashed outside the club's stadium.

On Saturday, continued a tradition Vichai started by giving out free cupcakes and beer to fans.

• Here's a selection of tributes paid by players and fans on twitter.

A cremation ceremony took place for Khun Vichai in Thailand last month.

Leicester City players, who were not on international duty, attended the ceremony.

It's been suggested a pair of big fibreglass elephants should be placed on a roundabout in the city in honour of Khun Vichai.

Leicester East MP Keith Vaz unveiled the proposal to erected the structure on Belgrave Circle at the city centre end of the Golden Mile.

Mr Vaz has also suggested the roundabout be renamed Vichai Circle in memory of the Thai owner who oversaw the Foxes’ 2016 Premier League triumph and was known for his huge donations to good causes in the city.

The MP said the idea has come from local residents.

Mr Vaz said Khun Vichai considered elephants were lucky – and had four models placed outside the football ground during City’s victorious league campaign.

He suggested the roundabout elephants should be about three metres high.

He said: “We are immensely proud of the contribution that Khun Vichai and his family have made to the city of Leicester, taking us to the very pinnacle of football. It is right that there should be a memorial to him at the King Power stadium.

"It is also important that local people in Leicester remember this very great man who did so much for the city.

"Residents have suggested that this gateway to Leicester from the Belgrave Road should be named after him. Some have suggested that we put on a couple of giant elephants with their trunks intertwined, signifying a special lucky memorial.

“I know from my many conversations with him that he believed elephants brought luck to the club, and putting them there on the circle that is to be named after him would be very special.

“It would also be very nice to recreate an English garden, because I know how much he loved the gardens of England.”

It is hoped the Vichai Circle scheme could be complete within a year to mark 10 years since the Thai bought the club.