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Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha founded King Power International in 1989 and bought Leicester City Football Club in 2010 |
UK. King Power International Group (Thailand)Â Chairman and Leicester City Football Club Chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha is to receive the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws from the University of Leicester.
He will be awarded his honorary degree by University Chancellor Lord Grocott at a degree ceremony on 22 January at De Montfort Hall.
Srivaddhanaprabha acquired Leicester City Football Club in 2010 following a three-year shirt sponsorship deal. The team currently sits second in the English Premier League (on the same points tally as leaders Arsenal), an astounding performance after it was nearly relegated last season following promotion from the Championship.
Srivaddhanaprabha said: “I would like to express my thanks to the University of Leicester for this great honour and to the people of Leicester for the warm welcome they have extended to me, my family and colleagues since King Power first arrived in the city.Â
“I feel very fortunate because I do what I love, so I put love into everything I do. I came to the football industry with Leicester City because of my love for football and the club and its fans have already repaid me several times over with their passion and loyalty. It is a great privilege to be the Chairman of this great club and an accepted member of this wonderful community.Â
“What has impressed me the most is the people of Leicester and their united will for us to succeed. My family and I cannot achieve our ambitions for the club alone, so an honour such as this is as much for the people of Leicester as it is for me.”Â
A spokesperson from the University of Leicester’s Development and Alumni Relations Office said: “We are honoured and delighted to welcome Mr Srivaddhanaprabha to the proud worldwide fraternity of University of Leicester alumni. His contributions to business, sport, and social causes make him truly deserving of his honorary degree and exemplify the ideals to which our graduates aspire.”
