Leicester City land in Thailand to “frightening” reception

The victorious Leicester City squad’s latest victory parade has seen the team arrive in Bangkok to a heroes’ reception this morning (18 May), as the people of Thailand turned out en masse to welcome the Premier League champions.

Led by manager Claudio Ranieri and captain Wes Morgan, the Foxes were met by masses of Thai supporters and media at Suvarnabhumi Airport and were draped with flowered garlands to mark their arrival in the Thai capital – the start of a week-long post-season visit.

There was also a special performance from traditional Thai dancers, while a brass band played Queen hit We Are The Champions to greet the newly crowned Premier League winners.

Thailand is the home of the Club’s owners, the Srivaddhanaprabha family.

The Foxes have always been warmly received in the ‘land of smiles’ ever since Chairman and Vice Chairman Vichai and Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha and King Power International took control of the Club in 2010, developing a growing fanbase among its population, who have twice filled Bangkok’s Supachalasai Stadium to see City in action.

The Foxes took on the Thai national team in an exhibition match in the Autumn of 2010 under Sven Goran Erikssen, before beating Everton in a pre-season friendly ahead of their return to the Premier League in 2014.

“We’ve had some special receptions when we’ve arrived in Thailand in the past, but nothing like this. This is incredible,” said Foxes skipper Wes Morgan.

“We’re always extremely proud to come here and we know how much it means to the owners, who have done so much for us and for the entire club in the last six years.

“Since we won the title, we’ve been trying to take it all in and try to get some perspective on what it means to us and to other people. After the scenes in the streets of Leicester on Monday and this reception we’ve had today, it’s starting to sink in. The impact is just frightening.”