While Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha became famous in the sporting world thanks to the fairlytale success by his English Premier League club Leicester City, he also did good things for Thai football.
The 60-year-old billionaire was killed in a helicopter crash near the club's King Power Stadium after watching the Foxes play West Ham in a Premier League match on Saturday.
Vichai bought Leicester in 2010 before the Foxes claimed an against-all-odds Premier League title in 2016.
He organised the King Power Cup youth football tournament to find young players to join the club's Fox Hunt project in which the participants train and study in England for two and a half years.
The third group in the project has been in England since April.
Leicester also launched a project called "Million balls, million powers, create the dream" for the youngsters.
Under the scheme footballs are distributed to young players in the provinces so that they play the sport and the ultimate goal is to see some of them become professional footballers in the future.
Leicester aim to distribute a total of one million footballs by 2022.
Vichai also initiated a project to donate 100 artificial turfs to schools and communities beginning last year.
Vichai played a key role in helping Somyot Poompunmuang win the election for Football Association of Thailand (FAT) president in 2016.
Ahead of the polls, Somyot admitted that he had received support from Vichai.
"He is my friend," Somyot said then.
He also announced his candidacy at Vichai's Pullman Bangkok King Power hotel.
Somyot yesterday laid a floral tribute outside the King Power Stadium along with Vichai's wife and son.
The FAT yesterday extended its "deepest condolences for the Srivaddhanaprabha family and the families of those who lost their lives in the tragedy.
"It is with profound sadness that we learnt of the sudden and tragic passing of the chairman of King Power Group and Leicester City Football Club.
"The thoughts of everyone at the Football Association of Thailand are with their families, friends and loved ones during this difficult time."
Meanwhile, several Thailand players yesterday paid tributes to Vichai, including Kawin Thammasatchanan, Chanathip Songkrasin, Teerasil Dangda and Theerathon Bunmathan.
Goalkeeper Kawin Thammasatchanan is playing at Belgium's OH Leuven, which like Leicester City, are owned by King Power Group.
"I'd like to send my condolences to Khun Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha's family for the loss," he said.
"I'd like to thank him and his family for giving me the opportunity to play in Europe. It's an honour for me to be a small part of his life."
Midfielder Chanathip said: "Thank you very much for giving many good things to the Thai people."
Striker Teerasil described Vichai as "a gentleman who the football world will never forget.
Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president sent a condolence letter to the Srivaddhanaprabha family via the FAT.
In the letter, AFC president Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa said: "I am extending the heartfelt condolences on behalf of the Asian Football Confederation and the entire Asian football family at the tragic death of Mr Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, the owner of Leicester City football club.
"Like the rest of the football world, I was shocked and saddened to hear of the terrible accident which cost Mr Srivaddhanaprabha and his staff their lives.
"The achievement of Mr Srivaddhanaprabha in helping build a team capable of lifting the English Premier League was nothing short of remarkable but it was the deep respect and affection that everyone had for him inside the game which was his defining quality."
