Leicester City’s title-winning manager Claudio Ranieri says he is “terribly shaken” by the death of the club’s chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.

Ranieri described Khun Vichai as an “illuminated man” adding that he wants to “join the family in grief” following the helicopter crash outside the King Power Stadium that killed the City owner and four others on board.

Eyebrows were raised when Ranieri was appointed City boss by Khun Vichai and his son Top in 2015 but the Italian went on to lead the club to the Premier League title in one of sport’s greatest underdog stories.

Ranieri praised Khun Vichai’s role in the title triumph.

“I was terribly shaken by the news,” Ranieri told Sky Sports Italia.

“He was a good man and always had a positive word for everyone. His positivity and ability to make everybody love him was clear for all to see. He came into the dressing room only to dispense kind words, never to reproach you.

“One time soon after my birthday, he arrived in the dressing room with a huge cake and made everyone sing ‘Happy Birthday.’

“He was an illuminated man and everything he touched became better. Now it’s up to his son, who has always been in love with football, to carry on in his father’s footsteps.

“I remember when we first met that I immediately thought he was a positive person, full of energy. My objective when I arrived at Leicester was to secure Premier League safety, then we all know what happened.

“Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha made a very important contribution to the Premier League victory, as he’d arrive 30 minutes before the game to embrace everyone. He never said a word out of turn, was always happy with a smile on his face.

“I am so sad right now, I want to join the family in their grief.”

Ranieri is currently out of work having left French side Nantes in the summer.