Most twelve year-old boys dream of being a professional footballer and Aiyawatt ‘Top’ Raksriaksorn was no different. Yet when the final whistle blew on his childhood kickabouts, Top swapped his boots for the boardroom of King Power and pragmatically learned the ropes of business from his entrepreneurial father.

Thirteen years later and surely no-one could have predicted that those experiences would lead to Raksriaksorn Junior running a boardroom of his own, at English Championship club, Leicester City.

After the recent announcement that the father and son duo, who own 80% of the club, have taken up the roles of Chairman and Vice-Chairman respectively, Soar Magazine secured an exclusive one-to-one interview with Aiyawatt to explore his youth, his thoughts on the Leicestershire public and his burning desire to reach the Premier League…

“I played football from the age of seven or eight and in Thailand people are completely crazy about the game. Young children, mainly boys, play football and basketball every day. We played football during breaktime, lunchtime and after school and sometimes we didn’t even bother eating!

“I’ve followed English football, especially the Premier League, for many years on Thai television. When I first went to a game, I realised the difference between a live game at the stadium and a televised game. They are incomparable and the English football atmosphere is something special.

“I couldn’t believe how much people cared for their 11 players running around the pitch. Twenty or even forty thousand people attending games that have no meaning apart from simple pride in winning a football match? That is incredible.”

Aiyawatt’s school days were spent at Saint Gabriel College, followed by a successful entrepreneurship degree at Bangkok University. But those formative days weren’t just spent studying, as the 25-year-old self-confessed sports fanatic recalls.

“I have to say that my first notable memory was of playing football for my school team. I was always involved with sport. Recently I played polo for the national team and won a bronze medal in the 2009 Asian Games, which was an important achievement for me. To be honest, most of my favourite memories involve sport and now specifically they involve football.”

Clearly a driven individual, Top’s dedication to sport, business and life in general can be credited to his relationship with his father, Vichai, who the likeable youngster describes as a huge influence and role model.

“My father and I are very close. I have followed him in every step during my life. He has taught me how to play sport, how to do business and very importantly, how to interact with people. My parents have provided me with a great life. It is funny really that both my father and I share similar skills. We play almost every sport together, like football, basketball, table tennis, snooker, polo, everything. He was the one who brought the family together to play, which I always enjoyed.

“Now, I use sport as a way to relax away from business. My father does too and when we have the time, we like to play as much as we can. For example, playing polo recently, even just for fun, can get very competitive between us! But that is a good sign.”

Top shares his time between Leicester, London and Bangkok and for someone so young, he shows maturity beyond his years. His meteoric success and recent increased profile, both in England and back home in Thailand, is not about to change him though. Once again, influential guidance from his father ensures he remains grounded.

“I have been involved with King Power since the age of 12. My father has worked so hard and I didn’t get to see too much of him, so every day, after school, I went to see him and he would try to teach me the rules of business and the world. So, from that, I feel that King Power has, and will always be, a huge part of my life.”

The Thai travel and retail company, based in Bangkok, has achieved unprecedented success in their home country, something that both Raksriaksorns with their business acumen are keen to replicate with Leicester City.

One huge step towards achieving their goal of Premier League football was to entice Sven-Goran Eriksson to take over as manager of the club, following the departure of Paulo Sousa. The Swede’s inspirational work to turnaround the team’s on-field fortunes offers Aiyawatt and his family the opportunity to give something back to the Foxes faithful, with whom he has become so attached.

“I want to repay the faith that the supporters have shown in me and my family. We have said that we want to reach the Premier League and that remains the goal, as soon as possible. Leicester City’s supporters deserve Premier League football and I believe we can make it happen.

“The fans and the people around the city have impressed me. When we arrived, it may have been difficult for people to understand why we bought the club, and perhaps they may have wondered who we were? But as time has passed, I have seen that we have been accepted. The Leicester people have been very nice to me and on occasions, when I have walked around the Highcross, people have said ‘hello’ and have thanked us for the work we are doing with the club, which is amazing for me to hear.

“I can see that the fanbase and the support of the Leicestershire public is very important to the club. The fans are very loyal, even when the club was in League One, but they kept following the team and helped them to win promotion.”

So for those who are yet to meet the club’s new Vice-Chairman, how would he describe himself?

“Ambition is something that people immediately see from me, but I am a very easy person to speak to. I am funny, if you know me and relaxed, so not always serious. I am just a normal person and when I need to work and focus I do. Leicester City is now my life and whilst I may be the Vice-Chairman, I’m also just a fan at heart.”

That sentiment will strike a chord with the City supporters, longing for a return to the top table of English football and hopefully, with a sprinkle of Thai flavour, Eriksson’s men will be too hot to handle for the rest of the Championship.