Tributes have been paid to the former Leicester manager Craig Shakespeare, who has died at the age of 60. Shakespeare, who was diagnosed with cancer last year, held numerous roles during his coaching career, most notably as assistant to Claudio Ranieri when Leicester won their surprise Premier League title in 2015-2016.
After Ranieri was sacked the following season, Shakespeare replaced him as manager but lasted less than a season before leaving the role. He was also assistant to Sam Allardyce during his brief tenure as England manager and coached at Hull, Watford, Aston Villa, Norwich, and Everton after a playing career with Walsall, Sheffield Wednesday, West Brom, Grimsby, and Scunthorpe.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Craig Shakespeare, ‘Shakey’,” said his family in a statement released by the League Managers’ Association (LMA).
“Craig passed away peacefully this morning at home surrounded by his family. While we are immensely proud of his footballing achievements as both a player and a coach, to us, his family, he will always primarily be a loving and loved husband, father, son, brother, and uncle. The loss is devastating to us all and we would ask that privacy be given at this incredibly difficult time as we try to come to terms with, and mourn, the loss of a very special person.”
“We would like to thank and acknowledge the many prayers and good wishes sent during the past few difficult months, many of which we were unable to respond to, but all meant a lot to Craig and the family.”
Leicester City called Shakespeare “an inspirational figure in our history,” in a post on X. “Craig was instrumental in our rise from League 1 to Premier League champions, before taking charge as manager and leading us into the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Rest in peace, Shakey.”
The LMA chairman, Martin O’Neill, who managed Leicester from 1995 to 2000, paid tribute to Shakespeare. “Craig’s impact on the people he worked with was often spoken about by players, coaches, and managers in the game,” he said.
“Not only because his knowledge of football and coaching was so strong, but also because his personality and warmth made people feel important and that Craig truly cared about their development and success. The role he played in the success of his teams should be celebrated, especially at Leicester City, who rightfully see Craig as a club stalwart who played a significant part of that unbelievable Premier League winning season and many other wonderful times throughout his three spells at the club.”
Jamie Vardy, who played under Shakespeare at Leicester, tweeted: “I don’t have the words right now. Just gutted. RIP Shakey.”
Jack Grealish, who worked with Shakespeare at Aston Villa, called him “one of the greatest people I’ve ever met not only in football but in life. Last month he was texting me when I didn’t make the Euros squad while he was ill – shows the type of man he was! An absolute heart of gold! Absolutely devastated.”
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