By Craig Shakespeare, former Leicester City manager, passed away peacefully on Thursday morning, surrounded by his family. Diagnosed with cancer last year, Shakespeare had been receiving treatment. He was 60 years old.
Shakespeare was a key figure in Leicester City’s historic Premier League title win in 2016, serving as assistant coach to Claudio Ranieri. Following Ranieri’s departure, Shakespeare took over as caretaker manager and led the team to the Champions League quarter-finals in their debut season in the competition. Despite his success, he was dismissed less than a season later.
Throughout his career, Shakespeare held various coaching roles at clubs including Hull, Watford, Aston Villa, Norwich, and Everton. He also served as assistant to Sam Allardyce during his brief tenure as England manager. As a player, Shakespeare made over 350 appearances for Walsall and also played for Sheffield Wednesday, West Brom, and Grimsby.
A statement from his family, released by the League Managers Association, expressed their pride in his footballing achievements and their deep personal loss. They requested privacy during this difficult time.
Tributes have poured in from the football community. Nigel Pearson, who worked with Shakespeare at Leicester, praised him as a talented, emotionally understanding, and humorous friend. Kasper Schmeichel, Leicester’s goalkeeper, described Shakespeare as an incredible coach and human being. LMA chairman Martin O’Neill highlighted Shakespeare’s impact on those he worked with, noting his strong football knowledge and warm personality.
Shakespeare’s contributions to Leicester City’s success, particularly during their Premier League-winning season, are celebrated by the club and the wider football community.
