THE former head coach of Leicester City Craig Shakespeare has passed away at the age of 60 after a battle with cancer.
Shakespeare managed Leicester City between February 2017 and October of the same year, with Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi playing under him.
The late Shakespeare was an assistant coach at Leicester City for many years, working under several managers before his promotion upon the sacking of Claudio Ranieri, and the club penned a heartfelt obituary for him.
“It was with heavy hearts that Leicester City Football Club learned of the passing of a beloved member of our family, Craig Shakespeare, on Thursday 1 August, 2024, at the age of 60,” the club stated on their official website tonight.
“A man of immense talent, unwavering dedication, and heartfelt passion for the beautiful game, Craig’s passing will be mourned heavily by all who knew him, as well as the football community at large.”
Shakespeare was born in Birmingham on 26 October, 1963, and was a midfielder in his playing days, featuring for teams including Walsall, Sheffield Wednesday, and West Bromwich Albion.
“Craig’s relationship with Leicester City was deeply rooted and successful. He served as Assistant Manager under Nigel Pearson, contributing significantly as the Club not only won the League 1 title and went on to secure promotion to the Premier League, but also miraculously achieved survival in the 2014/15 season on their return to the top-flight,” the Foxes added.
“Craig’s influence and expertise put him at the forefront of all these pivotal moments in our Club’s history.
“In the 2015/16 season, against all odds, Craig’s role was again instrumental as Leicester City clinched the Premier League title under Claudio Ranieri. As much as it was his tactical knowledge that made a difference, it was also the personal connections and relationships he forged throughout the Club that made him so important.
“In particular, Craig played a significant role in the career of one of Leicester City’s greatest-ever players, Jamie Vardy, whom he supported throughout his early years at the Club.
“As Manager in 2017, Craig again found himself at the forefront of a night that will be forever etched into Leicester City history. He led the team for a magical UEFA Champions League night where we triumphed over Sevilla at King Power Stadium to reach the quarter-finals.
“His reputation as a man forever committed to the Leicester City cause was further underlined when he answered the Club’s call to return for another spell as Assistant Manager under Dean Smith in the 2022/23 season.
“Outside of Leicester, West Bromwich Albion, Hull City, Everton, Watford, Aston Villa, Norwich City and England benefited from his wisdom, leadership, and commitment to football excellence. Every player and staff member who worked under him felt the impact of his presence, which was marked by wisdom, kind-heartedness, and an insatiable passion for the game.”
Another former club of Shakespeare’s, Everton, also expressed sorrow at his passing.
“Everton Football Club is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our former coach Craig Shakespeare,” the Toffees wrote on X.
“Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this extremely difficult time.”
