The Managers: Craig Shakespeare: 2017

[davieG]

Although Craig Shakespeare was only manager of Leicester City for eight months, between February and October 2017, the 55-year-old remains a significant figure in the Foxes’ history.

More on this story...

 

The Managers: Sven-Göran Eriksson, 2010-2011

 

The Managers: Nigel Pearson, 2011-2015

 

The Managers: Claudio Ranieri, 2015-2017

He was at the Football Club for eight seasons as assistant manager, caretaker manager and permanent manager and played a vital role in a journey which saw City rise from League 1 to Premier League winners and to UEFA Champions League Quarter-Finalists.

Between 1981 and 1998, as a midfielder, Shakespeare made over 350 appearances for Walsall and played in the old First Division with Sheffield Wednesday, where he was a team mate of Nigel Pearson.

He also starred in over 100 games for both West Bromwich Albion and Grimsby Town, before having a brief spell at Scunthorpe United.

In 1999, he returned West Brom as a 'Football in the Community Officer' before coaching at the academy and then, in 2006, overseeing the reserve team.

When manager Bryan Robson left The Hawthorns in October 2006, his assistant, Pearson, was caretaker manager for four weeks.

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Shakespeare made a century of appearances for West Brom as a player.

When he departed, meanwhile, Craig was put in charge for one game, a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace, before Tony Mowbray was appointed as the permanent manager.

In June 2008, Craig and Steve Walsh arrived at Leicester City, newly relegated to League 1, as part of Pearson's coaching team. They won the League 1 title in 2009 and reached the Championship Play-Offs in 2010.

The trio then returned to Leicester in October 2011 after a 17-month spell at Hull City and won the Championship title in 2014 before also masterminding the 'Great Escape' from relegation in 2015.

When Pearson left King Power Stadium in the summer of 2015, though, Shakespeare and Walsh continued as assistant managers under Claudio Ranieri, famously winning the Premier League title during the 2015/16 season.

In February 2017, with the Club in the bottom three of the Premier League, Ranieri left and Shakespeare became caretaker manager in challenging circumstances.

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Shakespeare was in charge as City defeated FC Sevilla in the last-16 of the UEFA Champions League.

However, he became the first English manager to win his first five Premier League games. These were in a run of six consecutive victories which also included a victory over FC Sevilla in the Champions League, a result which saw Leicester City qualify for the quarter-finals.

They finished the season in 12th place. In the summer, Shakespeare was rewarded with a three-year contract. He also took on a coaching role with England which lasted until England manager Sam Allardyce lost his job soon afterwards.

The new season opened with difficult early fixtures against Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool and, after gaining only one win and six points from his first eight games, Shakespeare departed in October 2017.

His assistant, Michael Appleton, took temporary charge until Claude Puel was appointed. Craig was well respected by the Blue Army fans who appreciated his dedication to the Club and his contribution to the most successful period in Leicester's history.

Three months after leaving King Power Stadium, Craig was appointed first team coach at Everton, rejoining Walsh and working under manager Allardyce. He left Goodison Park when Allardyce was dismissed in May 2018.

https://www.lcfc.com/news/1248292/the-managers-craig-shakespeare-2017

[Corky]

Excellent coach, did an important job after Ranieri left, very likeable man. Shouldn't have been given the job full-time however and a shame it ended how it did.

[murphy]

Played a massive part in our rise to the title and then saved us from the humiliation of being relegated champions with five straight wins.

 

I always felt that he never really got a fair crack at it being sacked after 8 games including four games against Champions League clubs.

 

Much maligned and it always does my head in when some posters treat him like a joke figure.

 

[Foxxed]

His new manager bounce was a huge reason why we reached the quarter finals. It's a really pity we had to make him manager. I'd love to have him as a coach again. But very few will return to a workplace that sacked them.

[Foxxed]

2 minutes ago, murphy said:

Played a massive part in our rise to the title and then saved us from the humiliation of being relegated champions with five straight wins.

 

I always felt that he never really got a fair crack at it being sacked after 8 games including four games against Champions League clubs.

 

Much maligned and it always does my head in when some posters treat him like a joke figure.

 

He didn't impress at the end of season, but I felt sorry for him with his start of season teams. With easier teams he may have had a bit more leeway to make mistakes and improve.

[murphy]

15 hours ago, Foxxed said:

He didn't impress at the end of season, but I felt sorry for him with his start of season teams. With easier teams he may have had a bit more leeway to make mistakes and improve.

Bottom three in February with the worst record for the calendar year out of all four divisions, one point from 7 games and zero goals!  A very cautious 0-0 draw at Boro being the highlight.  We were sinking fast and well on the way to the Championship.

 

We finished 12th.  I say that is impressive.  His record for the season - W8 D2 L4 (26 points).  Ranieri only won 5 games during the previous 24 games (18 points).

 

End of season we lost to Man City and followed that with an injury ravaged thrashing at home to Spurs, hardly easy games, but we were already safe.

 

Considering how bad we were, he worked a miracle to haul us to safety. 

 

Edited 19 June 2019 by murphy

[foxfanazer]

Nothing but respect and appreciation for him. As much a part of the title win as anyone else at the club imo

[peterborofox]

Was in a lose lose situation when he was caretaker unfortunately.

 

Shouldn't have got the job full time because he's a coach or an assistant, not a manager. 

 

And if he didn't get the job following good results then don't think he would have stuck around anyway 

 

Part of a great team with NP and always think highly of him

[Xen]

Loved him as a coach, seems a really genuine, likeable guy, but ultimately he didn't quite have what it takes to cut it as a manager at this level. Perhaps would do a better job in the lower leagues if he decided to try management again. 

 

That being said, he had a tough run at the start of the 17/18 season. 4/8 games against CL clubs, he'd just lost his main midfielder in Drinkwater and the replacement (Silva) wasn't eligible to play until January, and Mahrez was starting to make rumblings about leaving. The performance against West Brom that saw him sacked was dismal to say the least, but I think he would have been 'OK' if we'd kept him on and had us finishing safe around 14th. Sacking him was the right decision (we'd never have progressed under him unfortunately) and he never should have been hired as permanent manager in the first place, but I have absolutely no ill feeling towards him and wish him the best. Part of the trifecta which turned our club around after years of drab football, and an integral piece of the jigsaw which saw us crowned champions of England.  

[Wymsey]

Wonder where he'll be next on the job-front.

[Fox92]

The decision to give him the job full time was atrocious. 

[norwichfox]

I've a lot of respect for Craig Shakespeare, it was an poor decision to give him the permanent managers job. He seems to have disappeared off the radar, for him to become a good manager I think he would need to do an apprenticeship at championship level. I hope he gets a good position coaching/managing somewhere and we'll see him with 2 balls tucked under his arms again (for a visiting team).

[David Hankey]

On 18/06/2019 at 15:43, Corky said:

Excellent coach, did an important job after Ranieri left, very likeable man. Shouldn't have been given the job full-time however and a shame it ended how it did.

Agree entirely. Very good coach but a fundamental error was made when he was given the role of manager.

[Tuna]

19 hours ago, Fox92 said:

The decision to give him the job full time was atrocious. 

We didn't confirm the appointment until June as I recall, what on earth where we doing for the weeks following the season?

[MrsJohnMurphy]

I have no idea why a championship club don't reunite him with Pearson