August 02, (THEWILL) – Former Leicester City manager, Craig Shakespeare, has died at age 60, his family announced on Thursday. Shakespeare passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones, according to a statement released by the League Managers’ Association on behalf of his family. He had been diagnosed with cancer in October last year.
Shakespeare played a key role in Leicester City’s remarkable English Premier League title victory during the 2015/2016 season, serving as assistant to Claudio Ranieri. He took over as manager in early 2017 but was dismissed later that year after a poor start to the season. Shakespeare also briefly held a coaching position with the England national team in 2016.
Following his time at Leicester, Shakespeare continued his football career as an assistant manager at several clubs including Everton, Watford, Aston Villa, and Norwich. His final role was a return to Leicester City as assistant head coach under Dean Smith from April 2023. However, his short-term contract was not renewed after the club’s relegation from the EPL.
Shakespeare’s family did not provide details about his cancer diagnosis or treatment. The football community is expected to pay tribute to Shakespeare’s contributions to the sport, particularly his involvement in Leicester City’s unlikely title triumph.
The loss of Craig Shakespeare marks the end of a career spanning decades in English football. His impact on the game, especially during Leicester’s fairytale season, will be remembered by fans and colleagues alike.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
