Craig Shakespeare
{{Short description|English footballer and manager (1963–2024)}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Craig Shakespeare
| image = Craig Shakespeare.png
| upright = 0.7
| caption = Shakespeare with Leicester City in 2010
| full_name = Craig Robert Shakespeare
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1963|10|26}}
| birth_place = Birmingham, England
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2024|8|1|1963|10|26}}
| death_place =
| height = {{height|ft=5|in=10}}
| position = Midfielder
| youthyears1 = 1979–1981
| youthclubs1 = Walsall
| years1 = 1981–1989
| clubs1 = Walsall
| caps1 = 284
| goals1 = 45
| years2 = 1989–1990
| clubs2 = Sheffield Wednesday
| caps2 = 17
| goals2 = 1
| years3 = 1990–1993
| clubs3 = West Bromwich Albion
| caps3 = 112
| goals3 = 12
| years4 = 1993–1997
| clubs4 = Grimsby Town
| caps4 = 106
| goals4 = 10
| years5 = 1997–1998
| clubs5 = Scunthorpe United
| caps5 = 4
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 1998
| clubs6 = Telford United
| caps6 = 1
| goals6 = 1
| years7 = 2000
| clubs7 = Hednesford Town
| caps7 = 1
| goals7 = 0
| totalcaps = 525
| totalgoals = 68
| manageryears1 = 2006
| managerclubs1 = West Bromwich Albion (caretaker)
| manageryears5 = 2017
| managerclubs5 = Leicester City
}}
Craig Robert Shakespeare (26 October 1963 – 1 August 2024) was an English professional footballer and coach.
A midfielder, Shakespeare began his playing career with Walsall, where he made over 350 appearances. After a brief spell with Sheffield Wednesday, he also made over 100 appearances for both West Bromwich Albion and Grimsby Town. He also played for Scunthorpe United before finishing his career in non-league football with Telford United and Hednesford Town.
As a coach, Shakespeare worked at West Bromwich Albion, Leicester City and Hull City. He was briefly caretaker manager at West Brom in 2006 and took a similar role at Leicester in February 2017 before he was appointed manager in March. He was appointed permanent manager of Leicester City on 8 June 2017 after signing a three-year deal. He later served as assistant manager for Everton, Watford, Aston Villa and the England national team.
Playing career
In his playing days he was an attacking midfielder; he favoured his left foot and his preferred position was on the left side of midfield.{{citation needed|date = August 2024}} He signed as an apprentice at Walsall in September 1979, turning professional in November 1981.{{citation needed|date = August 2024}} Shakespeare rated his goal in a 2–2 League Cup draw against Chelsea in October 1984 as the best of his career.{{cite web |date=6 November 2007 |url=http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/PickANumberDetail/0,,10366~1161172,00.html |title=Pick a Number... |publisher=West Bromwich Albion F.C. |access-date=6 November 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080106191940/http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/PickANumberDetail/0%2C%2C10366~1161172%2C00.html |archive-date=6 January 2008}} In 1987–88 he helped Walsall to win promotion to Division Two via the playoffs, an achievement which he has since described as his greatest in football. He played well over 350 games for the Saddlers, scoring 59 goals, and in 1989 he moved to Sheffield Wednesday, then in the First Division, for a fee of £300,000.{{citation needed|date = August 2024}}
Shakespeare spent less than a year at Hillsborough, before moving to West Bromwich Albion for £275,000.{{citation needed|date = August 2024}} He stayed at Albion for over three years, making 128 appearances in total{{citation needed|date = August 2024}} and becoming the team's first choice penalty taker.{{citation needed|date = August 2024}} He scored twice from the penalty spot in Albion's first ever game in the Third Division, a 6–3 victory over Exeter City in August 1991.{{citation needed|date = August 2024}}
Albion were promoted in 1993, but Shakespeare moved to Grimsby Town,{{citation needed|date = August 2024}} rejoining Alan Buckley under whom he had played at Walsall.{{citation needed|date = August 2024}} He later moved on to Scunthorpe United,{{citation needed|date = August 2024}} and also played for three non-league clubs{{specify}} before retiring.{{citation needed|date = August 2024}}
Coaching career
In 1999, he re-joined West Brom as Football in the Community Officer. In this role, he was responsible for promoting football at grass roots level in the local community. He later took up the post of academy coach, then in 2006 became Reserve Team Coach. In October 2006, following the departure of Bryan Robson and then his assistant Nigel Pearson (who had been caretaker manager for a period of four weeks), Shakespeare was given charge of the first team for one game pending the arrival of Tony Mowbray.{{cite news |date=17 October 2006 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_bromwich_albion/6058698.stm |title=Pearson stands down at West Brom |work=BBC Sport |access-date=22 March 2017}} The game was away to Crystal Palace; Albion won 2–0.{{cite news |date=18 October 2006 |url=http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/0,,10366~913837,00.html |title=Shakey enjoys night in spotlight |publisher=West Bromwich Albion F.C. |access-date=12 November 2007}}{{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}
Shakespeare left Albion in June 2008 to become Pearson's assistant manager at Leicester City,{{cite news |title=Shakespeare leaves Albion |url=http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/0,,10366~1334833,00.html |publisher=West Bromwich Albion F.C. |date=27 June 2008 |access-date=28 June 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080928043245/http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/0%2C%2C10366~1334833%2C00.html |archive-date=28 September 2008 }} a move that was confirmed on 1 July.{{cite news |title=Pearson Adds Duo To Backroom Staff |url=http://www.lcfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/LatestNews/0,,10274~1337090,00.html |publisher=Leicester City F.C. |date=1 July 2008 |access-date=1 July 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919151910/http://www.lcfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/LatestNews/0%2C%2C10274~1337090%2C00.html |archive-date=19 September 2008 }} As well as having worked together on the West Bromwich Albion coaching staff, the two had also played together at Sheffield Wednesday. Shakespeare once said that Pearson was the best captain he had ever played under.{{cite news |title=Craig Shakespeare – Simply the Best |url=http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/SimplyTheBest/0,,10366~991766,00.html |publisher=West Bromwich Albion F.C. |date=15 May 2007 |access-date=16 July 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120805194736/http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/SimplyTheBest/0,,10366~991766,00.html |archive-date=5 August 2012 }}
Shakespeare then followed Pearson to Hull City, which lasted until 2011.{{cite news |title=Hull City name Nigel Pearson as new manager |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hull_city/8758153.stm |work=BBC Sport |access-date=29 June 2010 |date=29 June 2010}}{{cite news |title=Leicester City appoint Hull City's Nigel Pearson as boss |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/15621888 |work=BBC Sport |date=15 November 2011 |access-date=28 May 2016}}
He then followed Pearson back to Leicester City when the latter was reappointed manager there in November 2011. Following Pearson's sacking in July 2015,{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33339566 |title=Nigel Pearson: Leicester boss's sacking linked to son's actions |work=BBC Sport |date=1 July 2015 |access-date=12 September 2018}} Shakespeare remained as assistant manager to incoming manager Claudio Ranieri and the club were subsequently crowned English champions in 2015–16.{{Cite web |date=2 May 2016 |title=Leicester City win Premier League title after Tottenham draw at Chelsea |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35988673 |access-date=2 August 2024 |website=BBC Sport}}
When Sam Allardyce was made England manager in 2016 Shakespeare took on a coaching position alongside his Leicester job, but left when Allardyce resigned after just one match.{{cite web |last1=Tanner |first1=Rob |title=Leicester City's Shakespeare out of England set-up |url=http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/leicester-city-s-shakespeare-out-of-england-set-up/story-29770955-detail/story.html |work=Leicester Mercury |access-date=7 March 2017}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}
Ranieri was sacked on 23 February 2017, with Leicester in 17th with 13 games remaining; Shakespeare took over as caretaker manager.{{cite news |title=Claudio Ranieri: Leicester City sack Premier League-winning manager |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39070927 |access-date=1 August 2024 |work=BBC Sport |date=23 February 2017}} His first game in charge was a 3–1 victory over Liverpool in the Premier League four days later.{{cite news |title=Leicester City 3–1 Liverpool |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39024318 |work=BBC Sport |date=27 February 2017 |access-date=27 February 2017}} On 12 March, he was named as the new manager of Leicester City.{{cite news |title=Craig Shakespeare: Leicester City caretaker named permanent manager |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40204320 |access-date=1 August 2024 |work=BBC Sport |date=8 June 2017}} On 18 March, Shakespeare became the first Premier League manager ever to achieve 3 goals per game in his first three matches in charge.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39240120 |title=West Ham United v Leicester City |author=Jack Skelton |work=BBC Sport |date=18 March 2017 |access-date=20 March 2017}} Then on 1 April, he became the only English manager to win his first four league matches.{{cite news |url=http://bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39390081 |title=Leicester City: Craig Shakespeare proud of historic start as manager |date=1 April 2017 |work=BBC Sport |access-date=2 April 2017}} Leicester finished the season in 12th place.{{cite news |title=Leicester 2016/17 Premier League season review |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11712/10887248/leicester-2016-17-premier-league-season-review |access-date=1 August 2024 |publisher=Sky Sports |date=21 May 2017}}
On 8 June 2017, Shakespeare signed a three-year deal to be the permanent manager for Leicester City.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40204320 |title=Craig Shakespeare: Leicester City caretaker named permanent manager |work=BBC Sport |date=8 June 2017}} On 17 October 2017, he was dismissed after poor performances left the club in the bottom three of the Premier League.{{cite news |title=Craig Shakespeare sacked by Leicester City after four months in charge |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/oct/17/craig-shakespeare-sacked-leicester-city-manager |access-date=17 October 2017 |work=The Guardian |date=17 October 2017}}
On 1 December 2017, Shakespeare was appointed first team coach at Everton following the appointment of Sam Allardyce as manager the previous day.{{cite web |title=Lee And Shakespeare Join Coaching Staff |url=http://www.evertonfc.com/news/2017/12/01/lee-and-shakespeare-join-coaching-staff |publisher=Everton F.C. |access-date=1 December 2017 |date=1 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201232740/http://www.evertonfc.com/news/2017/12/01/lee-and-shakespeare-join-coaching-staff |archive-date=1 December 2017 |url-status=dead}} On 16 May 2018, Allardyce and his backroom staff, including Shakespeare, were dismissed by Everton.{{cite news |last=Jones |first=Adam |date=16 May 2018 |title=Confirmed – Everton sack Sam Allardyce |work=Liverpool Echo |url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/confirmed-sam-allardyce-leaves-everton-14663925?_ga=2.77378140.895128844.1596815740-1266415787.1577969948 |access-date=7 August 2020}}
On 6 December 2019, Shakespeare was reunited with Nigel Pearson once again, as he was named as assistant manager at Watford.{{cite news|last=Leach|first=Tom|date=6 December 2019|title=Former Leicester City duo take charge of Premier League rivals Watford|work=Leicester Mercury|url=https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/former-leicester-city-duo-set-3618180|access-date=7 August 2020}} He remained in this role until 19 July 2020, when Pearson and his backroom staff were sacked, despite there only being two games left in the season, and Watford being out of the relegation zone at that point.{{cite news |last=Fisher |first=Ben |date=19 July 2020 |title=Nigel Pearson sacked by Watford with two games of season remaining |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/jul/19/nigel-pearson-sacked-watford |access-date=7 August 2020}} Watford went on to lose both their remaining games, and suffer relegation from the Premier League.{{cite web |date=26 July 2020 |title=Arsenal 3-2 Watford: Hornets relegated from Premier League on final day |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53460584 |access-date=7 August 2020 |work=BBC Sport}}
On 7 August 2020, Shakespeare was appointed assistant head coach to former Walsall teammate Dean Smith at Aston Villa,{{cite news |date=7 August 2020 |title=Craig Shakespeare joins Aston Villa as assistant head coach |work=Express & Star |url=https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/uk-sports/2020/08/07/craig-shakespeare-joins-aston-villa-as-assistant-head-coach/ |access-date=7 August 2020}} the team he supported growing up.{{cite web |last=Affleck|first=Kevin|date=24 April 2020|title=My Best: Craig Shakespeare |url=https://www.watfordfc.com/magazine/features/my-best-craig-shakespeare |access-date=7 August 2020 |website=Watford FC Official Site}} Shakespeare parted company with Aston Villa on 8 November 2021, the day after Smith had left the club.{{cite web|date=8 November 2021|title=Villa confirm Shakespeare departure|url=https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2021/november/08/villa-confirm-shakespeare-departure/|url-status=live|access-date=8 November 2021|website=Aston Villa Official Site|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108162753/https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2021/november/08/villa-confirm-shakespeare-departure/ |archive-date=8 November 2021 }} A week later, Shakespeare was appointed assistant head coach to Smith at Norwich City.{{cite news|date=15 November 2021|title=Norwich City: Dean Smith named new Canaries head coach |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59274626|access-date=17 November 2021|work=BBC Sport}} On 10 April 2023, Shakespeare was appointed assistant head coach at Leicester City, again under Smith.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/c149y2rk99do|title='There looked to be a lack of confidence and energy'|date=11 April 2023|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=21 April 2023}}
Personal life and death
On 12 October 2023, it was announced that Shakespeare had been diagnosed with cancer.{{cite news |title=Craig Shakespeare: Former Leicester manager diagnosed with cancer |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67087402 |access-date=12 October 2023 |work=BBC Sport |date=12 October 2023}} He died on the morning of 1 August 2024, at the age of 60.{{cite news |title=Ex-Leicester boss Shakespeare dies |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c727p2mmzxpo |website=BBC Sport |date=1 August 2024 |accessdate=1 August 2024 }}
Managerial statistics
| class=wikitable style="text-align: center"
|+ Managerial record by team and tenure | ||||
| rowspan=2|Team
!rowspan=2|From !rowspan=2|To !colspan=5|Record !rowspan=2|{{abbr|Ref|Reference}} | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| {{abbr|P|Matches played}} | {{abbr|W|Matches won}} | {{abbr|D|Matches drawn}} | {{abbr|L|Matches lost}} | {{abbr|Win %|Win percentage}} |
| align=left|West Bromwich Albion (caretaker)
|align=left|17 October 2006 |align=left|18 October 2006 {{WDL|1|1|0|0|decimals=1}} | ||||
| align=left|Leicester City
|align=left|23 February 2017 {{WDL|26|11|6|9|decimals=1}} | ||||
| colspan=3|Total
{{WDLtot|27|12|6|9|decimals=1}} !— |
Honours
Walsall
- Football League Third Division play-offs: 1988{{cite web | url = https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75610867/the-guardian/ | title = Kelly's rule of three | first = Cynthia | last = Bateman | date = 31 May 1988 | page = 12 | via = Newspapers.com | work = The Guardian | access-date = 17 November 2021 | archive-date = 12 April 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210412161507/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/75610867/the-guardian/ | url-status = live }}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerbase}}
{{West Bromwich Albion F.C. managers}}
{{Leicester City F.C. managers}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shakespeare, Craig}}
Category:Footballers from Birmingham, West Midlands
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Sheffield Wednesday F.C. players
Category:West Bromwich Albion F.C. players
Category:Grimsby Town F.C. players
Category:Scunthorpe United F.C. players
Category:Telford United F.C. players
Category:Hednesford Town F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:National League (English football) players
Category:English football managers
Category:Leicester City F.C. managers
Category:West Bromwich Albion F.C. managers
Category:English Football League managers
Category:Premier League managers
Category:West Bromwich Albion F.C. non-playing staff
Category:Leicester City F.C. non-playing staff
Category:Hull City A.F.C. non-playing staff
Category:Everton F.C. non-playing staff
Category:Watford F.C. non-playing staff
Category:Aston Villa F.C. non-playing staff
Category:Norwich City F.C. non-playing staff