Leicester City confirm Shakespeare’s dismissal after six-game winless run
Leicester City have confirmed the dismissal of Craig Shakespeare, just four months after handing him a permanent contract to manage the former Premier League champions.
Shakespeare, 53, was promoted from his role as assistant coach on an interim basis following the shock dismissal of Claudio Ranieri in February and in June he was handed a three-year contract.
But the 2015/16 champions have struggled this season and are third from bottom of the table with a single league win.
“Craig has been a great servant to Leicester City – during his spells as an assistant manager and since taking over as manager in challenging circumstances in February,” Leicester vice chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha said yesterday.
“However, our early promise under Craig’s management has not been consistently evident in the months since and the board feels that, regrettably, a change is necessary to keep the club moving forward.
“Craig is and will remain a very popular, respected figure at Leicester City and will be welcome back at King Power Stadium in future.”
Former Blackburn and Portsmouth manager Michael Appleton, who had been working as Shakespeare’s assistant, will be Leicester’s caretaker Manager for Saturday’s Premier League trip to Swansea City.
Contenders for the post also include former England manager Sam Allardyce, who left Crystal Palace at the end of last season, Wales coach Chris Coleman, Burnley manager Sean Dyche and Zenit St Petersburg chief Roberto Mancini.
Shakespeare’s appointment this year had sparked a striking upturn in form that saw Leicester reach the quarter-finals of the Uefa Champions League. But Monday’s home draw with West Bromwich Albion saw Leicester’s winless Premier League run reach six matches.
He is the second managerial casualty of the Premier League season following the dismissal of Frank de Boer from the Crystal Palace job.