Leicester City: Could Craig Shakespeare be England bound?
By Jake Cursley
To leave or not to leave, that’s the question that Leicester City assistant manager Craig Shakespeare faces as Allardyce targets him for his backroom staff.
Recently appointed successor of Roy Hodgson as England manager Sam Allardyce is compiling his backroom staff following England’s shock Euros exit to Iceland.
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After former boss of Leicester City’s local rivals Derby Paul Clement turned down the job to continue working with Carlo Ancelotti in Germany with Bayern Munich, Craig Shakespeare looks to be next on Big Sam’s list.
Craig signed a new contract with Leicester City 3 months ago following his success alongside manager Claudio Ranieri and fellow assistant manager Steve Walsh, who last month made a move to Everton.
Steve Walsh’s shock move from Leicester City to Everton as their ‘Director of Football’ could have been a catalyst for Shakespeare to consider a move to work under Allardyce. It is reported that the Premier League winning assistant is interested in the opportunity.
Craig’s career in management has just begun, being only 53 years old he has plenty of years ahead of him, many Leicester City fans will be hoping he sees sense and doesn’t go to England to work in a less intensive manner.
National positions, whether in management or in the backroom staff tend to be for the older generation of managers, looking to wind their careers down in a less intensive environment may give Leicester City fans hope.
Should Shakespeare take the position, he may well do this part time if Leicester City agree to some kind of compensation agreement with the FA. Similar to the way Gary Neville held the management position at La Liga’s historic club Valencia and worked as Assistant under Roy Hodgson, albeit for a small time frame as he lasted less than a season in Spain.
Speaking to the Leicester Mercury in May, Leicester City boss Ranieri much to say on Walsh and Shakespeare
"“They are great men doing fantastic jobs for Leicester City and I am very happy that they have committed further with the Football club.”"
"“Craig and Steve have been very important to this and I am very pleased to have had their support in understanding the players and helping them to understand my philosophy."
One thing we do know, this saga will not go on for long. Allardyce will need an answer from the Leicester City assistant urgently as his first game as England boss will be against Slovakia on the 4th of September, just over a month away.
Leicester City will also not want to be drawn into a saga, with their opening game of the Premier League season being less than two weeks away. They will want certainty over Shakespeare’s future before the Community Shield game at Wembely this Sunday against Manchester United.
Shakespeare leaving would be a blow for Leicester City just a month after losing Steve Walsh whom was responsible for the recruitment of Leicester stars Vardy and Mahrez along with Kante who left earlier this summer to Chelsea.
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However with the upper management’s recruitment of replacing former players and staff, Leicester City fans must keep their faith. So far the only outbound transfer for Leicester has been Frenchman N’Golo Kante, of whom was already backed up by Daniel Amartey and Nampalys Mendy.