Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has paid a touching tribute to Craig Robert Shakespeare after the latter’s shock demise.
The death of Craig was confirmed by The League Managers’ Association (LMA), who released a statement on behalf of the deceased family.
The LMA’s statement confirming the passing of the iconic English football veteran reads;
“Craig has passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family”.
“While the family are immensely proud of his footballing achievements as both a player and a coach, to us, his family, he will always primarily be a loving and loved husband, father, son, brother, and uncle.”
Craig, 60, had been undergoing cancer treatment since 2023. However, the cause of his death remains unknown as of the time of filing this report.
Reacting to the demise of Craig, Manchester United center-back hailed the football icon for the role he played in his (Maguire’s) professional football career. He wrote;
“The man who signed me from Leicester City, the man who gave me so much belief, the man I learned so much from. I will be forever grateful. Football will miss you. Life will miss you. An incredible man. My thoughts are will all the family at this difficult moment. RIP Shakey❤️”
Who is Craig Robert Shakespeare?
Late Craig Robert Shakespeare is a Birmingham-born former English professional footballer and manager. During his playing career, Shakespeare functioned as a midfielder.
He began his career with Walsall Youth in 1971, learning the ropes of professional football before transitioning to the first team in 1981.
Craig had his best career chapter with Walsall. He played for eight years for the club, making 284 league appearances, and scoring 45 goals.
After leaving Walsall in 1989, he had spells with Sheffield Wednesday, West Brom, Grimsby, Scunthorpe, Telford, and Hednesford Town. He made a legendary 525 club career appearances, scoring 68 goals before calling time on his career in 2000.
Craig Robert Shakespeare’s managerial career
Six years after retiring from football, Craig took up management role in the sport. He first started as caretaker manager at his former club West Bromwich Albion in 2006. He took charge of only one game – a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace – before West Brom appointed Tony Mowbray as new manager.
He left the club two years later and joined Leicester City as assistant manager in 2008 working under Pearson. When Pearson left Leicester City for Hull City as the new manager, he joined the English coach. He also returned with him again as assistant manager when the latter was reappointed as Leicester City boss.
In 2015, Leicester City sacked Pearson. This time, Craig did not leave with the English gaffer. He stayed on as assistant manager with the Foxes and would later work with new incoming manager Claudio Ranieri.
He was part of the Leicester City coaching crew that won the 2015-16 Premier League title under Claudio Ranieri. When Leicester City sacked Ranieri in 2017, Craig was named as Leicester City’s manager.
He reversed Leicester City’s poor run that season under Ranieri, after taking over, bringing them from 17th to a strong 12th-place finish at the end of the campaign. However, he was sacked the following season after a poor start to the campaign.
He also worked as a first-team coaching officer with Watford, Walsall, Everton, and England, but it was only at Leicester, City that he was made a first-team manager
How Craig Robert and Harry Maguire crossed paths
Craig Robert and Harry Maguire’s career crossed paths at Leicester City. Coincidentally, Maguire, who was playing for Hull City, joined Leicester City in 2017 when Craig Robert was the manager.
Craig played a role in Leicester City’s acquisition of the center-back for £17million on a five-year contract.
Maguire currently plays for Manchester United in the Premier League after joining the club for a £70m transfer fee in 2019. He signed a six-year contract and has made 140 Premier League appearances for the club, scoring 6 goals.
