Leicester City appoint Craig Shakespeare manager until the end of the season
Leicester’s owners have praised the impact of caretaker manager Craig Shakespeare after confirming that he will remain in charge of the Premier League title-winners until at least the end of the season.
Shakespeare has guided the Foxes to consecutive wins since the sacking of Claudio Ranieri, easing fears that Leicester could become the first reigning English champions to be relegated since 1938.
“We always knew the team would be in good hands when we asked him to take charge a fortnight ago,” said vice-chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha.
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“He has initiated the type of positive response that we hoped change would bring, showing great leadership qualities and composure under considerable pressure to produce two very important results.
“We have asked him to continue to lead the team this season and we are very happy that he has accepted.”
Leicester beat Liverpool 3-1 in Shakespeare’s first match in temporary charge last month and followed that up just days later by defeating Hull by the same scoreline. They currently sit 15th in the table with 11 games remaining.
The 53-year-old’s next target is to keep the club’s Champions League hopes alive by overturning a 2-1 first-leg deficit against Sevilla at the King Power Stadium on Tuesday.
Leicester had been expected to hand the reins to Shakespeare following the improvement in results. They are also thought to have considered hiring former England manager Roy Hodgson.
Former Chelsea boss Ranieri was dismissed on 23 February, just nine months after leading Leicester to the first top-flight title in their history.