Craig Shakespeare has been appointed England first-team coach working alongside new manager Sam Allardyce.
Highly regarded across the game for his coaching prowess, man-management skills and tactical ability, Shakespeare will work with Allardyce and assistant manager Sammy Lee in preparing the England squad on the road to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia – starting with the qualifier away to Slovakia on 4 September.
He will retain his prominent role as assistant manager at champions Leicester City, where he played a key part in the Foxes’ Premier League triumph last season. This is his second spell at Leicester, either side of a one-year stay at Hull City – having first joined the club back in 2008.
“This is a huge honour for me”
Craig Shakespeare
Shakespeare, who as well as his coaching credentials enjoyed a long playing career most notably with Walsall and West Bromwich Albion, said: “This is a huge honour for me.
“Anyone involved in football knows that representing your country is something special and this caps off a brilliant year.
“Leicester have been really good to me and I am sure the international experience I get from being alongside Sam and Sammy will add to my work at the club. We will have an elite group of players and a great facility in St. George’s Park. I can’t wait to get started.”
Allardyce said: “Craig will be a tremendous asset to England, and I am grateful to Leicester for their help in making this happen.
“Sammy and I know him well and he will bring his own insight to what we are trying to do with the squad. Players respect him and his achievement this past season means we will be getting someone who has a strong winning mentality.”
