Former Leicester City manager Craig Shakespeare has been confirmed dead at the age of 60.

Shakespeare passed away in the United Kingdom on Thursday morning surrounded by his family.

The former Leicester mentor was diagnosed with cancer last year and said he was receiving treatment.

He was the assistant to Claudio Ranieri for Leicester’s Premier League title-winning season in 2016.

A statement issued on behalf of his family by the League Manager’s Association read: “Whilst 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.

Leicester City promoted to Premier League

“The loss is devastating to us all and we would ask that privacy be given at this incredibly difficult time as we try to come to terms with, and mourn, the loss of a very special person.”

Shakespeare took charge of the Foxes the following season after Ranieri’s exit and oversaw their famous win over Sevilla to reach the Champions League quarter-final in their maiden outing in the competition.

He lasted less than a season before he was dismissed by the club. His other coaching roles included Hull, Watford, Aston Villa, Norwich, and Everton.

He was also assistant to Sam Allardyce during his one-game tenure as England boss.

Shakespeare was also a player for Walsall, for whom he made more than 350 appearances, Sheffield Wednesday, West Brom, and Grimsby before rejoining the Baggies first as a football in the community officer and then academy coach following his retirement.

Before Ranieri took over, Shakespeare worked under Nigel Pearson at Leicester as they pulled off ‘The Great Escape’ in 2015 – the season before their unlikely title win.

The Star