Michael Appleton appointed assistant manager

[Jeff]

https://beta.lcfc.com/news/421685/press-release

Leicester City Football Club is pleased to confirm the appointment of Michael Appleton as the Club’s new Assistant Manager.

Appleton, 41, joins the Foxes after three years as manager of Oxford United. He has signed a three-year contract and will link up with First Team Manager Craig Shakespeare’s staff when the Foxes reconvene for pre-season training next month.

Craig Shakespeare said: “I am delighted that the Club have been able to bring a coach of Michael’s standing to Leicester City. Michael and I worked together at West Bromwich Albion and it quickly became clear that he possessed all the qualities and the integrity required to enjoy a successful coaching career.

“During his transition from a player to a coach, before later becoming a manager, Michael has already achieved great success in the game. Over the course of his three years at Oxford United, he has been acknowledged by many as one of the most talented and knowledgeable coaches in English football.

“That expertise, as well as his excellent coaching acumen, made him the perfect choice as Assistant Manager. I am sure that he will be a huge asset to Leicester City as we strive to achieve our objectives over the coming seasons.”

Shakespeare worked with Appleton within West Bromwich Albion's backroom team for five years between 2003 and 2008. Two years later, following a promotion to the position of first team coach under Roberto di Matteo and a one-game stint as caretaker manager, Appleton left The Hawthorns to take charge of Portsmouth in the Sky Bet Championship.

After subsequent spells with Blackpool and Blackburn Rovers in the second tier, the former Manchester United, Lincoln City, Grimsby Town, Preston North End and West Brom midfielder guided Oxford to promotion from Sky Bet League 2 as runners-up in 2016. His side registered 24 victories, 14 draws and just eight defeats across the 2015/16 campaign.

During his three-year tenure at the Kassam Stadium, Appleton’s Oxford also became known as a side capable of defeating teams from higher divisions in both domestic cup competitions. In January, 2017, they overcame eventual Championship champions Newcastle United 3-0 at home in the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round.

Twelve months earlier, whilst still in League 2, the Oxfordshire outfit also enjoyed a memorable 3-2 Third Round triumph over Premier League side Swansea City following an earlier 4-0 success away at second tier Brentford in the First Round of the EFL Cup in August 2015.

Appleton joins the Foxes with a reputation as one of the country’s most dynamic young coaches having also taken Oxford to consecutive Football League Trophy Finals over the past two seasons. Last term, the U’s finished in eighth place on their maiden campaign back in League 1, just four points off the play-off positions.

 

[Borderfox]

Rather underwhelmed, assuming that the owners still want top flight football at the KP, and by that I mean European football, at best CL, this appointment does not inspire confidence. Both appointments are real stabs in the dark, I genuinely hope I'm wrong, but I fear that another disappointing season is in front of us.

 

[TommyK]

It's an interesting one.

This is someone that Shakespeare clearly knows very well. He knows how he works and knows his coaching abilities. He's also had experience as manager which will stand him in good stead.

I agree it is largely underwhelming, but who were we expecting? Someone like Phillips? Or Powell? Equally underwhelming and without as much experience.

 

[bocadillo]

No word from the club on the really important matter though!!

Is he Colin's son or not?

 

[Jeff]

Rather underwhelmed,

Why?

Who did you expect?

He's a lot more experienced than Shakespeare was when he became assistant manager. That didn't go too badly.
He's got a reputation for playing good football.

This is what Oxford fans make of the news: http://yellowsforum.co.uk/thread/25932/mapps

 

[Borderfox]

It's an interesting one.

This is someone that Shakespeare clearly knows very well. He knows how he works and knows his coaching abilities. He's also had experience as manager which will stand him in good stead.

I agree it is largely underwhelming, but who were we expecting? Someone like Phillips? Or Powell? Equally underwhelming and without as much experience.

That's the problems with appointing Shakey in the first place, his knowledge base is very limited, this is demonstration of those limitations. We need European experience in very large doses these people are not the answer IF the owners still harbour lofty ambitions.

 

[City Fan]

Rather underwhelmed, assuming that the owners still want top flight football at the KP, and by that I mean European football, at best CL, this appointment does not inspire confidence. Both appointments are real stabs in the dark, I genuinely hope I'm wrong, but I fear that another disappointing season is in front of us.

Which other realistic option would you have preferred?

 

[FIF]

Think we've done well to get someone of that quality to work with Shakey. Who did people expect Mourinho? And he can be sacked along with Shakey if it all goes tits up.

 

[fitz]

I think the negativity is brought by the lack of appointment of a manager. Would we be excited if that Carlos Quiroz bloke (?) was number 2 to Rob Kelly?

Appleton may have played a blinder as he may well have a few games to prove himself at this level. He's used to having managerial jobs of a short time so should be used to it.

 

[Micky]

I think a major positive is the fact that he went through the Manchester United academy. There are not many better places to learn how to do things the correct way.

 

[Borderfox]

Which other realistic option would you have preferred?

That's the problem, what other realistic options are there? The answer to that question comes down to the lack of experience our manager has in European terms . Appleton has very limited experience in the higher echelons of English football and absolutely none at the European level. Shakey has gone back to someone he knew before was a manager and when both where coaches says it all really.

 

[alex]

Welcome to Mr Appleton. Superb that we're strengthening the coaching team and by all accounts a decent manager, even if it would appear it looks slightly less ambitious than we may thought we wanted. Time will tell though. Let's back him.

 

[Lako42]

****ing hell, are we back in the Championship?

I hope our player recruitment is more ambitious than our backroom recruitment has been.

As for those saying who could we have got, I imagine Southampton will answer that question shortly.

We've got 2 assistant managers.

 

[Robin127]

...Appleton has very limited experience in the higher echelons of English football and absolutely none at the European level...

And just how are coaches supposed to gain this experience if they're not given an opportunity?

 

[Mike - True Blue Tinter]

Both of them have experience as players and coaches across the English leagues, so know what is required. Remember they are the coaches, not the players and they have all the sports science, nutrition, medical and analysis teams to help out as well.

What is crucial is getting the new players to fit in to the City ethos and reinvigorate the existing personnel.

 

[jb5000]

I'm puzzled by the negativity. He's had a strong reputation as a coach for a few years, and will only have learned from the best at Manchester United. He's not going to be responsible for transfers, so that degree of knowledge is unnecessary. Hopefully he can bring some tactical fine tuning to what can be a bit one dimensional at times in Shakespeare's setup

Sent from my F8331 using Tapatalk

 

[bocadillo]

****ing hell, are we back in the Championship?

I hope our player recruitment is more ambitious than our backroom recruitment has been.

If they'd furnished the backroom any better, there would have been a danger that it might have looked better than the frontroom.

 

[FIF]

If they'd furnished the backroom any better, there would have been a danger that it might have looked better than the frontroom.

Does it matter which coach is in the frontroom and which coach is in the backroom as long as our players can park the bus in front of the door?

 

[Brown Nose]

If they'd furnished the backroom any better, there would have been a danger that it might have looked better than the frontroom.

Very nicely put.

Although, despite my substantial reservations about our new manager, I do want him to prove me wrong. Therefore, I do want him to recruit his preferred personnel, both on the field and off it.

If Appleton is who he wants, I'm pleased that he's got him.

 

[spionfox]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, but what does Lineker think? That's the crucial thing.