Excitement Building For Appleton
- Michael Appleton believes becoming assistant manager at Leicester City has provided him with a huge opportunity
- The former Oxford United manager has already been made welcome by the Club’s players and staff
- Appleton is thrilled to link up with Foxes boss Craig Shakespeare, who he previously worked with at West Bromwich Albion
The 41-year-old was named as assistant manager last month following three successful years at Oxford United.
Appleton’s optimism during his first interview at the Club was clear, as he citied City’s past few seasons as a catalyst for more success in the near future.
Speaking to LCFC TV, he said: “I am very excited, obviously. It came around very quickly. The opportunity to come and work in the Premier League and at a club that very recently was champions of England, and only last season was competing in the Champions League was a big pull.
“It is an achievement that did wonders for the game and for the Premier League. Obviously expectations come with that type of achievement.
“Last year obviously the Champions League was a new experience for everyone at the Club and to reach the quarter-finals and push Atletico as strongly as they did says a lot about the achievements of the last two years, the rise and climb the Club has had.”
Appleton and manager Craig Shakespeare’s working relationship stretches back two decades and the assistant boss is grateful to be given the chance to do so again.
Appleton said: “It is exciting for me and I feel honoured. It is a relationship that started over 20 years ago now.
“I remember turning up at Grimsby Town as a loan player from Man Utd and meeting him then. We worked together at West Brom for about three or four years around the reserves and the youth team.
“He has taken that on board and thought ‘You know what? He could do a good job for us.’ After all this time we have the opportunity to work together again.
“I think now having been a manager I understand what is needed in terms of the support for the manager, and then again to come in and know that I am working with someone I have known for 20 years, and I trust.
“I know from a values and culture point of view we have got similar points of view on those things.”
During his time at the Kassam Stadium, Appleton led Oxford to promotion to League 1, as well as two Football League Trophy Finals and believes his experiences there have prepared him well his role at the Foxes.
“The first few months at Oxford were very tough,” explained Appleton. “In the January of my first season we had to make a lot of changes to staff and players. From there it was quite strange.
“It was one of them where for two-and-a-half years everything was on an upward curve. We finished the season really well and did fantastically in the second season, getting promotion and getting to Wembley.
“Having to lose two or three of your best players the next season was difficult but the players who came in dealt with it quite well. It has been a period of my life I won’t forget.
“It is an opportunity now for me to work in the Premier League as I did at West Brom. It is something I am really excited about.”
Pre-season trips to Austria and Hong Kong are fast approaching and after overseeing training this week, the assistant manager says he has already been made to feel welcome at the Club.
“Having someone like Craig at the helm, I wouldn’t expect anything different,” added Appleton.
“The staff have been fantastic and everyone is trying to make me feel very welcome and find a place to live in the area.”