Former Leicester manager Dean Smith said he tried to sign Jamie Vardy for his current club Charlotte FC and paid tribute to his former assistant Craig Shakespeare.
Smith, 53, had hoped to take Vardy with him to the United States, but believes the Foxes’ rise to prominence has denied him the chance to bring the 37-year-old striker to Major League Soccer.
When asked about his former striker at US Bank Stadium in Charlotte, where his team Charlotte plays, Smith said: “I texted him and asked if he wanted to come to America, but I knew it would be difficult with him leading Leicester back to the Premier League.”
“It’s just his enthusiasm for the game, he doesn’t train as much as he used to and he won’t play as many minutes as he used to but if he’s used properly he’ll be really, really good (this season). You saw the goals he scored in the Championship last year.”
Smith also paid tribute to Shakespeare, who was his long-time assistant in the Premier League at Leicester and Aston Villa but died last week at the age of 60.
He added: “Craig was a very close friend of mine. As were (his wife) Karen (and children) Elle and Jed. The last nine or 10 months have been really tough. He was taken from us too soon.”
“I can’t say enough good things about him. I was actually his manager at Walsall and we played together there. Then he went on to coach with me at Aston Villa, Norwich and Leicester. It just breaks my heart that he was taken from us so early.”
“As a coach, he got the best out of players and people through his way of dealing with them. He knew and understood the game really well. He was instrumental in Leicester winning the Premier League. He was instrumental in the development of players like Harry Maguire, who he signed at Leicester.
“There are so many players who have sent so many messages to the family, including Jack Grealish. I spoke to John Terry the other day and he was heartbroken, as were we all.
“I will remember him for his humility but also for his humor. He was the comedian with the best timing of all time and sometimes even while he was sick he would make fun of cancer and that’s the kind of guy he was.”
