Former Oxford United boss on Man City record and Premier League exit

The 50-year-old was in charge of Oxford from 2014 to 2017, leading the club to automatic promotion to League One in the 2015/16 season.

Appleton helped the club reach the final of the EFL Trophy in two consecutive campaigns but suffering defeat in both at the hands of Barnsley and Coventry City, respectively.

In his final season in charge, the former Charlton Athletic and Blackburn Rovers boss led the U’s to eighth place in the third tier but left during the subsequent summer, joining Leicester as assistant to Craig Shakespeare.

Appleton had a positive relationship with then-chairman Darryl Eales, with fans ‘disappointed’ with his exit at the time.

“I had a couple of really honest conversations with Darryl at the end of the season before Leicester even came up,” the former Yellows boss revealed in an interview with EFL Debate.

Michael Appleton checks his watch as the final game of the season against Wycombe Wanderers enters injury time, waiting for the celebrations to start as the U’s clinch promotion in 2016 (Image: David Fleming)

“Within our conversations, I realised that if anything did come up, I’d have to really seriously think about it.

“It was around financials, how we rebuild, can we rebuild? There were a few things going on with Daryl at the time and… that didn’t go as well as what I thought it was going to do after two years of success.

“At the end of the day, we know how quickly things can turn in football.

“The Leicester one came up, and I felt it was just a fantastic opportunity to work with top, top players and international players, with someone who I knew and had respected for a while.

“Because I’d done it at West Bromwich Albion, I knew I was more than comfortable on that stage working with the players on the pitch.

READ MORE: Former Oxford United boss spotted at League One rivals

READ MORE: Oxford United tipped for League One promotion despite ‘massive’ losses

“When that opportunity came, it was a no brainer.

“To work with the likes of Vards [and] those six months I had with Riyad Mahrez, probably the best player I ever coached.”

Appleton led Oxford to deep runs in cup competitions alongside league success, particularly in his second and third seasons at the club.

Michael Appleton has been out of work since leaving Shrewsbury Town in January (Image: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire)

“We had good people, good players, the place just exploded.

“[In 2015/16] we got promotion, we were great, we had a really good run in the FA Cup, we got to the final of the EFL Trophy and it was a good time.

“I think it was the second year and the third year, and I’ll have to get the absolute stats but I’ll only be out by one or two games, I think there was only Manchester City that, in the whole of the Football League and Premier League for two seasons on the run, that played more games than Oxford. I think we played 62 and 61 because of cup games.

“The football club at that time was really, really good for me.”