Kenny Jackett

Football manager infobox
playername = Kenny Jackett


fullname = Kenneth Francis Jackett
height =
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1962|1|5|df=y
cityofbirth = Watford
countryofbirth = England
currentclub = Millwall (manager)
clubnumber =
position = Midfielder
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1980-1990
clubs = Watford
caps(goals) = 335 (25)
nationalyears = 1983-1988
nationalteam = Wales
nationalcaps(goals) = 031 (0)
manageryears = 1996-1997
2004-2007
2007-
managerclubs = Watford
Swansea City
Millwall

Kenny Jackett (born 5 January 1962 in Watford) is a former Welsh football player who is now a manager. He is the current manager of Millwall.

A skilful player, equally at home in defence or midfield, Jackett was capped 31 times for Wales, for whom he was eligible through his Welsh-born father. He spent his entire playing career at Watford, before his career was ended by injury. He moved onto the coaching staff, and had a spell as manager in the 1996-97 season. Between 2004 and 2007 he was manager of Swansea City.

Playing career

Jackett broke into the Watford first team at the end of the 1979-80 season. During the 1980s he helped the team to a runners-up spot in Division One, as well as appearing in the 1984 FA Cup Final. Jackett's playing career was ended prematurely when a serious knee injury forced his retirement in 1990, at the age of 28. Had he not incurred the injury he would have most likely topped Watford's all-time appearance record - currently held by striker Luther Blissett.

Managerial career

On retirement, Jackett stayed at Vicarage Road where he had several coaching roles before beginning his management career in June 1996 as head coach with Watford. He succeeded Graham Taylor, who became Director of Football.

Watford had just been relegated to Division Two and Jackett was unable to mount a serious promotion challenge. In the 1996-97 season Watford finished 13th - their lowest finish since the 1970s. During the close season he was demoted to assistant manager, with Taylor once again becoming manager. Jackett assisted Taylor in getting Watford promoted two seasons in a row, and helped the club during their 1999-2000 Premiership campaign - although they were relegated in bottom place.

When Taylor left Watford at the end of the 2000-01 Division One campaign, Jackett was released on the instruction of incoming manager Gianluca Vialli, an unpopular move with many fans of the club. He then joined Ian Holloway at Queens Park Rangers as assistant manager and contributed towards their Division Two promotion campaign.

After 3 years as an assistant Jackett left QPR to replace Brian Flynn as manager of Swansea in April 2004 and in his first full season in charge, they were promoted from League Two, finishing in third place. The club also won the FAW Premier Cup.

A fine start to the 2005-06 League One campaign followed, putting them well on course for a second successive promotion, but Swansea slipped away from the top of the league, ending the season in sixth place and qualifying for the promotion play-offs, which they lost on penalties in the final against Barnsley. However, he did win the Football League Trophy, as well as winning the FAW Premier Cup for the second season in a row.

In 2006-07 the side hovered in and around the top 6 and defeated Premiership club Sheffield United at Bramall Lane 3-0 in the FA Cup. However, on 15 February 2007 Swansea parted company with Jackett by mutual consent after almost three years in charge. Although the board had asked him to continue following a slump in form, Jackett felt he "no longer has the 100 per cent support of everybody connected with the club" and therefore decided to leave. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/swansea_city/6364593.stm Swansea part company with Jackett] ]

On March 7 2007 Jackett was appointed reserve team manager of Manchester City. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/6425809.stm Jackett to head Man City reserves] ] He was interviewed for the vacant managerial post at League One side Millwall, after the sacking of Willie Donachie, but ruled himself out after an interview. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/millwall/7047596.stm Jackett rules out Millwall move] ] However, on November 6 2007 he left Manchester City to take up the position. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/millwall/7081134.stm Millwall confirm Jackett as boss] ]

On 2nd October 2008 he was named Coca-Cola Football League One Manager of the Month after guiding Millwall to 5 consectutive wins, against Huddersfield, Hartlepoole, Leicester, Cheltenham and Swindon, conceding only two goals.

Managerial stats

"Last updated 28 June 2008

References

External links

*soccerbase (manager)|id=883|name=Kenny Jackett
* [http://www.bsad.org/tribute/jackett/colin.html Kenny Jackett tribute] on "Blind, Stupid and Desperate" (Watford F.C. fan site)