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United Kingdom Kenny Jackett has a long-standing career in professional football, transitioning from a distinguished player at Watford to an experienced manager and director of football for multiple EFL clubs.
Kenny Jackett was appointed as Director of Football for Gillingham FC shortly after Brad Galinson completed his takeover in December 2022. He stepped down from this role in November 2024 due to medical reasons.
Jackett led Wolves from League One to the Championship with a record point haul. Two years later, Fosun took over.
In June 2017, Kenny Jackett became the Portsmouth manager, taking over from Paul Cook. He extended his contract in November 2017 and led the team to win the EFL Trophy in 2019.
In May 2021, Jackett took over as manager of Leyton Orient from Jobi McAnuff.
Kenneth Francis Jackett, born on January 5, 1962, in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, established himself early in football as a skillful left-footed player for his hometown club, Watford. His playing career, which began at the age of 18 in 1980, saw him become a consistent presence in Watford’s team, contributing to their promotion to the First Division and a runner-up finish in the 1982-83 season. He also participated in the club’s 1984 FA Cup Final appearance and subsequent UEFA Cup campaign. Jackett’s playing tenure was cut short at 28 due to knee injuries, but he remained involved in football, transitioning to coaching within Watford, where he had made 428 appearances, scoring 34 goals.
Jackett’s managerial career began with a year as Watford’s manager from 1996 to 1997, after which he served as first-team coach. He later managed Swansea City from 2004 to 2007, securing promotion from League Two, winning the FAW Premier Cup, and the Football League Trophy. Following this, he managed Millwall from 2007 to 2013, guiding them to promotion to the Championship. His time at Wolverhampton Wanderers from 2013 to 2016 was marked by winning the League One title with a record 103 points. Post-Wolves, he had brief stints as manager for Rotherham United and Portsmouth, leading Portsmouth to an EFL Trophy victory in 2019. He then managed Leyton Orient from 2021 to 2022 before taking on the role of director of football at Gillingham in 2023.
Throughout his career, Jackett demonstrated a commitment to football, taking on various leadership roles. His health led to him stepping down from his latest position at Gillingham in November 2024. He has been recognized with individual accolades such as the Football League Championship Manager of the Month and LMA League One Manager of the Year (shared). His journey reflects a dedicated professional who has consistently worked within the football industry, contributing to the development and success of several clubs.
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