On behalf of his family, the LMA is deeply saddened to announce the passing of Kenny Jackett, who died yesterday at the age of 64.
Reflecting on Kenny Jackett’s contribution to the game, LMA Chief Executive Richard Bevan said: “Kenny stands as one of the most respected managers to have plied their trade in the EFL, a hugely capable leader whose work across four decades has left a lasting influence on the many players, coaches and colleagues who benefitted from his guidance.
“He embodied everything we like to see in a manager, humility, professionalism and a deep care for his players and staff. He improved every club he served and did so with quiet dignity throughout his career. From his first role at Watford to his final role at Gillingham, Kenny’s work was characterised by an incredible sense of responsibility to his teams and to the game itself. Kenny is a huge loss to all that knew and loved him. Our thoughts are with his wife Samantha, sons David and Ryan, and all of his family and friends, who join us in mourning.”
KENNY JACKETT BIO
Kenny progressed through the ranks at Vicarage Road under Graham Taylor, becoming a key figure in one of the most exciting eras in Watford’s history. He made 428 appearances for Watford, placing him among the club’s leading appearance-makers. He represented Wales at international level, winning 31 caps and demonstrating the same reliability and tactical intelligence that came to define his later work in management. Forced into early retirement, he made an immediate and seamless transition into coaching at Watford, channelling his love of football into developing others.
At Watford, Jackett began on the coaching staff working with young players before progressing to assistant manager and eventually taking on the managerial role. Those years formed the bedrock of his coaching identity: detailed preparation, clear communication and an unswerving belief in hard work and collective responsibility. Throughout his career, colleagues and players spoke of his integrity, his calmness under pressure and his meticulous approach on the training ground.
Jackett’s first major managerial success came at Swansea City, where he took charge in 2004. He led the club to promotion from League Two in 2004–05 and added both the Football League Trophy and back-to-back FAW Premier Cup wins, delivering silverware and momentum at a pivotal moment in Swansea’s modern history. From there he moved to Millwall, where he guided his team to promotion via the League One play-offs in 2010 and secured Championship consolidation, including a ninth-place finish which kept the club in play-off contention deep into the season.
In 2013, Jackett took on the challenge of Wolverhampton Wanderers and under his guidance Wolves won the League One title at the first attempt, setting a new divisional points record of 103 and restoring pride and identity to Molineux. He followed that with a seventh-place finish in the Championship, narrowly missing out on the play-offs and underlining his capacity to rebuild and re-energise major clubs.
Jackett became manager of Portsmouth in 2017, inheriting a club with rich tradition and high expectations. Over nearly four years at Fratton Park he consistently kept Pompey competitive, reaching the play-offs and delivering a memorable day at Wembley in 2019 by winning the EFL Trophy against Sunderland after a dramatic penalty shootout.
Across his managerial career with Swansea City, Millwall, Wolves, Portsmouth, Rotherham United and Leyton Orient, Jackett’s teams reflected a clear, repeatable blueprint: organisation without rigidity, intensity without loss of control, and a strong emphasis on character. His overall record as a manager, taking in more than 900 games in the dugout, speaks to remarkable durability and consistency at a demanding level.
Later, he moved into senior technical and strategic roles, including a spell as director of football at Gillingham, where he continued to mentor staff and support long-term planning. Even away from the touchline, his experience and measured judgement remained highly valued throughout the professional game.
