Former Wolves, Watford, Portsmouth, and Millwall manager Kenny Jackett has died at the age of 64. Jackett, who made 428 appearances as a player, also had managerial spells at Swansea, Rotherham, and Leyton Orient. He played 337 times for Watford over a decade and earned 31 caps for Wales. His final role was director of football at Gillingham before stepping down for medical reasons in November 2024.
Watford chairman Scott Duxbury paid tribute, saying: 'There is a deep and profound sense of loss at the football club following the sad news Kenny Jackett has passed away. Kenny holds legend status here following his remarkable achievements as a player, a coach, and a manager, and the club has truly lost one of its own.'
Jackett's longest managerial stint was at Millwall, where he oversaw 306 games from 2007 to 2013. A club statement read: 'Kenny Jackett will forever go down as one of Millwall Football Club's greatest managers and a man who gave Lions fans moments to remember for life. The thoughts of everyone at the club are with Kenny's family and friends at this very sad time.'
Swansea, where he managed from 2004 to 2007, said: 'He will be deeply missed by all who knew him, but our club and the game of football as a whole has been the better for his presence. He will always have a special place in the hearts of Swansea fans, and his place in history of our club is not in doubt.'
Wolves stated that Jackett would 'be forever remembered as the man who started the club's rise from the third tier of English football into European title chasers.' The statement added: 'If not for the foundations he laid at Molineux, Wolves may never have reached those dizzying heights they have experienced in more recent years.'
