‘A one-off’: Kenny Jackett’s trusted assistant leads tributes as former Portsmouth, Wolves, Millwall and Watford manager dies aged 64
Football and Pompey are mourning the loss of Kenny Jackett. His assistant of 16 years gives a touching and insightful tribute to his close friend this afternoon.
Kenny Jackett has been lauded as a football gentleman and ‘one-off’ after his death, aged 64.
The former Pompey boss’ long-term assistant, Joe Gallen, has led the tributes to his close friend after his passing yesterday.
And Gallen has saluted Jackett guiding his team to Wembley glory in the 2019 Checkatrade Trophy as a fitting legacy, after nearly four years in charge at Fratton Park.
The former Watford, Wolves and Millwall boss returned the best win percentage of any Pompey manager since the start of the 20th century, with two play-off campaigns which came up just short of success.
Gallen gave a revealing insight into Jackett’s unique character and professionalism in a moving tribute.
He said: ‘It’s been on the cards for a while and Kenny has been ill for a while.
‘At the turn of the year things weren’t looking great for him, but in true Kenny fashion he fought through and made it to June.
‘There’s been so many messages from players, clubs and supporters.
‘Kenny was a football man. He wasn’t one who tried to win favour in the media or say outrageous things to make him popular.
‘He was proud to be a manager of all of his clubs and his way to show appreciation for that was to work. He was always the first in and last out, I’ve never seen anyone show the diligence and professionalism he showed. He was unbelievably professional and would give his all to the club.
‘He was very respectful. He would never let his guard drop, but he was a gentleman definitely.
‘He was never late, would give his time and answer questions respectfully. At the same time I doubt he’d become your best pal, but he’d give anyone his time.
‘I thought surely he’d come in dishevelled one day or turn up late, but that day never arrived. He was always professional, always prepared, always looked smart and always in early. I hated it!
‘I was with him for 16 years and he never changed from that. He was a one-off in that respect.
‘As a manager you will make decisions people don’t like, but he’d still treat people with respect and be up front with them.
‘He could be ruthless as well and when his mind was made up he wouldn’t care. If someone had to go they had to go, that was it.
‘You wouldn’t mess with him but he was highly intelligent, very good with people and good on the training ground.
‘His emotional intelligence was very high and his discipline was unbelievable.
‘We had a rule that we would not talk about budgets. Kenny never got booked by a referee (as a manager) because he would never blame them - and he would never blame the budget.
‘He’d say we don’t do that, we take responsibility for ourselves. It was highly unusual.
‘I’m not saying he was the best, but I’ve never seen a man act in that way. People do blame the ref or the budget - but not Kenny.
‘So he was a one-off in that way. It was the job that mattered, he was paid to do a job and would give everything to it.’
Gallen told how Jackett’s love of football and diligence would stretch to incredible levels, with there no hiding place for his players.
He added: ‘I’d tell the players he’d never miss a thing they do on the pitch and they’d ask “how’s that?”.
‘My response was he’d watch the game on Saturday and then he’d go home and watch it again that night. He’d then get up on Sunday morning and watch it - and watch it on Monday morning a fourth time. His wife would tell me that was his routine.
‘So he’d pick up on every bit of body language because of that level of professionalism. He was the ultimate professional - that was Kenny.’
Jackett’s time at PO4 saw him guide Pompey to a post-war winning run of nine successes on the bounce at the start of 2020.
Most Blues fans will regard the 2019 penalty shootout win over Sunderland as the high point of his tenure, in an incredible sporting event played out in front of a record Trophy crowd of 85,021 at the home of football.
Gallen feels that occasion is a fitting Pompey legacy for Jackett.
He added: ‘It was a great day.
'We knew Portsmouth supporters were literally the best. People may think, "Oh, he’s just saying that", but they are and I say that wherever I go.
‘I could be abroad and I’d say there’s a club in England called Portsmouth and they’ve got the best fans - consistently the best support and noisiest fans.
‘So for Kenny to give supporters that day was very special - it was like winning the Champions League! It was two proper clubs and just so noisy.
‘We wanted to get promoted and that never happened, we couldn’t quite get over the line. But people still come up to me in London about that day and hug me for it.
‘There had been bad times for the club, so it was great to have that moment. Kenny was the mastermind behind that, and if people can remember Kenny for that day then that’s great.’