In the cut-throat business of football management the word sack doesn’t conjure happy images of Father Christmas, presents and happy children, it plagues you with mocking media headlines and impatient multi-gazillionaires. It’s a turbulent time for managers in England. Biting the dust seems like a happy alternative to being dragged bloodied and naked through it before finally having the tabloids force-feed you dust gravel and whatever else they can find.One man who won’t be worrying about that is the Championship’s (and England’s sixth) longest serving manager: Kenny Jackett. As much as it pains me to say it, after six successful years helping Millwall punch well above their weight Jackett will be keeping one eye on the Premier League. He certainly deserves his chance.
Jackett has been in the news a bit over the past few weeks following the club’s remarkable cup-run that took them to the semi-final, a feat that I never thought I would again experience in my lifetime. Whilst this attracted football’s limelight away from the top level for a week or so, the outstanding triumph of Jackett has been his work for a club with very limited resources and relatively small attendances for the Championship. In his first two seasons he lead the Lions to consecutive League One playoff finals, achieving success the second time around against Swindon Town.
But Kenny’s story goes back further. You know all that praise and acclaim that Swansea are getting at the moment for their Barcelona-light style of football? Jacket was the man who flicked the first domino in the line, he took over a team floundering in League Two and pulled them up to League One where he narrowly missed out on promotion to the Championship in the playoff final against Barnsley. After leaving to come to Millwall the foundations he laid have been continued to become the solid Premier League team they are today.
Over the past few years Jackett’s managerial skills have received indirect approval from premier league managers such as Arsene Wenger, Harry Redknapp and AVB who have sent gifted young players to Millwall on loan to gain first team experience under Jackett’s capable guidance. I have to be honest and say that Millwall will never be more than a Championship club unless we find another Teddy Sherringham and he doesn’t leave instantly for a big club, Jackett deserves a shot at the top flight and he has more than earned his stripes at a club that has the financial power of a scale model of my wallet. If a Premier League club are looking to take a punt on a new gaffer, my top tip is Kenny.
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Click to ClaimJack produces topical blogs for Howtobet4free tackling the key issues in the world of sport. Jack also publishes articles for a number of publications each week, and can be found on Twitter by following @JWinterr.
