Wolverhampton Wanderers and the wider football community are mourning the passing of former manager Kenny Jackett at just 64 years old. The club announced the sad news on Friday, paying tribute to a man who played a pivotal role in one of the most important chapters of Wolves’ modern history.
Jackett’s time at Molineux will forever be remembered for restoring pride and belief following consecutive relegations, culminating in a record-breaking League One title-winning campaign in 2013/14. While Wolves have enjoyed significant success in the years since, many supporters regard Jackett as the manager who helped put the club back on the path to where it is today.
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Taking Charge During Wolves’ Darkest Days
When Kenny Jackett arrived at Molineux in May 2013, Wolves were in turmoil. Consecutive relegations had seen the club tumble from the Premier League to League One in two seasons, while fan morale was at an all-time low. The club had become the first side since the mid-1990s to suffer back-to-back relegations from the top two divisions of English football.
Tasked with restoring stability, Jackett immediately reshaped both the squad and the club’s culture. He placed his trust in younger, hungrier players, moving on players he felt didn’t want to fight for the club, while reconnecting a fractured fanbase with the team. The transformation was swift and remarkable.
A Record-Breaking League One Triumph
Most Wolves fans will remember Jackett for the 2013/14 campaign. Wolves responded to relegation in emphatic fashion, securing an immediate return to the Championship by winning the League One title.
The season became one of the most memorable in the club’s history. Wolves amassed 103 points, setting a new League One record at the time while also establishing a new club points record. Along the way, they achieved a club-record run of nine consecutive league victories and secured promotion with several games to spare. Jackett later described the achievement as one of the most enjoyable seasons of his managerial career, highlighting the togetherness that developed between players, staff and supporters throughout the campaign.
Building the Foundations for Future Success
The significance of Jackett’s work cannot be measured solely by trophies and points totals. Following promotion, Wolves narrowly missed the Championship play-offs in 2014/15, finishing seventh and missing out on goal difference.
More importantly, he restored belief within the football club. His recruitment, squad management and emphasis on developing a united dressing room helped create a platform from which Wolves would eventually return to the Premier League under future ownership and management. Many of the club’s supporters continue to view Jackett as the man who halted Wolves’ decline and pointed the club back in the right direction after one of the most difficult periods in its history.
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Kenny Jackett Will Have a Lasting Place in Wolves History
Jackett departed Wolves in 2016 after three years in charge, leaving with a record that included promotion at the first attempt, a League One title and a near play-off finish in the Championship. During his tenure, he helped repair the relationship between the club and its supporters while delivering one of the greatest seasons Molineux has witnessed.
While Wolves have gone on to reach new heights since his departure, Jackett’s contribution should never be overlooked. The record-breaking 2013/14 campaign remains one of the defining seasons in modern Wolves history, and his role in rebuilding the club ensures his legacy will endure for generations of supporters.
Kenny Jackett will be remembered not only as a promotion-winning manager but also as the man who gave Wolves hope again when it was needed most. Rest in peace, Kenny.
Featured image courtesy of Imago/PA Images
