Christopher James Hackett (born 1 March 1983) is an English retired footballer who works as assistant manager at Oxford United.
Club career
Oxford United Born in Oxford, Oxfordshire, on 1 March 1983, Hackett started his career with home-town club Oxford United, where he progressed through the club's youth system and reserve side. His appearances for Oxford United's SE Counties League youth team earned Hackett a place among the club's first-year trainees, beginning in July 1999. His performances for the youth team led to a first-team call up by manager Denis Smith. Hackett made his debut as a 77th-minute substitute in a 2–0 loss against Wigan Athletic on 8 April 2000. He made a further substitute appearance in the last match of the season.
In 2000–01, Hackett featured more frequently in the first team and received more playing time. On 16 December 2000, he scored his first goal for the club, in a 3–1 win over Northampton Town. After the match, his performance was praised by manager Dave Kemp, who said: "Chris was a breath of fresh air on the wing. He's a bright talent for this club. It was a great individual goal but a great team goal as well, because there had been some good passing before that. I'm delighted with the performance." Shortly afterwards, Hackett was offered a five-year contract. His performances attracted interest from larger clubs such as Coventry City, Manchester United, Newcastle United and Middlesbrough. Hackett's second goal came on 10 February 2001, in a 2–1 defeat to Wycombe Wanderers. In his following match, he was sent off after elbowing Chris Armstrong, in a 3–1 loss to Bury. He later played in different positions before being sidelined with a hernia injury that kept him out for the rest of the season. By the end of the 2000–01 season, Hackett had made eighteen appearances and scored twice in all competitions.
Hackett returned from injury and featured in the reserve side at the start of the following season. His first appearance in the first team was on 16 October 2001 when he came on as a second-half substitute in a 2–0 defeat to Northampton Town. Hackett was returned to the reserve side but soon regained his first-team place. He earned praise from manager Ian Atkins, who said: "The only one that you can say has really been listening over the last few weeks is Chrissy Hackett. He came on Tuesday night and put some good crosses into the six-yard box. Other players had chances to get the ball into areas where it can hurt defenders, but didn't do it." However, halfway through the season Hackett and team-mate Dean Whitehead were criticised by Atkins for refusing to follow a fitness programme, an accusation denied by the pair, who claimed a misunderstanding. Hackett made seventeen first-team appearances during the season.
In 2002–03, Hackett was given the number 7 shirt following the departure of Martin Thomas. In a match against Swansea City on 12 October 2002, Hackett came on as a substitute in the 68th minute and set up the winner and the only goal of the game, for Jefferson Louis. After the match, he said of his restricted appearances from the substitute bench: "I've never had a problem with it. I've had to wait my chance, but the gaffer and Fordy have said it would come. It's a squad game and we've got a really good squad at Oxford." In a 2–2 draw against Shrewsbury Town on 26 October 2002, Hackett was sent off for a second bookable offence in the last minute of the game. Following his suspension, he returned to the reserve side for most of the season. making just 14 first-team appearances in all competitions in 2002–03.
Hackett began 2003–04 on the substitutes' bench and playing for the reserves, but he had regained his first-team place by the start of October. On 21 October 2003, Hackett scored in a 2–2 draw against York. After the match, he was praised by the club's assistant David Oldfield, who said: "Chris Hackett has come on in recent games and caused problems for teams. He came on with a good attitude and in recent weeks has looked very sharp in training, with some great finishing and crossing. He deserved a goal." By December, his playing time was reduced, due to competition from Emmanuel Omoyinmi and Jefferson Louis, and he spent months in the club's reserve side once again. He regained his first-team place at the start of March, but suffered and injury towards the end of the season. His goal against York proved to be his only goal in 25 appearances in all competitions in 2003–04.
Hackett signed a new two-year contract with Oxford on 18 June 2004. He started the season well, setting up a goal for Tommy Mooney, who was to be the club's top scorer later in the 2004–05, in a 1–0 win over Mansfield Town on 11 August 2004. However, Hackett sustained suspected medial ligament damage during a 0–0 draw against Leyton Orient on 21 August 2004, and did not return until 25 September 2005 when he came on as a substitute in the second half and set up two goals in a 3–1 win over Bury. Hackett soon regained his first-team place for the side, setting up both goals against Cambridge United in a 2–1 win in Ramón Díaz's first match in charge on 11 December 2004. On Boxing Day 2004 he scored his first goal of the season, against Rushden & Diamonds, in a 3–3 draw. In a 2–1 win over Wycombe Wanderers on 1 January 2005, he was sent off in the 34th minute "for kicking out at Tony Craig on the ground" and served a three-match ban as a result. He scored on his return from suspension on 22 January 2005, in a 3–1 win over Kidderminster Harriers. He scored twice in a 3–1 win over Mansfield Town. after which his performance was praised by Horacio Rodriguez, who said: "We decided to play Chris up front on Friday, and it worked very well as he scored twice." Hackett was said to be "enjoying the best form of his career", due to his "pacy bursts down the right, and much-improved crossing and dead-ball deliveries." Hackett appeared 39 times in the 2004–05 season, scoring four times, all in the league.
Ahead of the 2005–06 season, Hackett was linked with a surprise move to French giant Olympique de Marseille, but it went no further than a trial. He started the season well, setting up the equalising goal for Chris Hargreaves in a 1–1 draw against Grimsby Town in the opening game of the season. A week later on 13 August 2006, Hackett scored his first goal of the season, as well as setting up a goal for Danny Morgan, in a 2–2 draw against Wycombe Wanderers. His second goal of the season then came on 13 September 2005, in a 1–1 draw against Bristol Rovers. Hackett appeared in every match from the start of the season until a calf injury at the end of September. He returned from injury on 7 October 2005 in a 1–0 win over Carlisle United. He was again suspended for three matches after being sent off for a dangerous two-footed challenge on Andy Parkinson, in a 3–2 loss against Grimsby Town on 25 November 2005. He returned from suspension on 13 December 2005, starting as Oxford United lost 2–1 to Cheltenham Town in an FA Cup second-round replay. In his final season for Oxford, he made 27 appearances scoring twice in league matches.
Heart of Midlothian On 24 January 2006 he joined former Oxford manager Graham Rix at Scottish Premier League club Hearts in a £20,000 deal. Press speculation had previously linked him with a move to Hearts' city rivals Hibernian.
During his time at Tynecastle, Hackett's first-team opportunities were limited to one start and one substitute appearance. His chances were not helped after Graham Rix was sacked less than two months after signing him. In the summer transfer window of 2006, Hackett was expected to leave the club, with Carlisle United expressing interest in signing him. In July 2006 Hackett held talks with Oxford United's local rivals Swindon Town, but the deal fell through over wage demands. It was rumoured that Hackett was demanding a similar contract to the one he was on at Hearts. His agent sounded out lower-league clubs, and Cardiff City, Bristol City and Hull City were all said to be interested.
Millwall On 2 August 2006, Hackett signed a two-year contract with League One side Millwall for an undisclosed fee.
Three days later on 5 August 2006, Hackett made his debut for Millwall, coming on as a late substitute in a 1–1 draw against Yeovil Town in the opening game of the season. However, he suffered an injury that saw him sidelined throughout September. He returned from injury on 30 September 2006, coming on as a half-time substitute in a 3–2 win over Rotherham United. Hackett scored his first goal for the club on 14 October 2006, in a 1–0 win over AFC Bournemouth. Two weeks later, on 31 October 2006, he scored against Bournemouth again, in a 2–0 win in the Football League Trophy. This was followed up by scoring in a 3–1 win over Tranmere Rovers. Two weeks later on 18 November 2006, Hackett scored his fourth goal of the season, in a 2–2 draw against Doncaster Rovers. In the first half of the season, Hackett initially started out on the substitute bench before establishing himself in the starting eleven for the side. However, Hackett found himself in and out of the first team, as he appeared in either the starting line-up or on the substitutes' bench. In his first season at Millwall, Hackett went on to make thirty-eight appearances and score four goals in all competitions.
Hackett spent most of the 2007–08 season on the injury list after suffering knee ligament damage. It came after when he sustained an injury against Gillingham on 13 October 2007 and had to be substituted in the 88th minute. As a results, Hackett was ruled out rest of the 2007–08 season. Despite making seven appearances for the side, Hackett signed a six-month contract with Millwall at the end of the 2007–08 season to regain his fitness.
At the start of In the 2008–09 season, Hackett returned from injury, where he made his first appearance for the side, coming on as a late substitute, in a 4–3 loss against Oldham Athletic in the opening game of the season. Since returning to the first team, Hackett quickly regained his first team place for the side under the management of Kenny Jackett and began to play in the full-back position. On 22 September 2008, he committed his long-term future to Millwall, signing a new deal to 2010. In the club's FA Cup campaign throughout November, Hackett set up three goals, including setting up twice, in a 3–0 win over Aldershot Town. Having becoming a key part of Millwall's promotion campaign via the play-offs, Hackett made an appearance in the Football League One play-off final against Scunthorpe United, coming on as a substitute for Lewis Grabban, as Millwall lost 3–2. After the match, Manager Kenny Jackett said about his performance: "I also thought Chris Hackett came on and did very well today – there were some cracking crosses he put in." At the end of the 2008–09 season, he went on to make twenty-eight appearances in all competitions.