Liverpool women pay tribute to former head coach Matt Beard
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Liverpool Transfer NewsLiverpool Women have come together to pay heartfelt tribute to former head coach Matt Beard, whose sudden passing has left a deep void across the football community.
Beard, a hugely respected figure in the women’s game, guided the Reds to back-to-back Women’s Super League titles in 2013 and 2014 and later returned to lead them back to the top flight in 2022.
His influence extended well beyond trophies, with many remembering him as a mentor, friend, and inspiration.
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Head coach Gareth Taylor and LFC Women managing director Andy O’Boyle led the tributes, sharing stories that reflected Beard’s remarkable impact both on and off the pitch.
Taylor, who succeeded Beard this summer, spoke with admiration about the man who shaped Liverpool Women’s rise.
“It’s just really devastating news,” Taylor said (via Liverpool FC).
“The legacy he has left, as a person firstly, because of the impression he left on the people he worked with at all of his clubs, particularly here at Liverpool.”
Managing director O’Boyle echoed those sentiments, highlighting Beard’s unique bond with staff, players and fans alike.
“Matt has been an iconic figure in the women’s game,” O’Boyle said.
“And not just the success on the pitch, the success off the pitch as well in terms of the people, the players, the staff, colleagues within the game – you can see how much love and joy he brought to Liverpool, the football club and also to women’s football and wider football.”
The squad honoured Beard with a minute’s silence at Melwood on Monday, while tributes also took place at the U21s’ fixture on Sunday.
His triumphs on the touchline brought Liverpool Women back to prominence, but it was the warmth he showed to those around him that defined his legacy.
For Liverpool, he will be remembered not only as a manager who delivered trophies, but as a man who left an indelible mark on the club’s history.
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