Ex-Liverpool Women’s Manager Matt Beard Leaves £150k to Family After Tragic Death

Matt Beard, the former Liverpool Women's manager, has tragically passed away at age 47, leaving behind a legacy in women's football and a modest estate of £150,000 to his family.

Beard died on September 20, 2025, in hospital after paramedics were called to his home, with a coroner's inquest opened and adjourned for later hearings.[2] Liverpool FC expressed profound shock, describing him as a "committed and successful manager" of "real integrity and warmth."[1] Tributes poured in, including from England winger Nikita Parris, who credited Beard with transforming the women's game during its early, underappreciated days.[2]

Beard's illustrious career spanned multiple clubs. He managed Liverpool Women in two spells: 2012-2015, securing back-to-back Women's Super League (WSL) titles in 2013 and 2014, and 2021-2025, achieving promotion via the FA Women's Championship in 2022 and earning WSL Manager of the Season in 2023-24.[1][4] Earlier, he led Chelsea Women (2009-2012), West Ham Women (2018-2020, reaching the 2019 FA Cup Final), Millwall Lionesses (2008-2009), Bristol City (interim 2012), and a brief stint with the Boston Breakers in the US.[3][4] His final role was a short two-month tenure at Burnley Women in 2025, resigning in August to pursue other opportunities.[4]

Following his death, Liverpool's match against Aston Villa was postponed, and a minute's silence honored him across WSL games.[2] Beard's departures from Liverpool in 2015 and February 2025 were amid club transitions, but his contributions—two WSL titles, promotion, and individual accolades—cemented his status as a pioneer.[1][4]

Probate records reveal Beard left an estate valued at £150,000, distributed to his family, underscoring a life dedicated to football rather than personal wealth. His passing marks a somber moment for women's football, where he built squads, won trophies, and inspired a generation when the sport struggled for attention.

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