Former Liverpool manager Matt Beard was ‘found hanged at his home’

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Ex-Liverpool manager Matt Beard died at the age of 47 (Picture: Getty) Former Liverpool women manager Matt Beard was found hanged at his home in north Wales, a coroner’s court hearing has been told. Beard, who led Liverpool to back-to-back Women’s Super League titles in 2013 and 2014, died on September 20 at the age of 47.

Beard returned to take over the Liverpool women’s team for a second time in 2021 before being relieved of his duties in February this year. Get personalised updates on Liverpool every day Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.

A minute’s silence was held in tribute to Beard before all WSL fixtures on Sunday, while Liverpool’s match against Aston Villa was postponed. A minute’s silence was held in tribute to Beard in the WSL (Picture: Getty) Manchester United women manager Marc Skinner described Beard as an ‘icon’ and Liverpool boss Arne Slot also paid tribute to the ‘great human being’. ‘My reaction was one of grief,’ said Slot, who arrived at Anfield last year. ‘I met him last season and he not only did great things for this football club, for the women’s team, back-to-back league titles, came back to [the] new women’s team when they were playing one division below, so that tells you probably how much he loved the club as well. ‘If you hear a thing like this, I think 47 if I’m correct – that’s my age as well at the moment – then [you are] devastated to hear. ‘I think in these moments the football world always shows itself at its best – and that’s also what happened now. ‘It’s not only that he gets all the respect he deserves here at Liverpool but I think all around women’s football. ‘I’ve heard and also saw the respect the Arsenal fans showed him, so that tells you how much impact he had on the game of football. ‘[But] then we only talk about football, I think the Melwood staff and everyone that worked with him liked him so much – and that’s probably even a more important legacy to leave behind than the trophies you win. ‘That the person you are is always more important than what you’ve won.