Matt Beard, the former manager of Liverpool FC Women, has died at the age of 47, the club confirmed on Saturday evening.
In a statement, Liverpool expressed that it was “deeply shocked and saddened” by Beard’s sudden passing. The club described him as “an extremely committed and successful manager” and “a person of real integrity and warmth.”
Beard’s wife, Deb, also shared the news on social media, writing that her husband passed away at 7:28 p.m. on Saturday. She called him “a loving husband, father, son, brother and uncle” and said he was “the most amazing, caring man who was loved by anyone who had the pleasure to meet him.” She added that the family is asking for privacy to grieve.
Beard is widely regarded as the most successful manager in the history of Liverpool Women. During his first spell in charge, he led the team to back-to-back Women’s Super League (WSL) titles in 2013 and 2014. He returned for a second tenure and secured promotion back to the WSL. In recognition of his achievements, he was named WSL Manager of the Year in both 2013 and 2014.
His managerial career also included roles at West Ham United, Bristol City, Chelsea, Boston Breakers in the United States, and most recently Burnley. With West Ham, he guided the team to a Women’s FA Cup final. Beard was appointed Burnley manager in June 2025 but stepped down in August.
The WSL paid tribute in a statement on X, saying: “Matt played an instrumental role in the growth of women’s football and will be missed by everyone associated with the game.”
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