US Women’s National Team manager Emma Hayes has led the tributes to the late Liverpool manager Matt Beard following the announcement of his passing.
“Can’t quite compute this,” Hayes wrote on Instagram. “Absolutely one of the best humans. Always available for a chat, one of the good guys. A champion in the women’s game and a top bloke. So gutted for his family.”
Hayes took over the Chelsea hot seat from Beard in 2012.
Former Manchester United manager Casey Stoney, who played for Beard at Millwall Lionesses and Chelsea, wrote: “Over 20 years of knowing you, ‘my old china’, and all I know now is that the world is a poorer place without you in it! Coach, manager and friend. Sleep tight.”
The news of Beard’s passing broke on Saturday evening. He was a two-time Women’s Super League winner with Liverpool, and also led West Ham United to the Women’s FA Cup final.
Mackenzie Arnold: I owe so much to Matt Beard
Before Portland Thorns’ match against San Diego Wave in the NWSL, there was a moment of silence in Beard’s honour. Thorns goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold – who played for Beard at West Ham – said afterwards: “Beardy played a massive role in my career, coming through. Back in 2020, it was Covid, and I didn’t have many teams to go on offer for. He pulled me in and he gave me a chance and he brought me over to England and it ended up being my home for the next four years at West Ham and I learnt so much as a player there, as a person as well.
“I owe so much to him, and what he did for women’s football in general.
“A very special person, for sure.”
Thorns head coach Rob Gale said in his press conference that Beard was “such a pioneer for the women’s game. Our hearts, everybody involved in NWSL, our organisation especially, go out to his family, his kids.”
Gale added that he and the Wave coaching staff were going to raise a glass of wine in Beard’s honour afterwards. Wave head coach Jonas Eidevall, the former Arsenal manager, had coached against him in the Women’s Super League; Wave assistant manager Becki Tweed had played for Beard during her own on-pitch days.
Eidevall famously said in 2024 when asked if there was a tradition in the WSL of managers having a drink together after a game, “Only with Matt Beard, the Liverpool manager. He’s very good on that. He’s a real connecting force!”
