During Sunday’s BBC Sport broadcast, pundit Fara Williams — who played under Beard at Liverpool — was visibly emotional while remembering her former coach. Host Alex Scott and fellow guest Steph Houghton offered their support, with Scott pausing the coverage to comfort Williams as she spoke.
“It’s a really tough day,” Williams admitted. “I tried to talk about him earlier on radio, but it’s still very difficult.”
Beard leaves behind a remarkable legacy in women’s football. He guided Liverpool Women to back-to-back Women’s Super League titles in 2013 and 2014, and later celebrated further success by winning the Women’s Championship in 2022.
Liverpool FC confirmed the heartbreaking news in a statement released on Saturday, describing Beard as “a man of great integrity and warmth, who will be remembered fondly by everyone who worked alongside him at the club.”
Tributes have since flooded in from across the football world. Former players and colleagues have hailed Beard as a mentor, a leader, and a friend. Alex Scott summed it up during the broadcast:
“Matt wasn’t just a manager — he was a mentor, a leader, and his love for the game will continue to inspire.”
Beard stepped down from his role at Liverpool last summer, but his impact on players and the sport as a whole has been described as “immeasurable.”
His wife, Deb, also shared a deeply personal message, writing:
“With great sadness, our beautiful Matthew passed away on Saturday evening. He was a loving husband, father, son, brother, and uncle — a truly caring man who was cherished by everyone fortunate enough to know him.”
Liverpool Women’s upcoming fixtures have been postponed as the football world continues to pay respects to one of the most respected figures in the women’s game.
Leave a Reply