Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has paid an emotional tribute to Matt Beard following the sudden passing of the former Liverpool FC Women manager.
Beard, who won back-to-back WSL titles in 2013 and 2014 and guided the Reds back to the top flight in 2022, left behind a legacy of success and respect that stretched far beyond silverware.
Slot described his reaction as one of grief, stressing the personal and professional mark Beard made on the club.
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Slot on Beard’s legacy and impact
Slot spoke with deep admiration for Beard’s career and character, highlighting how much he gave to Liverpool and women’s football as a whole.
“My reaction was one of grief,” Slot said to Liverpool FC.
“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.”
The Liverpool boss also reflected on how Beard’s influence stretched across the football world.
“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.”
Slot stressed that Beard’s greatest legacy lies not just in trophies, but in the kind of person he was.
“That the person you are is always more important than what you’ve won. But in his situation, both things were combined – so successful as a manager and a great human being.”
Liverpool will pay tribute to Beard at Anfield during Tuesday’s Carabao Cup clash with Southampton.
Slot said the gesture is vital to show what Beard meant to the club and community.
“It’s very important for us to pay tribute, for what he meant for this football club,” Slot explained.
“This football club is not only the men’s team, it’s also the women’s team and he had an enormous impact on women’s football here with Liverpool. But apart from that, it’s also his family that’s going through such a hard time at the moment.
“As I’ve experienced being here now for one-and-a-half years, if people are going through a difficult period, the Liverpool fans and we as a team always want to be there for the people that go through such a difficult time.
“That’s now the situation for his wife and his three children.”
Matt Beard will be remembered not only as a manager who delivered titles and promotion but also as a man of integrity, warmth and deep love for Liverpool.
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