Anfield paid tribute to former Liverpool Women's manager Matt Beard, who passed away at the age of 47 over the weekend. Ahead of their Carabao Cup tie on Tuesday, Liverpool and Southampton players wore black armbands and observed a minute's silence to honor Beard. The stadium's advertising hoardings and scoreboard displayed "Matt Beard 1978-2025". Further remembrance is planned for Wednesday's women's League Cup game against Sunderland in St Helens.
Liverpool's head coach, Arne Slot, expressed that Beard was "respected and liked in equal measure". In his program notes, Slot acknowledged Beard's accomplishments, including consecutive league title victories during his initial tenure as manager of the women's team and promotion upon his return to the club. Slot added that the tributes paid to Beard since his passing speak volumes about his character and impact. He concluded by saying that it "takes a very special individual to prompt the kind of outpouring of affection we have seen in the days since then".
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk stated that Beard "will always have a special place in this club's history and hearts". Grace Fisk, the women's captain, who also played under Beard at West Ham, described him on the club's website as "different to any other manager I've worked under". She recalled his competitive nature on the sidelines, noting his loud and passionate demeanor, followed by his ability to joke about it shortly after. Fisk emphasized how rare it is for a football manager to be so loved by so many players and acknowledged the significant mark he left on the game. She concluded by saying, "He'll never ever be forgotten for what he achieved in his time".
The Liverpool FC Women's team also shared a tribute on Twitter, recognizing Beard's integrity and warmth and noting that his impact on the club and the broader women's game would last forever.
A fundraising page created for Beard's wife, Debbie, and their children, Harry and Ellie, has greatly exceeded its initial target of £5,000, raising over £37,000.
