Matt Beard

For other people with similar names, see Mat Beard (disambiguation).

Matthew Beard (born 9 January 1978) is an English professional football manager, who was most recently head coach of FA Women's Super League club Liverpool F.C. Women. He has previously managed West Ham, Chelsea, Boston Breakers, Millwall and Liverpool F.C Women

Matt Beard

Beard with Liverpool Women in 2024
Personal information
Full name	Matthew Beard[1]
Date of birth	(1978-01-09) 9 January 1978 (age 47)[2]
Place of birth	Roehampton, England
Managerial career
Years	Team
2008–2009	Millwall Lionesses
2009–2012	Chelsea Ladies
2012–2015	Liverpool F.C. Women
2016–2017	Boston Breakers
2018–2020	West Ham United Women
2021	Bristol City Women (interim)
2021–2025	Liverpool F.C. Women

Coaching career

Beard had his first coaching job as reserve team manager at non-league Kingstonian FC. He then had coaching stints at Tooting & Mitcham, Hampton & Richmond Borough, and Charlton Athletic Ladies. After Keith Boanas moved to Millwall Lionesses in June 2008,^[3] Beard went too and succeeded in the Lionesses job when Boanas quit after six months.^[4] In Beard's first fledgling steps in management, he guided the team to the FA Women's Premier League Southern Division title and promotion to the top tier in 2008–09.^[5]

Chelsea Ladies FC

Beard was named first-team manager of Chelsea Ladies FC for the 2009-10 league campaign on the recommendation of team captain and former player-manager Casey Stoney, who had played for Beard when he was an assistant at Charlton.^[5] He remained until 2012, helping guide the club to the 2012 FA Women's Cup Final, the FA Premier League Cup semi-finals, and a third-place finish in the FA National Premier League.^{[citation needed]}

Liverpool F.C. Women

He then took a position with Liverpool F.C. Women for the 2013 and 2014 seasons, and was named FA WSL Manager of the Year in 2013 and 2014.^[6] On 22 September 2015, it was announced that Beard was leaving Liverpool F.C. Women, and had accepted a head coaching position with the Boston Breakers.^[7][8]

West Ham United FC Women

On 7 June 2018, he was appointed manager of West Ham United Women.^[9] In May 2019, he took the club to the FA Cup Final, where they lost 3-0 to Manchester City at Wembley.^[10] On 19 November 2020, Beard and West Ham agreed on his departure from the club by mutual consent.^[11]

Liverpool F.C. Women

On 13 May 2021 it was announced Beard was appointed manager of Liverpool F.C. Women, and would return 6 years since he left.^[12] He won the FA Women's Championship with them by the end of the season.

On 27 February 2025, it was announced that Beard had departed Liverpool with immediate effect.^[13][14]

Managerial statistics

As of 16 February 2025^[15][16]

All competitive games (league, domestic and continental cups) are included.

Managerial record by team and tenure

Club	Nat.	From	To	Record
				P	W	D	L	Win %
Millwall		2009	2009	16	12	2	2	075.00
Chelsea		2009	2012	61	33	8	20	054.10
Liverpool		2013	2016	58	32	7	19	055.17
Boston Breakers		2016	2017	44	7	9	28	015.91
West Ham United		2018	2020	70	24	10	36	034.29
Bristol City		2021	2021	15	3	4	8	020.00
Liverpool		2021	2025	103	50	19	34	048.54
Total				367	161	59	147	043.87

Personal life

Beard and his wife, Debbie, have two children. Beard also has a step-son Scott Hastings from Debbie's first marriage. Scott is a football coach for Chelsea FC. Beard has an older brother, Mark Beard who played professionally for Millwall, Sheffield United and Southend. ^[17]

Honours

Liverpool Women

• FA Women's Super League: 2012–13, 2013–14
• FA Women's Championship: 2021–22^[18]

Individual

• FA WSL Manager of the Season: 2013,^[19] 2023–24^[20]
• LMA FA Women's Championship Manager of the Year: 2022^[21]