Gareth Taylor pays tribute to Matt Beard after the former Liverpool manager’s death | OneFootball

Former Liverpool manager Matt Beard tragically passed away (Natalie Mincher/SPP)

Gareth Taylor has shared a personal tribute to Matt Beard after the tragic death of the former Liverpool head coach.

Beard had two stints as Liverpool manager, winning the Women’s Super League title twice in 2013 and 2014.

His most recent tenure ended in February, and since then he had a short spell at National League side Burnley.

The women’s football world was left stunned after it was revealed on Saturday night that Beard had passed away at the age of 47.

Taylor and his squad came together at AXA Melwood Training Centre on Monday and held a minute’s silence as a mark of respect for Beard.

Liverpool Women has been mourning Beard’s passing since Saturday, with Sunday’s Women’s Super League fixture against Aston Villa postponed as a result.

Many of the current Liverpool squad will have played under Beard last season.

Liverpool boss Gareth Taylor pays tribute to Matt Beard

Gareth Taylor in his tribute to former Liverpool boss Matt Beard, described the news of his passing as ‘devastating’.

He sent his wishes to Beard’s family and friends, including wife Debbie and children Harry and Ellie.

Taylor said via the club’s official website: “It’s a huge loss and he will leave a big void. We have lost Matt far too young. But where we can take some solace is by thinking of the huge impact he managed to have on so many people across his 47 years, a real legacy and he packed in more than a lot of people who are fortunate to be around until their old age.”

Taylor went on to reveal that Beard had phoned him on a number of occasions since he became Liverpool’s new head coach.

He said: “We’d already had a decent relationship, he was a coach that I came up against over the last four or five years – he was at various clubs; Bristol, West Ham and obviously Liverpool. I loved my duels on the sidelines with him.

“We both got animated… most of the time him more so than me! But what a guy, you never fell out with him. One of us would hold our hands up and say, ‘I got it wrong.’ And that’s what you want.

“I have to say, he’s the most enjoyable to work with – in the sense of coming up against – in my time in the women’s game. The legacy he has left, as a person firstly, because of the impression he left on the people he worked with at all of his clubs, particularly here at Liverpool. And then obviously his record as a gaffer.

“He took Liverpool to the real heights of the game. The most decorated women’s manager for Liverpool and I think that is only half of the story. The other half is the void he will leave as a person.”

How the footballing world has reacted to death of Matt Beard

Emma Hayes was among those to lead the tributes to Matt Beard at the weekend after his tragic death.

The former Chelsea boss described Beard as ‘one of the best humans’.

Current Manchester United boss Marc Skinner also described Beard as a ‘beautiful human’ and an ‘icon’ ahead of their clash with Liverpool this weekend.

Beard left Burnley Women after just two months with the third-tier club last month.

The club had placed Beard on gardening leave after his resignation.

In a statement, they said: “It is with sadness that Burnley Football Club can confirm Matt Beard has passed away, at the age of 47. The thoughts and prayers of everyone at the club are with Matt’s family and friends.”

Burnley’s match with West Brom at the weekend was postponed, similar to Liverpool’s clash vs Aston Villa.