Former Liverpool women manager Matt Beard was found hanged at his home in north Wales, a coroner’s court hearing has been told.
Beard, who led Liverpool to back-to-back Women’s Super League titles in 2013 and 2014, died on September 20 at the age of 47.
Coroner John Griffiths said paramedics were called to his home in Deeside, Flintshire before Beard was taken to hospital in Chester.
The hearing, which took place on Monday in Ruthin, north Wales, was adjourned for a full inquest at a later date.
Beard was appointed by Liverpool women for a second time in 2021 and helped the Reds return to the top-flight with promotion as Championship champions in 2022.
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Liverpool sacked Beard in February this year before he had a brief two-month spell in charge of Burnley which came to an end when he resigned in August.
A minute’s silence was held in tribute to Beard before all WSL fixtures on Sunday, while Liverpool’s match against Aston Villa was postponed.
Manchester United women manager Marc Skinner described Beard as an ‘icon’ and Liverpool boss Arne Slot also paid tribute to the ‘great human being’.
‘My reaction was one of grief,’ said Slot, who arrived at Anfield last year.
‘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.
‘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.
‘(But) then we only talk about football, I think the Melwood staff and everyone that worked with him liked him so much – and that’s probably even a more important legacy to leave behind than the trophies you win.
‘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.’
In an emotional statement following Beard’s death, Liverpool said their former manager was ‘extremely committed and successful’.
‘Liverpool Football Club is deeply shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of former LFC Women manager Matt Beard,’ a statement read.
‘The thoughts of everyone at the club are with Matt’s family and friends at this devastating time.
‘Matt was not only an extremely committed and successful manager, he was also a person of real integrity and warmth, who will always be remembered with genuine fondness by everyone he worked with at the club.’
The FA hailed Beard as a ‘key figure’ in women’s football while the WSL said he would be ‘missed by everyone in the game’.
Beard had spells at Millwall, Chelsea, West Ham, Bristol City and Boston Breakers as well as Liverpool.
Ex-Chelsea manager Emma Hayes said: ‘I can’t quite compute this. Absolutely one of the best humans.
‘Always available for a chat, one of the good guys. A champion in the women’s game and a top bloke. So gutted for his family.’
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