Six years after his first stint, Beard returned to Merseyside and has subsequently supervised two successful seasons for LFC Women. During his first stint, the team won back-to-back Barclays Women’s Super League championships in 2013 and 2014.
The Reds won the FA Women’s Championship in 2021–22 and were promoted from there; last season, they returned to the first division and finished in the middle of the table.
Beard has now renewed his commitment to the team by signing a new contract because he thinks there is still plenty to do after the club’s recent transfer to the
Below, you can read our in-depth interview with Beard, which was conducted soon after he agreed to his new contract.
Yes, I’m happy. It goes without saying that everyone is aware of how much the club means to me, so extending my time here was really a simple choice for me. I believe that we are [at the] beginning of a significant undertaking, and you have a bright future ahead of you.
How would you rate the past two years since you joined the club once again? Along with hardships, there have also been some high points.
It’s fascinating. If I take a current look at football, I believe managers and coaches need more time. When we were in France [during preseason], Amber [Whiteley] told me that this is certainly a Matt Beard team now. However, the major objective was to leave the Championship and return to the WSL, and we succeeded in doing so on my first attempt. I thought it was a challenge last year, especially with the injuries we had, and I think we can be proud of how well we finished, especially in the second half of the season. We’re pretty happy with where we are from that side, but we recognize there’s still a long way to go Lots of work to be done. Because we are ambitious, we seek out challenges.
You mentioned there that there is now a Matt Beard team. What characteristics define that? When you first arrived, what did you hope to instill in the side?
When you first arrived, what did you hope to instill in the side?I believe we have the players to play in a variety of ways. When I consider the preseason, there have been some outstanding ball handling moments. But we also have a solid team that will put in a lot of effort for one another. The work rate and, more crucially, my desire for players to be authentic are two of my non-negotiables. It’s wonderful to see how our team has grown. I’m enthusiastic about the team’s future because I believe we have a solid group here—one that is young and has room to develop.
It’s crucial in team sports. When we are working, we say that we are working, and when we are not, we can have fun. I make an effort to treat every participant fairly and to offer them the freedom to be who they are. That, in my opinion, is crucial because if they are content with what you are doing, they will perform well on the field. Although we do have some difficult chats with the players, we are aware that they are good players. Players come and go. But for the most part, we try to care for them as if they were our own, and all we really want is for them to be content. I believe that’s half the battle in life. However, like I mentioned, when we’re working,We have expectations and standards, and it’s a testament to the players that they consistently meet them.
We have a top-notch facility that enables us to achieve that, and in addition to preparing the players, we have everything we need to succeed in terms of diet, rehab, and even recovery. The future is something we are eagerly anticipating. We’re excited about the future and are working hard to challenge ourselves as a team.
Of course. It’s just incredible, really. Knowing that finding a home for the women’s team was part of the conversation when I returned, I couldn’t believe it when I was informed that Melwood was the chosen location. Knowing the history and connection to Liverpool FC made the news that Melwood would be our new home truly spine-tingling. The athletes’ smiles showed how happy they are to be here day in and day out.
Sitting in this manager’s office, which used to be Jürgen Klopp’s office, and reflecting on how far you’ve gone must be wonderful for you.
Yes, most certainly. But it also serves as a reminder of your obligations. Despite the fact that it’s a beautiful facility, I believe that a lot of history has been made and many trophies have been won on the men’s side. I am aware that it will take some time, but it is something that we hope to imitate.
No doubt. Our long-term objective, in my opinion, is to be competitive enough to win the Super League, compete on all fronts, and earn a spot in the Champions League. As a team and as a football club, we are planning for that and working toward it. As I’ve already mentioned, things take some time, but we’re really happy with the progress we’ve made in a short period of time.
Yes, we are quite happy. We had a difficult preseason and really put ourselves to the test against some of the [best] teams in Europe, which has helped us advance on the learning curve. We had a great preseason, and then we got off to a really rough start. In contrast, during the preseason, we’ve had successful games from which we’ve gained knowledge and adjusted one or two things. The season is something we are anticipating. We want to outperform last year and, if possible, try to crack the top five. We also want to participate in all of the tournaments. Next year, it would be wonderful if we could bring some silverware.
