Beard had two spells in charge at Liverpool and after his reappointment in 2021 helped them win promotion back to the WSL, and a seventh-placed finish on their return to the top flight.
Taylor became Reds boss in August and added: “I had a bit more insight into Matt because I used to play with his brother Mark at Sheffield United. They were very close and really supportive of each other’s journeys.
“I had big shoes to fill when I came in here, and I was really supported well by Matt. He phoned me on a number of occasions. What a guy – you never fell out with him.
“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.
“He served all of his clubs really, really well and definitely left an impression. As a person, as a coach, as an employee of a club, that’s what you look for – to try to leave an impression, and you hope it’s a good one. It certainly was with Matt. He left so many memories for people to hold on to.”
