Liverpool boss Arne Slot pays tribute after tragic death - 'A great human being'

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has pledged the club will always be there for the family of Matt Beard, following his death at the weekend. The 47-year-old's passing was announced on Saturday evening.

The two-time Women's Super League champion was hailed by the Reds as "not only an extremely committed and successful manager, he was also a person of real integrity and warmth".

The Reds will hold a minute's silence at Anfield before Tuesday night's clash with Southampton in the Carabao Cup. The players taking part in the third round fixture will don black armbands as a mark of respect also. And speaking ahead of that game, Slot said the club will support Beard's loved ones in any way they can as he talked up the job performed by the coach during his time on Merseyside.

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"[My reaction was] one of grief," Slot said. "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."

Slot added: "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.

"Very important [we pay tribute], for what he meant for this football club. And this football club is not only the men's team, it's also the women's team and he had an enormous impact on women's football here with Liverpool. But apart from that, it's also his family that's going through such a hard time at the moment.

"As I've experienced being here now for one-and-a-half years, if people are going through a difficult period, the Liverpool fans and we as a team always want to be there for the people that go through such a difficult time. That's now the situation for his wife and his three children."

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