Former Chelsea and Liverpool Ladies head coach Matt Beard has been named as the new manager of West Ham Ladies.
The 40-year-old, who has been out of work since January when his last club, the US-based Boston Breakers, folded takes over from the outgoing Karen Ray with immediate effect.
Beard pictures during his recent stint in the USA
Beard, who was born in Roehampton spent three years at Chelsea where he led the team to a 2012 FA Cup Final success. In 2013 he joined Liverpool and was named as the FA WSL Manager of the Year for two consecutive seasons (2013 and 2014).
Although he found it rather tougher going in the States - where his Breakers side finished bottom of the league in his first campaign and one place from the bottom in his second - Beard's stock remained high, leading to his new role.
"I’m absolutely delighted to be joining West Ham United Ladies,” said Beard. "I’ve been really impressed with the set-up here and the ambition of the football club.
"Just from talking to Jack Sullivan and Karen Ray, I can tell the club matches my ambition. I’m delighted to be here and I can’t wait to get started."
Beard’s coaching career began in 2000 at Kingstonian FC, where he was appointed as Reserve Team Manager.
He then served in a similar capacity at Tooting and Mitcham, where he led the team to a third-place finish in the Suburban South Division. Later, he took over as Assistant Manager at Hampton & Richmond Borough, before joining Chelsea.
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