Full name Matthew Stephen Ward Years Team Role Football coach | Place of birth Boston, England Name Matt Ward | |
Date of birth (1982-07-21) 21 July 1982 (age 33) 2013-2014 Royal Celts Taipei FC (Coach) 2013–2015 Royal Blues Taipei FC (Head Coach) Current team Loyola Meralco Sparks F.C. | ||
Matt Ward (born 21 July 1982) is an English football coach and current Assistant Coach of Loyola Meralco Sparks, a first division club in the Philippines who play in Division 1 of the United Football League. As well as being a licensed coach with the English FA and Australian FA (FFA), he also holds a Management Degree with Honours in Sports Development & Coaching, a Diploma in Fitness Coaching and is a qualified football scout.
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Playing career
Ward represented the County of Lincolnshire at youth level and also reached a cup final with Sleaford Town's Youth team in 1999, where they were beaten narrowly in a 1-0 defeat to the youth team of the then professional club, Boston Utd. Unfortunately, his senior playing career never took off and he found himself hovering around club's reserve teams and finally finished playing at the now disbanded Loughborough Athletic, from Division 1 of the Leicester and District Football League.
Royal Blues Taipei FC
After joining the Royal Blues, Ward helped them win the Taiwan Businessman's League title in 2014 and led them through five play-off matches, finally winning promotion to Taiwan's top tier of football. On 19 September 2015, he became part of Royal Blues history when they won their first top flight league fixture and made it the club's first ever win in the top division. The rise of Royal Blues Taipei FC saw them rise from a team finishing 7th in the 2nd Division to Champions and onto a 3rd-place position in Division 1 on Ward's departure.
Loyola Meralco Sparks
In December 2015, Ward joined the coaching staff of Loyola Meralco Sparks as Assistant Coach, working under ex-Philippines' National team Manager Simon McMenemy. Along with first team duties, he is also responsible for heading up the Youth Academy.
British Coaches Abroad Association
Ward is a member of the British Coaches Abroad Association