Matt Taylor was a hugely-influential and popular figure  throughout his Exeter City career both as a player and a promotion-winning manager. First arriving as a player from Team Bath in 2007; he left to sign for Charlton Athletic in 2011 before returning and eventually serving as manager between 2018 and 2022. 

Matt began his career as a goalkeeper playing for Preston North End before being a member of the Everton Academy. After Everton he joined Burscough and, alongside his brother Joe, played in the club’s finest hour – their 2003 FA Trophy Final win 2-1 over Tamworth. This proved to be Matt's final game for the club as he, and a number of other players, left following the departure of the manager Shaun Teale. After an unsuccessful trial with Lincoln City in July 2003, Matt joined Rossendale United before moving to Matlock Town in September 2003 where he helped the club finish as runners-up in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, being named as ‘Player of the Season.’ Matt then moved to Hucknall Town before joining Halifax Town for whom he failed to make the first team in a brief stay. He then signed for Guiseley in August 2005 combining his playing career with life as a student at Sheffield Hallam University where he played as a centre-back representing the university. There Matt caught the eye of the Team Bath manager Ged Roddy who picked him to play as a defender in the England Universities team at the 2006 British Universities Games. With this encouragement, Matt joined Team Bath in the summer of 2006 to play as a centre-back whilst studying for a Diploma in Fitness Excellence at the University of Bath. He was named Players’ Player of the Year as the team finished runners-up in the Southern League Premier Division.

Matt arrived at Exeter City in July 2007 having been signed by his former Team Bath coach Paul Tisdale. He featured in the Conference play-off final which was won 1–0 against Cambridge United. Matt played in the club's first game on their return to the Football League, a 1–1 draw with Darlington. He went on to play full part in that season's promotion success and became a hugely popular figure winning the Player of the Season in 2007-08 and 2009-10.

Having missed part of 2010-11 through injury, Matt joined Charlton Athletic on a two-year deal in June 2011 and was part of the team that won promotion to the Championship in 2012. Then, joining Bradford City in the summer of 2013, Matt suffered a foot ligament injury that required surgery. After a long rehabilitation, he joined Cheltenham Town in July 2014. Within twelve months he had worked under four different managers, seen the club relegated from the Football League and joined Newport County. 

Matt's contract in south Wales was cancelled in March 2016, enabling him to concentrate on the final stage of a Master's degree in coaching science at Hartpury College. In August 2016 he was appointed senior football manager at the college combining the role with that of player/coach at Bath City. Now having ambitions to go further Matt rejoined Exeter City, initially on a voluntary basis, in December 2016 and was soon appointed as under-23s coach. He became first-team manager on 1 June 2018 following the departure of Paul Tisdale.

After four years as Exeter City manager, culminating in the club’s 2021/22 promotion success after an unsuccessful play-off campaign two years earlier, Matt was appointed manager of Rotherham United in October 2022. In his four years at the St James’ Park helm City had finished 9th, 5th, 9th and 2nd.

Matt remained at Rotherham for little over a year before his contract was terminated in November 2023. But, within a matter of weeks, he returned to football as the manager of Bristol Rovers at the start of December 2023.