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 as a coach and later manager between 2018 and 2022. After spells managing Rotherham United and Bristol Rovers he returned to the St James' Park helm in March 2026.

Matt began his career as a goalkeeper in the academies of Preston North and Everton. He then joined Burscough and, alongside his brother Joe, played in the club’s 2003 FA Trophy final win over Tamworth. This proved to be Matt's final game for the club before moving on to Rossendale United, Matlock Town, Hucknall Town, Halifax Town and Guiseley whilst also studying at Sheffield Hallam University. Playing centre-back in university football, he caught the eye of 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. 

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 and also the club's first game on their return to the Football League against Darlington as he went on to play full part in that season's promotion success and be named Player of the Season in both 2007/08 and 2009/10.

Having missed part of the 2010/11 campaign 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, he  suffered a foot ligament injury that required surgery. After a long rehabilitation, he moved Cheltenham Town in July 2014 and later played for Newport County through to March 2016. By now studying a masters degree in coaching science at Hartpury College in Gloucestershire, he took on a paid role with the college alongside that of player/coach at Bath City.

Having ambitions to go further Matt rejoined Exeter City as a coach, initially on a voluntary basis in December 2016, and was soon appointed as under-23s coach. He subsequently 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 left to manage Rotherham United in October 2022. In his four years at the St James’ Park helm City had finished 9th, 5th, 9th and 2nd.

He remained at Rotherham for little over a year before his contract was terminated in November 2023. Retrurning to football as manager of Bristol Rovers a few weeks afterwards, he enjoyed limited success ahead of being relieved of his duties almost exactly a year later. Then, after being away from football management for nearly fifteen months, Matt returned to the helm at Exeter City in March 2026 a fortnight after the departure of his successor Gary Caldwell. Taking over from interim manager Dan Green, who had earlier followed him to Rotherham, Matt was appointed for the remainder of the season starting with the home game against Burton Albion.

Matt's return couldn't prevent the Grecians' relegation to League Two as City won just one of the thirteen remaining games of the season - a 3-0 win over Doncaster Rovers on Easter Monday - with the the team's fate finally decided against Bradford City on the final day of the season. With Matt initially distancing himself from a permanent return, he was nonetheless confirmed as manager on a full-time basis on 14 May 2026.