Steven Gerrard set to LEAVE Al-Ettifaq with club in relegation scrap after 18 months in charge on £15m-per-year deal
Steven Gerrard is set to leave Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq by mutual consent after an unconvincing 18 months in charge.
The Liverpool legend led the side to a reasonable sixth-placed finish last season but their fortunes have tumbled this campaign.
Al-Ettifaq sit just five points above the relegation places and have won just one of their last 14 league games.
A 2-2 draw at Al-Wedha on Saturday could well have been his last game in charge, with Al-Ettifaq slumping to 12th in an 18-team league.
They are not one of the four moneybags controlled by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund and as such, last season’s sixth-placed finish was a commendable effort.
Al-Ettifaq had backed Gerrard by signing Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum, Demarai Gray, and Jack Hendry over the summer of 2023 and he led them to a one-place improvement.
However, cracks began to appear when Henderson wanted out within six months, moving to Ajax, and Gerrard has struggled to hold on to his staff.
In November, Al-Ettifaq sacked his assistant Dean Holden as well as sporting director Mark Allen – but Gerrard clung on to his job.
Gerrard has faced increasing scrutiny from the fans and the media and tensions reaching boiling point when supporters shouted for him to ‘get out’ after a 2-0 loss to local rivals Al-Qadisiya.
More to follow.
