Steven Gerrard Appointed as Manager of Saudi Arabian Club Al-Ettifaq
STEVEN GERRARD has resigned from his position as manager of Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ettifaq.
Last month, the Liverpool great, 43, turned down an offer from the Middle Eastern outfit.
He traveled to Saudi Arabia to meet with club executives before declining the offer.
However, after conversations resumed last week, he has accepted the role as manager for the 2023/24 season.
“Here is the source of the legends,” he said in a video captioned “Here is the source of the legends.”
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“We are delighted to announce the appointment of Gerrard as coach of Al Ettifaq Club.”
“I was invited over there [Saudi Arabia] to look at a potential offer, which I did,” he stated regarding the approach two weeks ago.
“But, as things stand, I’m not going to accept that offer.”
Gerrard has been out of work since Aston Villa fired him in October of last year.
Prior to his time in England, he spent three years with Rangers, when he won the Scottish Premiership.
Last season, Al-Ettifaq finished seventh in the Saudi Pro League, 35 points behind champions Al-Ittihad, who are led by ex-Wolves and Tottenham manager Nuno Espirito Santo.
Gerrard had been connected with the vacant role at Sheffield Wednesday following the resignation of Darren Moore.
But now he’ll be the next European celebrity to travel to Saudi Arabia.
In recent weeks, a slew of big-name players have joined Cristiano Ronaldo in the Kingdom.
Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, Ruben Neves, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Edouard Mendy are among them.
.On June 5, the Saudi ministry of sport announced that the country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which owns 80% of Newcastle, will take control of four top-flight teams: Al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli, Al-Hilal, and Al-Nassr.
However, Al-Ettifaq were not a part of the state-funded takeover.
