A new phase of Saudi Arabia’s investment in football strategy revealed itself, as former Glasgow Rangers and Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard was named head coach of Saudi Pro League side, Al-Ettifaq.
In truth, Gerrard to Saudi isn’t exactly out of the blue. But while the links of a big money move had surfaced recently, the Liverpool legend had been quick to distance himself from a switch to the Kingdom at this stage of his career. That all changed when Al-Ettifaq announced his arrival via the club’s Twitter account yesterday, saying: “Where legends are found. We’re thrilled to announce Steven Gerrard is our new head coach.”
A few things make Gerrard’s move to Al-Ettifaq a little more interesting than most. Firstly he becomes the first big name manager to join a club in this current phase of Saudi expansion. Secondly, Al-Ettifaq is not one of the four clubs recently acquired by the Private Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF), meaning that perhaps the ‘privatisation project’ is indeed about more than simply strengthening the four biggest sides in KSM.
Not that the club—based in Dammam, the capital of the Eastern province—is exactly a minnow. Two-time winners of the Saudi Pro League, they were actually the first side to go a full season unbeaten, when they lifted the title in 1983. They were also the first side from Saudi Arabia to win the GCC Champions League—winning it in 1983, 1986 and 2006.
While Al-Ettifaq finished seventh in the 18-team Saudi Pro League last season, they will be hopeful that Gerrard—who replaces Antonio Cazorla in the coach’s seat—can help lead a charge against the four clubs now with PIF investment, and prevent a Riyadh and Jeddah league domination.
Gerrard, meanwhile, will be hoping that the somewhat controversial move to leave Europe in the early stages of a managerial career will help him back to winning ways. After winning the Scottish Premiership with Glasgow Rangers in 2021, the 43 year old suffered a difficult time in England with Aston Villa, winning only 13 of his 40 matches in charge before being dismissed after just 11 months at Villa Park.