Steven Gerrard's time in Saudi Arabia has been far from plain sailing, with the Liverpool legend enduring a nightmare run of form with Al-Ettifaq in recent months
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Steven Gerrard
Steven Gerrard has had a tough last few months in Saudi Arabia
(Image: Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)
Steven Gerrard's tenure at Al-Ettifaq hasn't been going as smoothly as hoped recently. When the Liverpool legend swapped the familiar intensity of European football for the deep-pocketed Saudi Pro League, there were questions about legacy, adaptation, and life far from home to answer.
Now, 18 months into his stint, those questions have only grown more pressing. A worrying streak without a win has left supporters uneasy, and the club's top officials scrambling for answers, with two of Gerrard's closest colleagues being shown the door in recent weeks.
Off the field, the pressure seems equally palpable, with Gerrard's wife, Alex, choosing not to live in Saudi Arabia. Here, The ECHO delves into his tumultuous spell in the Gulf, where, under the relentless Saudi sun, he's battling against time to turn things around.
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End of a nightmare run
On Saturday, Gerrard's Al-Ettifaq team thankfully put an end to a nine-match winless run that risked dragging his tenure into an irretrievable crisis. They came from behind to defeat Al-Khaleej 2-1, with ex-Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum scoring one of the goals, helping Al-Ettifaq secure their first league victory since mid-September.
They kicked off the season in full stride, securing victories in their first three matches. However, a 3-0 thrashing by Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr side seemed to trigger a dramatic downturn, sending Gerrard and his team into a significant slump.
Steven Gerrard
Al-Ettifaq's recent form has been a major concern
The situation deteriorated to the point where fans started jeering them off the pitch, especially after a 2-0 loss to local rivals Al-Qadsiah. The previous season followed a similar trajectory, with Al-Ettifaq starting the campaign with a series of wins before stumbling in the autumn.
Between September 2023 and March 2024, they managed only two league victories, and Gerrard will be keen to avoid such a prolonged wait for his second win this time around. The club currently sits 11th in the table, a staggering 21 points behind league leaders Al-Ittihad.
With just six points separating them from the relegation zone, another slip-up in the coming weeks could leave Gerrard on the verge of dismissal... and speaking of 'dismissal', it brings us on to his former assistant.
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Allies sacked
As Al-Ettifaq's winless streak worsened, club executives began to grow nervous. Gerrard was spared the chop, but his assistant, Dean Holden, and sporting director, Mark Allen, weren't as fortunate.
Both men were recruited to support Gerrard, but neither achieved the intended impact. Results did see an improvement following Holden's arrival in February, but initial optimism that he and Gerrard might have formed a successful partnership quickly faded.
Allen's exit is particularly disappointing, considering his previous collaboration with Gerrard at Rangers. However, as one familiar face departs, another steps in. Michael Beale, who has worked with Gerrard at Liverpool, Rangers and Aston Villa, is the ex-Reds skipper's new No. 2. Time will tell if the appointment is a sound one.
Dean Holden
Gerrard's former assistant Dean Holden was sacked last month
Wife living abroad
While the financial appeal of Saudi Arabia may be hard for some football figures to resist, it's often a different story for their families. The Gulf nation maintains a strict, conservative culture, with particularly rigid restrictions for women, making it challenging for westerners to fully integrate.
Consequently, many families of players and coaches lured to Saudi Arabia in recent years have chosen to remain behind or, like Gerrard's wife Alex, opted to reside in the neighbouring state of Bahrain - a considerably more liberal nation than its adjacent Kingdom. She resides in Manama, the capital of Bahrain, with Steven and their four children. Conveniently, it's only an hour's drive from Dammam, the Saudi Arabian city where Al-Ettifaq is located.
Gerrard, who reportedly rakes in £15million per year - making him the fourth highest-paid manager globally - has been provided with a luxury villa in the city, which he occasionally uses. However, his family are permanently settled in Bahrain.
Gerrard and his wife
Gerrard and his wife, pictured here in Dubai, have been living it up in Bahrain
Friends of the Gerrards have praised them for executing a 'tactical masterstroke'. Their six-bedroom villa is just a stone's throw away from the residences of the Bahraini Royal family, and boasts its own swimming pool and tennis court.
While it might seem like a life of opulence, if Al-Ettifaq's performances don't pick up soon, Gerrard's time in Saudi could be short-lived.