When Steven Gerrard was sacked by Aston Villa final October just after much less than a year in the purpose, you would have received great odds on his following purpose getting with Saudi Pro League facet Al-Ettifaq.
But, as the 43-calendar year-previous receives geared up for the upcoming action of his coaching vocation, he has swapped the Midlands for the Center East as he becomes the latest big title to transfer to Saudi Arabia to be a part of a workforce few English enthusiasts had listened to of right up until the curiosity arose.
Acquiring originally distanced himself from getting the work past month, the 43-year-previous has now recognized a rewarding offer you from the Dammam-centered club. Al-Ettifaq associates were being in London on Monday finalising Gerrard’s appointment in advance of the confirmation.
Gerrard agreed to the function following a renewed round of talks with the Saudi aspect, who are committing thousands and thousands towards player recruitment to help their new boss construct a crew of global superstars.
But what do we know about the crew who will become just the fifth club in the Liverpool legend’s participating in and coaching occupation? Mail Sport gives the lowdown.
Steven Gerrard was appointed as manager of Saudi Professional League outfit Al-Ettifaq on Monday
It is his initial coaching function considering the fact that staying sacked by Aston Villa past Oct following a lot less than a year
Who are Al-Ettifaq?
Nicknamed The Commandos, Al-Ettifaq were founded in 1945 after the merging of the three clubs in the city of Dammam – Al-Taawoun, Al-Sha’ab and Al-Shabab.
Officials decided on the name Al-Ettifaq – which indicates ‘agreement’ in Arabic – and they settled on green and white colors, which have subsequently made into green and crimson.
They are dependent in Dammam, a city in the east of Saudi Arabia which is about a person hour away from Riyadh and two hours from Jeddah by aircraft.
Al-Ettifaq play at the Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium, named soon after a former very long-serving governor of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.
It has a potential of 25,000, but in the 2022-23 year they averaged an attendance of just 5,200 across their 15 property league video games.
Al-Ettifaq (pictured in action from Al-Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo) are centered in the metropolis of Dammam – which is is in the east of Saudi Arabia – and had been shaped again in 1945
Who are their vital gamers?
A speedy search down Al-Ettifaq’s 26-guy squad and it is hard to see numerous common names. Their staff is primarily created up of Saudi players, despite the fact that they experienced no customers of Herve Renard’s Globe Cup squad previous yr.
Amongst their team, there are 9 non-native gamers, but the most nicely-acknowledged of these are in all probability Swedish ahead Robin Quaison – who has 13 plans in 47 global caps – and Germany global Amin Younes, while he has not performed for Hansi Flick’s international aspect since 2021.
Younes counts Ajax, Napoli and Eintracht Frankfurt amongst his former golf equipment, when captain Mohammed Al-Kuwaykibi has racked up additional than 160 appearances for The Commandos more than the previous 7 a long time.
Their history signing is Tunisian worldwide Naim Sliti, who arrived for £4.2m from French side Dijon in 2019.
Al-Ettifaq’s squad would not have several familiar names and is mainly made up of Saudi players
What is their history?
Gerrard’s new facet play in the Saudi Pro League and last year completed seventh in the 16-group division, 35 points behind champions Al-Ittihad – who have because strengthened by signing both N’Golo Kante and Karim Benzema.
They have been league champions on two situations, but not for a very long time, winning the title in 1982-83 and 1986-87.
The initially of those people triumphs concluded what was an unbeaten time, as they turned the 1st Saudi side to reach this kind of a feat.
They also gained the King’s Cup – the equal of the FA Cup – in 1968 and 1985.
In the same way, they lifted the now defunct GCC Champions League (the Gulf Cup for Clubs) on 3 instances in 1983, 1988 and 2006 and subsequently triumphed in the Arab Club Champions Cup in 1984 and 1988.
On the other hand, it is distinct this golden period in the 1980s has not very been replicated in the pursuing a long time and they returned to the Saudi prime flight immediately after winning the initial division in 2015-16.
Brazilian keeper Paulo Victor is a person of just 9 non-Saudi players in Al-Ettifaq’s present squad
Who owns the club?
The Al-Dabal title is the strongest joined with the club, with the relatives owning close ties to Al-Ettifaq across the earlier 50 many years.
Abdullah Al-Dabal – a notable previous Saudi football official who held several roles in just the kingdom’s federation – was their president during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
In the same way, Al-Dabal was portion of the Asian Football Confederation and was commonly credited for encouraging to mature the match on the continent, though he was also a FIFA Govt Member.
His son, Khalid, is the recent president and has assisted to rebuild the club in excess of modern a long time adhering to their relegation from the top flight in 2014.
Khalid is also a substantial Gerrard enthusiast, with the Al-Ettifaq chief calling him a ‘living giant’ in 2013, whilst he also explained on Twitter at the time: ‘Gerrard may not have touched the (Leading League) title, but he touched a lot of hearts.’
Al-Ettifaq’s official operator is Nawaf A Alosaimi, though there is constrained info on the internet about this unique.
Gerrard with club president Khalid Al-Dabal whose dad, Abdullah, formerly ran the club
What is Gerrard very likely to confront in Saudi Arabia?
To start with, Gerrard will be well remunerated in Saudi, with his salary noted to be all-around £8.1million-a-calendar year – extra than £150,000 per 7 days.
He penned a two-calendar year agreement with the club, whilst the make-up of his backroom personnel remains uncertain.
Former Scotland favourite Gary McAllister was Gerrard’s assistant during his time at both of those Rangers and Aston Villa, but there is so significantly a lack of clarity on irrespective of whether he will sign up for the 43-year-old.
Al-Ettifaq now have two assistants in place – Tarik Makhnass and Antonio Cazorla. The latter spent time in momentary charge very last period immediately after Frenchman Patrice Carteron was dismissed in February.
Gerrard is expected to have major cash to convey in stars, with Alvaro Morata a best concentrate on
He is also expected to goal Jordan Henderson (remaining) and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (right)
Meanwhile, Saudi’s controversial sovereign Public Investment decision Fund (PIF) introduced very last thirty day period they ended up taking command of 4 of the Pro League’s biggest golf equipment Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad, and Al-Ahli.
Al-Ettifaq, on the other hand, think they can contend with the PIF-operate clubs to problem for the title upcoming time and Gerrard is likely to have a significant transfer spending budget to commit.
Inside a working day of his announcement, Philippe Coutinho – who Gerrard performed with at Liverpool and signed for Aston Villa – was joined, even though Jordan Henderson, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alvaro Morata have also been linked with a go.
Mail Activity understands initial discussions over a move for Morata have taken put amid hope he can turn out to be a single of Gerrard’s initial signings, with Atletico Madrid open up to a lower-rate deal for the former Chelsea striker.
However, the Saudi aspect are most likely to confront competitors from golf equipment in Italy.
It all promises to an intriguing view from afar when the motion receives underway on August 11.