Steven Gerrard joins exodus to Saudi Arabia after being named Al-Ettifaq boss
Former England and Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard has been appointed manager of Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq.
The 43-year-old revealed in June that he had been invited to the country to “look at a potential offer” but would not accept it.
Gerrard has been out of work since being sacked as Aston Villa’s manager in October last year.
Al-Ettifaq were seventh in the 16-team Saudi Pro League last season, finishing 35 points behind champions Al-Ittihad.
The former England midfielder’s move to Saudi Arabia follows a summer of heavy investment by Pro League clubs as several top European players have joined former Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo in the Middle East.
Former Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves, and Chelsea trio N’Golo Kante, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Edouard Mendy are among those who have moved to Saudi Arabia, with Inter Milan’s Marcelo Brozovic to Al-Nasr being the most recent.
Fulham boss Marco Silva is also said to have turned down a £17 million offer to coach Al-Hilal.
The trend underscores the league’s aim to be one of the top five in the world, and it comes on the heels of a June decision by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which owns Newcastle United, to take over four of the country’s leading clubs. Al-Ettifaq is not one of them.
Gerrard quit football in 2016, and his first managerial position was with the Scottish team Rangers.
He took over at Ibrox in 2018 and won the club’s first Scottish Premiership in ten years in 2020-21.
Gerrard subsequently took over as Villa manager in November 2021 but resigned after only 13 wins in 40 games.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
States
Independence: NBA urges Nigerians to expect better future
The NBA said that ordinary Nigerians should be deriving benefit from the subsidy removal rather than hardship.
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
States
Kaduna-Kano Rail: FG assures Zaria residents of compensation
The transport ministry’s permanent secretary gave the assurance on Thursday during a courtesy visit to the Emir of Zazzau, Ahmad Bamalli, at his palace.
Hot news Home top
Nollywood actor Francis Duru dies at 57, AGN mourns
The actor’s family broke the news of his death.
Heading 2
U.S. warns Americans of insecurity as France prepares for weekend protests
In a security alert on Thursday, the embassy said protests were planned for Saturday and Sunday and warned that demonstrations could turn violent and disrupt movement.
Health
FG says response to confirmed Ebola case intensified
The federal government says it has deepened public health response following the confirmation of an Ebola case in Abuja on Tuesday.
Opinion
Why opposition eyes can’t see the colours of a rainbow
It is also Tinubu’s fault that the dominant APC is the party seeking to forge a rainbow coalition, rather than the other way around.
Heading 5
Kaduna: Detained Nigerian journalist reveals ordeal in police cell over Facebook post
The journalist said she spent the night at the police station on Tuesday.
