Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has accepted a bold move to manage Saudi Pro League side Al Ettifaq after almost eight months out of the game.
Gerrard was hugely successful in his first managerial job at Scottish Premiership giants Rangers but was sacked by Premier League side Aston Villa in October 2022 after less than a year in charge.
The former England midfielder had previously stated he would not be taking up a role in the Middle East but he changed his stance in recent weeks.
How much will Gerrard earn in the Middle East? Here's a look at his deal and the Saudi Pro League club he is joining.
Steven Gerrard to Saudi Arabia: Why is he joining Al Ettifaq?
The four-time Liverpool Player of the Season was said to have been in talks with Poland over their managerial vacancy in January. Fernando Santos was later named their head coach.
While Al Ettifaq were not one of four clubs to have been taken over by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), they still boast the financial power to offer better remuneration to players and coaches than many other clubs in Europe. Saudi teams are also not subject to rules around spending imposed upon those teams.
After a difficult tenure at Villa, Gerrard may feel he wants to build his experience in a new country where he will not face the pressure and expectations that come with being a Premier League manager.
Al Ettifaq finished seventh in the Saudi Pro League last season, 35 points off the top and nine clear of the relegation zone. Their squad is predominantly composed of Saudi Arabian players, with Sweden attacker Robin Quaison among their overseas names.
Managers from a wide range of countries in South America and Europe have led the club in its 78-year history, as well as Saudi Arabian coaches.
Former Uruguay midfielder Leonardo Ramos and ex-Paris Saint-Germain and Portugal defender Helder have been among the managers to take charge since 2018.
The club's long list of trophies includes the Saudi top flight in 1982/83 and 1986/87, the Kings Cup in 1968 and 1985, and the now-defunct Gulf Cup for Clubs Champions League in 1983, 1988 and 2006.
من الأسطورة شخصيًا 🗣️
— نادي الاتفاق (@Ettifaq) July 3, 2023
جيرارد يوجه رسالة خاصة لجماهير #الاتفاق ❤️💚#جيرارد_اتفاقي pic.twitter.com/ZcNunj4EtS
Steven Gerrard contract, salary at Al Ettifaq
Joining the Saudi Pro League is clearly lucrative. Karim Benzema's salary at Al Ittihad is rumoured to be a tax-free $107m (£85.5m) for each of the three years of his contract.
Lionel Messi was reportedly offered more than four times that amount a year by Al-Hilal before opting to join Inter Miami from PSG.
Managers in the Saudi Pro League can't expect to earn such stratospheric sums, but Gerrard will be one of the best-paid bosses in the world after accepting Al Ettifaq's offer.
During Rudi Garcia's time in charge of Al Nassr, where five-time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo moved in 2022/23, the former Roma, Lyon, and Marseille boss was widely reported to have been paid a salary of around $6m (£4.8m).
Gerrard's $6.2m-a-year (£5m) Villa deal made him the highest-paid manager in the club's history, and Al Ettifaq's supercharged wealth allows them to eclipse that with a annual salary of around $10.3m (£8.1m) on a two-year contract.
Diego Simeone is currently the best-paid manager in the world, earning $44.2m (£37m) a season at Atletico Madrid. UEFA Champions League winner Pep Guardiola is second on the list, pocketing $23.9m (£20m) at Manchester City, while Manchester United's Erik ten Hag is 10th, collecting $10.75m (£9m).
MORE: Highest-paid soccer players: Will Benzema match Messi, Ronaldo wages in Saudi Arabia?
Why was Steven Gerrard sacked by Aston Villa?
After rumours his job was at risk, Gerrard was officially sacked by Villa after a 3-0 Premier League loss to Fulham in October 2022.
That result meant Villa had won just one of eight games, scoring only four goals in the process. While Villa's club statement gave no reasons for Gerrard's sacking, their poor form no doubt accelerated his exit.
The 2022/23 season started poorly for Villa, with the side sitting 17th in the Premier League and only outside the relegation zone on goal difference when Gerrard left.
Gerrard's first campaign with the club also failed to impress as they finished 14th and showed few signs of progress.
Villa felt they needed to cut their losses with Gerrard, to get their 2022/23 season back on track, and former Arsenal manager Unai Emery did just that, securing European qualification on the final day of the campaign after winning 15 from 26 games.
The side's final showing under Gerrard against Fulham was particularly poor but he stressed he was willing to press on.
"Inconsistency has cost us, that's the position we find ourselves in. I took over the team in a very similar situation. We've tried to recruit to get us out of that situation," Gerrard told BBC Match of the Day after his final game.
"I'm a fighter — it's in my DNA. I'll continue to fight unless I'm told differently."
Aston Villa Football Club can confirm that Head Coach Steven Gerrard has left the club with immediate effect.
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) October 20, 2022
Steven Gerrard managerial record at Aston Villa
After winning four of his first six games in charge, Gerrard's record at Aston Villa took a turn for the worse.
In the middle of his reign, the club lost four straight Premier League matches and he bowed out with one win in his last eight games.
| Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals Scored |
Goals Conceded |
Goal Difference |
| 40 | 13 | 8 | 19 | 49 | 52 | -3 |
It's also worth noting that Gerrard was given plenty of money to spend on transfers during his time at the club, with the likes of Diego Carlos and Philippe Coutinho signed on big deals.
Overall, Gerrard brought in nine different players at Villa but was unable to get the required results with them.
| Player | Fee |
| Diego Carlos | £28m/$31.7m |
| Lucas Digne | £27m/$30.6m |
| Philippe Coutinho | £18m/$20.4m |
| Leander Dendoncker | £13.5m/$15.3m |
| Robin Olsen | £3.15m/$3.6m |
| Boubacar Kamara | Free |
| Calum Chambers | Free |
| Ludwig Augustinsson | Loan |
| Jan Bednarek | Loan |
Steven Gerrard Liverpool stats, trophies, record
Gerrard won eight major trophies with Liverpool between 1998 and 2015 — most notably the Champions League in 2005. The Reds finished second in the Premier League three times during his time with them.
He appeared 504 times for the club, scoring 120 goals and providing 92 assists before ending his career at LA Galaxy in 2015/16.
Now 43, he can look back on being the Premier League Players' Player of the Year once and Fans' Player of the Year twice.
Steven Gerrard major trophies at Liverpool
| FA Cup | Carabao Cup | Champions League | Europa League/UEFA Cup |
| 2 (2001, 2006) | 3 (2001, 2003, 2012) | 1 (2005) | 1 (2001) |
