Tag: Al-Ettifaq

Al-Ettifaq is about to appoint Steven Gerrard as its new leader. One Reds legend has a chance, but he is extremely unlikely to manage Liverpool in the future.

Liverpool fans closely watched Steven Gerrard’s career as he took control of Rangers in 2018 as he first started dabbling in football management. His objective was to win the Scottish Premiership, which Celtic had dominated in the years prior to his arrival.

He took some time, but in 2021 Rangers miraculously managed to complete an entire season without suffering a loss. Gerrard’s players did well against more seasoned European teams, including FC Porto, Villarreal, Feyenoord, and Benfica, to name a few. Gerrard also turned in impressive performances while playing on the continent.

He was seen as a promising young coach, but after landing a position in the Premier League and taking over Aston Villa about 18 months ago, things started to change. Villa Park initially seemed to be doing better under the former Liverpool captain, but things quickly deteriorated.

Before Unai Emery was selected to take his place, the Reds legend had only spent 11 months in the Midlands. He struggled after losing his longtime assistant Michael Beale, who was snatched up by Queens Park Rangers six months after Gerrard was appointed, and he seemed rigid in his tactical approach. Throughout his time as the manager of Aston Villa, he failed to demonstrate consistency in terms of results or performances.

The 43-year-old has been unemployed for eight months after his reputation suffered when leading the claret and blue team, but he now appears to be close to accepting a new position. With the appointment of Al-Ettifaq to the Saudi Pro League, Gerrard will make his managerial comeback.

Over the past six months, a slew of footballing legends—including Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kanté, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, to name a few—have either relocated to Saudi Arabia or have been associated with the country. The majority of the rumors concern athletes who are nearing the end of their careers, so Gerrard’s choice is a little puzzling.

On numerous occasions, the former Anfield midfielder has expressed his desire to lead Liverpool in the future. Gerrard will ‘definitely’ manage the Reds in the future, according to Jürgen Klopp, but it now appears highly unlikely that this assertion will come true.

Given his youth as a manager, Stevie is currently performing exceptionally well, according to Klopp. “Stevie has accomplished a lot so far, and everything looks good and is moving in the right direction. It’s good for everyone, and I believe it will happen. When is the ideal time for that, though, is the only issue.

Gerrard is almost effectively giving up on his desire to succeed Klopp as manager of Merseyside with his decision to relocate to Western Asia. One of Gerrard’s Anfield teammates is currently developing into a very impressive managerial prospect, but it is still unclear who will emerge as Klopp’s true heir.

At the moment, Xabi Alonso is in charge of Bayer Leverkusen, and after his first season in that capacity, he is definitely someone to keep an eye on. The German team was ranked 17th out of a possible 18 teams in the Bundesliga when the Spaniard assumed control of it earlier this season; however, his squad ended up placing sixth in the standings.

Despite not being a particularly physical or quick player, Alonso was able to outsmart his opponents thanks to his quick thinking and football IQ. He trained with legendary coaches like Pep Guardiola, José Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, and Rafael Bentez during his playing career.

Given that he is fluent in several languages, his brand of football seems to be contemporary and progressive, and he is a skilled communicator. He’s really on you, in your face, to make sure you understand what he wants you to do, Chelsea talent Callum Hudson-Odoi, who has spent the season on loan at Leverkusen, said in a statement to The Athletic. Compared to the other coaches I’ve had, he is unquestionably more hands-on. He continues to kick the ball and has a winning mentality. “.

Liverpool fans would love for the German to be replaced by a familiar face when he eventually leaves because life without Klopp is a terrifying thought on Merseyside, which may help to explain why. Gerrard is unlikely to be that person in 2026, but Alonso is a strong candidate.