Steven Gerrard ends rollercoaster Al Ettifaq spell with club in a better place

For Al Ettifaq fans hoping that Steven Gerrard would return the club to its late 1980s glory days when he was appointed in October 2023, the English coach’s reign has fallen short. But by many metrics, Gerrard – who left Ettifaq by mutual consent on Thursday – has made a significant impact.

Over the past 18 months, he has brought in many tremendously talented players, who were attracted by the prospect of being coached by the Liverpool legend. And he has unquestionably enhanced Al Ettifaq’s global reputation, with many fans around the world discovering the club for the first time because of Gerrard’s presence.

He has even helped improve Al Ettifaq’s profile in Dammam; members of the local Liverpool FC Supporters’ Club became a regular presence at the E’Go Stadium last season – determined to throw their weight behind the Anfield legend, as well as fellow ex-Liverpool player Georginio Wijnaldum.

“Sometimes things don’t go as planned,” Al Ettifaq said in a statement when announcing Gerrard’s departure, “But the firm foundations he helped build will guarantee a bright future in the long term. He changed the club for the better and that will never be forgotten.”

Highs and lows

There have certainly been plenty of highlights on the pitch during Gerrard’s reign, including a victory over Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr in his first ever Saudi Pro League match, plus draws against the then-reigning champion Al Ittihad and fellow Jeddah heavyweight Al Ahli in the 2023-24 campaign.

Gerrard also guided Ettifaq to four wins from four in the Arabian Gulf Club Champions League this season, with the club set to face Kuwaiti side Al Qadsiah in the quarter-finals in February.

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It was in May 2024 that Gerrard’s Al Ettifaq produced its finest performance, however – thrashing Al Ittihad 5-0 at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium thanks to a hat-trick from Karl Toko Ekambi. The win was Al Ettifaq’s biggest over Al Ittihad in its history.

But along with these happy memories, there were also plenty of difficult moments for Gerrard. Between October and December 2023, Al Ettifaq failed to score in six of its eight league games and it had a divisional-high five 0-0 draws across the 2023-24 season. In fact, no team recorded more tied games than Al Ettifaq’s twelve.

A cynic might suggest the stat demonstrates that the team lacked a cutting edge and winning mentality; a more optimistic assessment would be that Gerrard was close to finding a winning formula. Al Ettifaq’s board certainly shared the latter sentiment, with reports suggesting Gerrard was ready to walk away last summer after leading the club to a sixth place Pro League finish before being convinced to stay for the 2024-25 campaign.

But Gerrard’s attempts to create a team capable of competing at the top end of the Saudi Pro League faltered this season. After a promising start of three wins from three saw Al Ettifaq go joint-top of the table in September, the wheels fell off dramatically. Gerrard’s side went nine successive league games without a victory between September and December.

During that run, Gerrard suffered the nadir of his reign as Al Ettifaq was eliminated from the King’s Cup at the hands of Saudi First Division club Al Jabalain. The 3-1 humbling, a major Cup upset, saw Gerrard come under serious pressure but once again he found his way out of a tough situation and Al Ettifaq started winning again.

Gerrard’s Ettifaq reign has been a real rollercoaster.

Building quality foundations

A major part of Gerrard’s legacy will be the squad he built, which blends Saudi talents and quality foreign imports. Although Al Ettifaq won the Saudi Pro League title twice (1983, 1987) and the King’s Cup twice (1968, 1985), the club’s current vintage is the best collection of players it has ever had.

Not every arrival has been a success, with Jordan Henderson’s summer 2023 move from Liverpool attracting intense scrutiny from the English football media and providing a PR challenge for both Al Ettifaq and its coach Gerrard. Henderson produced some solid displays but ended his contract early last January to push through a switch to iconic Dutch club Ajax.

However, Gerrard has had plenty of hits in the transfer market too. Spanish playmaker Alvaro Medran, Portuguese winger João Costa, Scottish defender Jack Hendry and midfielder Seko Fofana have proven to be high-quality additions for Al Ettifaq. And Gerrard’s fellow ex-Liverpool midfielder Gigi Wijnaldum has been a particularly influential figure both on and off the pitch – with his experience and professionalism positively impacting the Al Ettifaq squad.

Moussa Dembele, too, has been a useful focal point for Al Ettifaq’s attack. The team struggled badly when Dembele suffered a lengthy injury absence last season and when the French striker returned, Al Ettifaq’s campaign was reignited; he ended the 2023-24 campaign with 12 goals and this time around has seven goals and four assists.

In terms of encouraging local talent, Gerrard has regularly selected Saudi national team forward Abdullah Radif this season, while defender Meshal al-Sebyani earned his Green Falcons debut as an Al Ettifaq player in October. Right-back Madallah al-Olayan and center-back Abdullah Madu were both given new leases of life under Gerrard after moves from Al Ittihad and Al Nassr respectively.

What’s next for Gerrard and Al Ettifaq?

Gerrard does not have a new job immediately lined up, but the ex-England captain has been linked with a potential return to management with former club Rangers, as well as a move to Championship club Leeds United. The statement Gerrard released after his departure on Thursday appeared tinged with regret, but also suggested he might be open to another role in the Saudi Pro League in the future.

“I want to express my gratitude to the club, the players, the fans, and everyone involved for the opportunity and the support during my time here,” Gerrard said. “From the first day I was warmly welcomed and I have enjoyed the chance to work in a new country with a different culture.

“Overall I have learnt a lot and it’s been a positive experience personally and for my family as well. But football is unpredictable and sometimes things don’t go the way we want.”

Gerrard left Ettifaq with the team 12th in the Saudi Pro League table, just five points above the relegation zone – though new coach Saad al-Shehri won his first match against Al Shabab on Saturday to move the club straight up to 11th. Al-Shehri is a dormer Saudi Arabia Under-23 coach whose last spell at Al Ettifaq in 2017-18 was marked by success, with his team finishing in fourth place.

With no time to impact the squad in terms of new personnel before the January transfer window closed, al-Shehri must now try to get the best out of a squad that has Gerrard’s imprint. But the Englishman’s foundation has left al-Shehri and Al Ettifaq in a good place to build for the future.

Read more: Steven Gerrard leaves Saudi club Al Ettifaq