Steven Gerrard is becoming a Saudi laughing stock: Liverpool legend edging towards Al-Ettifaq abyss after run of poor form

Gerrard represented quite the coup for Al-Ettifaq, who are not one of the traditional Saudi Pro League superpowers supported by the country’s Public Invest Fund (PIF). The Dammam-based outfit have a solid fanbase, but the belief was that hiring a legitimate Premier League icon would boost the club’s profile, thus making it easier to attract players and commercial partners – and so it proved.

Clearly, the colossal sums of money on offer in Saudi Arabia have been integral to the influx of overseas stars in general – but it’s clear that Gerrard was key to Al-Ettifaq landing two former Liverpool players in Jordan Henderson and Gini Wijnaldum, while the former England international also unquestionably played a part in the arrival of former Fulham, Celtic and Lyon striker Moussa Dembele.

The problem, though, is that Gerrard has never appeared sufficiently satisfied with the strength of his squad – or fully committed to the cause in the eyes of the fans, who view the fact that he has elected to live in Bahrain rather than Saudi Arabia as a lack of respect for the job, club and country.

• Getty

  Shocking new contract

  Of course, this might not have become such an issue if Al-Ettifaq were playing good football and winning games – but they’re not. Results have too often been as poor as the performances.

  After a bright start to Gerrard’s tenure – five wins from the opening seven rounds of last season – his team went eight matches without a win before the winter break, which saw them drop to eighth in the SPL standings. Consequently, supporters were astounded when Al-Ettifaq extended Gerrard’s contract until 2027 in January.

  “This is very pleasing for myself and my family and feels like recognition for a lot of hard work and commitment,” he said at the time. “We had to put in place new infrastructure, like building a new training ground in phases and building a new stadium. But a lot has been achieved.

  “I understand where we are in the league, but I am very confident we will improve. The [transfer] window is open at the moment and we’re working to try to identify players who could come and support the current group of players, to make us more competitive at the top end of the table.”

  However, there were no notable arrivals in January – or during the summer for that matter – and, after another strong start to the current campaign, Al-Ettifaq’s form has fallen off a cliff once again.

• Getty Images Sport

  ‘The English plumber’

  Gerrard’s side weren’t expected to challenge for this season’s Pro League title, or even finish in the top four, but the fact that they’re presently sitting 11th in the standings is staggering.

  Al-Ettifaq have lost four of their past six league games, while they were also dumped out of the King’s Cup at the last-16 stage by second-tier Al-Jabalain – which sparked a bitter backlash, with some supporters derogatorily referring to Gerrard as a “the English plumber” and a “comedian” that had reduced the club to a “laughing stock”.

  In that context, it wasn’t the least bit surprising that the timing of his ‘joke’ about scheduling training around Liverpool matches didn’t go over at all well with Al-Ettifaq fans, who are understandably feeling a little short-changed by one of the highest-paid managers in the world.

• Getty Images Sport

  ‘All-in’

  Gerrard was unsurprisingly unhappy with the controversy caused by his comments, pointing out that most Saudi clubs train at night because of the extreme temperatures during the day – even during the winter months.

  “I am aware of where this has all come from,” he said on the eve of Saturday’s derby against Al-Qadsiah. “I was on a podcast trying to raise money for a children’s charity to make the charity survive and continue. I was asked if I still followed Liverpool and I said ‘Of course I still follow Liverpool.’ They played a huge part in my life and shaped me as a player, person and coach.

  “But I want to make it abundantly clear my priority is Ettifaq, I have a contract with Ettifaq and I am in a real privileged position. I respect all my previous clubs – Liverpool, Aston Villa, Rangers and LA Galaxy – but my main concern is this job and trying to make this club as good as possible, on and off the field. I am all-in and I will continue to be all-in.”

  However, Gerrard’s declaration did little to quell the anger of the fans, and things came to a head the following day, with the manager booed off the field after failing to prevent his side from slumping to a 2-0 loss to their local rivals.

• Getty Images Sport

  ‘Embarrassing situation’

  Despite being subjected to irate calls for him to “get out” of the club, Gerrard struck a defiant tone in his post-match press conference and argued that his side had deserved better from the game.

  “I spoke to the players. If we had performed like this before, we would not have put ourselves in this embarrassing situation,” he claimed. “But I bear the responsibility. On the back of recent results in my position, you are always aware of disappointment from fans, I have to take that responsibility on my shoulders. This is what I will do and continue to fight and work to improve the recent results.”

  Gerrard clearly felt some of the criticism coming his way was utterly unjustified, though, and responded to the increasing flak by refusing to fulfil his media duties ahead of Tuesday’s Gulf Club Champions League clash with Al-Qadsia.

• Getty Images Sport

  No laughing matter

  Luckily for Gerrard, Al-Ettifaq won in Kuwait thanks to a solitary strike from Dembele, meaning he’s bought himself some time – but probably not much.

  Indeed, an almost inevitable loss away to undefeated Pro League leaders Al-Hilal on Friday would put Gerrard in a perilous position going into the international break – the ideal time for a change of manager if the club belatedly decide that enough is enough.

  Gerrard can certainly have no complaints if he is dismissed. His lofty status within the game has bought him far more time than a less famous figure would have been afforded at Al-Ettifaq, while he’s done nowhere near enough to restore the reputation he once had at Rangers as a promising young manager touted as a potential Jurgen Klopp successor at Anfield. Consequently, Gerrard wasn’t even in the running to replace the German at Liverpool – or take over from Gareth Southgate as England boss.

  After all, Unai Emery has made a mockery of his Aston Villa tenure by taking the club back into the Champions League, while his spell in Saudi Arabia has long since descended into farce, meaning pretty soon he won’t have to worry about training sessions clashing with Liverpool matches.

  Of course, this is no laughing matter for Gerrard, who is now not only at risk of losing his job, but also whatever credibility he had left as a coach.