Report: Gerrard requests exit as Al Ettifaq sits near relegation zone | OneFootball

Steven Gerrard’s Al Ettifaq Exit: A Risk That Never Paid Off

Steven Gerrard’s managerial adventure in Saudi Arabia appears to be drawing to a close. After 18 months in charge of Al Ettifaq, the former Liverpool captain has reportedly asked to leave, citing the club’s poor performances. As The Mirror reports, his tenure has been underwhelming, with results failing to meet expectations despite heavy investment in the squad.

A Move That Never Felt Right

When Gerrard took the job at Al Ettifaq, it was framed as a fresh challenge—a step outside the European bubble into a league throwing money around in an effort to reshape global football. But from the start, it never quite felt like a natural fit. A manager still defining his philosophy, in a league still defining itself, was always going to be a volatile mix.

Despite bringing in high-profile players like Gini Wijnaldum, Moussa Dembele, and Demarai Gray, Gerrard’s side has struggled. Al Ettifaq are 12th in the table, just five points above the relegation zone. The results have been poor, the cohesion lacking, and any sense of forward momentum seemingly non-existent.

Frustration and Fallout

Gerrard himself has not shied away from admitting the difficulties. “I am not satisfied with the players’ performance and level. I see the draw as losing two important points. I take responsibility for the result of the match, including missed opportunities and the drop in performance.” These words, spoken in what may be his final press conference, suggest a man who knows his time is up.

He acknowledges that injuries and absences have played a role in Al Ettifaq’s struggles, but the broader issue is the lack of progress. There were whispers last summer that Gerrard wanted out, only to be convinced to stay. Now, with another lacklustre run of results post-winter break, it seems he has had enough.

A Legacy Questioned

The managerial experiment in Saudi Arabia has been a bruising one for Gerrard. Winning less than 40% of his matches, his tenure has been defined by inconsistency and frustration. The high-profile signing of Jordan Henderson, meant to be a statement of intent, backfired spectacularly. Changes to the backroom staff, including the arrival of Michael Beale, did little to steady the ship.

Photo by IMAGO

His admission that he scheduled training around Liverpool’s fixtures also raised eyebrows. It was a revealing moment—was his focus ever truly on making a success of this job, or was it simply a stopgap until something better came along?

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

Liverpool fans will watch this unfold with a mix of sympathy and expectation. Gerrard remains a legend at Anfield, but his struggles in management continue to fuel doubts about whether he is truly ready for a top job in Europe.

From a sentimental perspective, many would love to see him back at the club in some capacity. But does this latest failure suggest he still needs more time to refine his approach? Jumping into a Saudi project was always a gamble, one that appears to have ended in disappointment.

Some might argue that Saudi football is a unique challenge, where success is not always defined by traditional metrics. But the reality is that Gerrard was given backing, talented players, and time—yet still could not turn things around. If he is eyeing a return to Europe, he will need to prove that this experience has taught him valuable lessons.

So what next? A return to the UK? A spell out of the game to reflect? The answers will come soon, but one thing is clear: this was not the career-defining move he had hoped for.