Crisis Talks Set to Determine Steven Gerrard’s Future at Al Ettifaq With Former Aston Villa Manage Set for a Huge Payday Should He Be Terminated
As the Saudi Pro League takes a break to release players to their national team, Steven Gerrard is expected to meet with the Al Ettifaq hierarchy to discuss his future at the club. Despite being backed in the transfer market, Gerrard has failed to meet the expectations, with the team now on its fifth defeat in seven games.
On a £15 million a year contract at Al Ettifaq, Gerrard is among the top five best-paid football managers in the world. However, the former Liverpool captain has struggled to make any meaningful progress at the club and with the fans turning on him, his time at the Saudi Pro League side might be coming to an end. With no sign of progress, the club’s management might be weighing the cost of keeping him on versus paying him for terminating his contract three years early.
During his first managerial role at Rangers, where he won the Scottish Premiership and finished the season unbeaten, Steven Gerrard was seen as the heir apparent to the Liverpool manager job. However, since then, he’s seen a catastrophic stint at Aston Villa and is now struggling at Al Ettifaq.
Currently, Al Ettifaq are 17 points behind league leaders Al Hilal and four points above the relegation zone. The dismal performances have seen the club lose out on matchday revenue, with fans’ attendance dwindling. Those in attendance have made their dissatisfaction known to the point of booing and telling Gerrard to quit the club.
The challenge would be the cost of terminating the contract. Gerrard recently renewed his contract until January 2027, and should Al Ettifaq decide to terminate it, they would need to pay him a significant amount. It remains to be seen whether the club decides to terminate and assume the cost to stop the bleeding.
