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January 4, 2024

Status protects Steven Gerrard, but Al-Ettifaq’s job is in jeopardy – Saudi Pro League

The former Liverpool midfielder has been given more time than most because of his high-profile appointment. Still, there needs to be more room for patience.

Steven Gerrard is having problems at Al-Ettifaq following a strong start in Saudi Arabia. The former Liverpool captain made an immediate impression in the east of the nation, winning five of the first seven Saudi Pro League games. However, the Dammam club has lost its last eight games, so pressure is mounting as they prepare for a six-week break due to the Asian Cup.

It would generally be over in Saudi Arabia. This season, there have been thirteen coaching changes in the 18-team league. Clubs can be harsh places, and they typically are, with the exhilaration of winning lasting only a few months in Saudi Arabia. Just five months after leading Al-Ittihad to their first title since 2009, Nuno Espírito Santo was fired in November. Two of Gerrard’s former Liverpool teammates, Igor Biscan and Robbie Fowler, fared even worse: Igor Biscan took over at Al-Shabab in mid-October and is currently home. At the same time, Robbie Fowler was fired in October after four months at Al-Qadsiah despite not losing a single game.

Ettifaq has gone through more than 30 changes this century alone. Thus, history is not on Gerrard’s side, and his reputation as a legendary player has ultimately kept him afloat. Few of the numerous coaching arrivals and departures, even within the region, garner much column space; however, Gerrard’s presence guarantees attention from around the world and, consequently, a little more patience.

What is the amount in question? Sweden’s Robin Quaison, who played attacking, and Moussa Dembélé’s goals contributed to the strong start. Both players scored goals when the team defeated Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr 2-1 in the first game. Despite clearly struggling during those early season furnaces, Ettifaq’s marquee signing, Jordan Henderson, an England international, quickly came to terms with Dembélé, and things looked pretty good. While Georginio Wijnaldum, another former Red, was brought in, it helped that there weren’t many creative moments.

September ended Quaison’s goals, but Dembélé’s continued, as the French forward was sidelined for several months due to injury. He was sorely missed. Ettifaq leads only six teams in scoring goals. The problems were displayed during the 2023 season finale; Ettifaq had much time to secure the three points at home against Al-Hazm, the bottom team, before the visitors’ injury-time penalty sealed a 1-1 draw.

Gerrard met with club officials a few days ago and demanded more signings. “We need to be aggressive, we need to be ruthless, and we need to make a lot of changes to make this team more competitive,” he said.

“We need to show in this window, and also the summer window, that we mean business and we want to be competitive at the top of the league, and not where we are at the moment. It’s a collective thing – the players here and now need to give more, and people need to step up, and at the right time, we will hopefully be able to make significant changes to the team and the squad. Hopefully, at the back end of January, you will see a different, stronger and more competitive squad.”

Only a few foreign coaches in Saudi Arabia make such a public demand for transfer activity. That might be because, in the past, they would arrive from South America or the Balkans, stay for only a season, and then depart with hardly any positive or negative experience on their resumes. Gerrard makes it seem different. Following the Aston Villa setback,

Even though Saudi Arabia’s success might not help him rebuild his coaching career, another loss would prove that the former England midfielder lacks the necessary skills to be a manager. Undoubtedly, Gerrard’s dream job at Liverpool, which seemed to be in the cards, seems far off.

Nobody anticipated that Ettifaq, who was fortunate enough to finish seventh the previous season, would take on the top two teams in Al-Hilal, the 18-time champions, and Al-Nassr, or the two Jeddah titans, Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli, the other two “Big Four” teams that were taken over by the nation’s Public Invested in and lavished with money and celebrity endorsements. But there’s less explanation, and there needs to be more for other teams. Fourth is the out-of-date Al-Taawoun, masterfully led by the incredibly well-traveled Péricles Chamusca. Al-Fateh and Damac have produced more significant results with less capital.

Supporters are beginning to voice their complaints. Gerrard’s prominence in the game has undoubtedly contributed to his longevity thus far, though it’s difficult to predict how long. 

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