Where’s the logical place to work next for an ambitious manager who has enjoyed success in a middle-ranking league in Europe? As Steven Gerrard, the last manager to guide Rangers to a Scottish league title, posed himself that question, he surveyed what others with similar coaching distinctions are doing.
His answer? That Saudi Arabia’s Pro League is a powerful magnet, a place not only attracting a caravan of superstar footballers in this busy, monied summer, but tacticians with CVs rather like 43-year-old Gerrard’s.
As the former England captain, out of work since losing his job at Aston Villa last October, deflects some shrill criticism back home for his decision to take up the post of Al Ettifaq’s manager, he sees an opportunity to measure himself against managers on a parallel career rung.
Gerrard’s best work so far in coaching was at Rangers, a weakened club when he arrived in 2018 as a novice first-team coach. Three years later, they became Scottish Premiership champions for the first time in a decade.
Some of the same shrewd leadership admired in Gerrard as a midfielder for Liverpool and England had driven Rangers to the top of a Scottish hierarchy that had been dominated by Celtic.
He left with the Rangers side in strong enough shape to reach a Europa League final in the months following his departure, a significant achievement: Scotland’s top division is ranked only the ninth-best domestic league by Uefa, the European game’s governing body.
That’s a place below Belgium, where Yannick Ferrera, the 42-year-old who was last week appointed Al Riyadh’s new coach, won his first silverware as a manager. It’s two spots beneath Portugal, where Pedro Emmanuel, the manager of Al Kahleej, lifted his first trophy as a senior coach.
Elsewhere in the Pro League, Al Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo’s club, have just appointed Luis Castro, who guided Shakhtar Donetsk to a Ukrainian title and the semi-finals of the Europa League when Ukraine’s domestic football was ranked 10th-best in Europe.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s previous silverware, before moving to the Pro League a year ago and claiming the Saudi title with Al Ittihad, was for winning the English Championship – England’s second tier but wealthier than Scotland or Belgium’s top tiers – as manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Like Gerrard at Villa, Nuno had been sacked from a job in the English Premier League, at Tottenham Hotspur, before setting out for the Gulf in search of a positive uplift to his career.
In that context, directly up against peers who have a managerial history rather like his, Gerrard’s intrepid – and certainly well-paid – choice of new job makes sense. His best alternatives, as he sought a return to management this summer, were found mainly in the Championship.
He has instead elected to work in the league that, according to Ronaldo, can “step by step, become one of the top five leagues in the world.”
The hurdles will be plenty, but of a distinct sort to the ones Gerrard took on, amid huge expectations, back in November 2021.
When he joined Villa, he was plunged into an English Premier League he had experienced only as a player, and where a promising start was punctuated by reminders of how far he still had to travel as a manager: His first three defeats in charge of Villa were at the hands of Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel, all Champions League-winning managers.
Top Saudi Pro League signings so far
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Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr): The transfer that started it all. The Portuguese superstar moved to the Saudi Pro League in January after his acrimonious exit from Manchester United. Ronaldo scored 14 goals in his first 16 Saudi Pro League games. AFP -
Karim Benzema (Al Ittihad): The first statement signing of the summer transfer window, Ballon d'Or holder Benzema joined the Saudi champions after agreeing an exit from Real Madrid. The French striker was welcomed with a fittingly grand ceremony. Reuters -
N'Golo Kante (Al Ittihad): The French midfielder soon followed Benzema to Ittihad once his Chelsea contract expired. Kante, a two-time Premier League winner and World Cup champion, adds further glamour to the Saudi Pro League. AFP -
Ruben Neves (Al Hilal): By far the most expensive player in Saudi Pro League history. While Ronaldo and Benzema are the bigger global names, both arrived on free transfers. Portuguese midfielder Neves shattered the transfer record by moving to Hilal from Wolves for £47 million. AP -
Kalidou Koulibaly (Al Hilal): After completing the record-breaking move for Neves, Hilal turned their attention to Koulibaly, recruiting the Senegalese centre-back for £20m. Despite a difficult season at Chelsea, Koulibaly has been one of the standout defenders of his generation. AFP -
Edouard Mendy (Al Ahli): Before his long-term shoulder injury, Mendy was one of the best goalkeepers in the world, winning the Champions League with Chelsea and Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal. His £16m move to Ahli can help revive his career. AFP -
Jota (Al Ittihad): The Saudi champions are making major moves this summer, and the £25m acquisition of Portuguese winger Jota boosts an attack led by Benzema. PA -
Marcelo Brozovic (Al Nassr): Arriving to provide support to Ronaldo at Nassr, Croatian midfielder Brozovic joined the Saudi club for £15m after another impressive season for Champions League finalists Inter Milan. AFP -
Steven Gerrard (Al Ettifaq): Major arrivals are not only happening on the pitch but in the dugout. Former Rangers and Aston Villa manager Gerrard was appointed by Ettifaq and will aim to revive his career in Saudi. AFP -
Roberto Firmino (Al Ahli): The former Liverpool forward left Anfield after eight successful seasons to lead the attack at Ahli. @ALAHLI_FC / Twitter -
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Al Hilal): Arguably the most eye-catching deal of the summer. The 28-year-old Serbia midfielder has frequently been linked with Europe's biggest clubs but has opted to join Hilal in a €40m deal. His midfield partnership with Ruben Neves would be the envy of many European teams. Reuters -
Jordan Henderson (Al Ettifaq): The former Liverpool captain is expected to wear the armband following his move from the Premier League giants. The midfielder departed Anfield after 12 years, seven major trophies and 492 appearances. Reuters -
Alex Telles (Al Nassr): The Brazilian defender linked up with former Manchester United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr this summer. Telles spent the 2022/23 season on loan at Sevilla, helping the Spanish club win the Europa League. He joined Nassr for a reported fee of £4 million. Getty -
Riyad Mahrez (Al Ahli) - Algerian winger Mahrez left Manchester City after five years at the Etihad Stadium in which he won 11 major trophies. In all, he made 236 appearances, scoring 78 goals. Reuters -
Allan Saint-Maximin (Al Ahli): The French winger signed for Jeddah giants Al Ahli on a three-year contract after confirming his departure from Newcastle. During his four years on Tyneside, Saint-Maximin scored 13 goals in 124 appearances. AFP -
Fabinho (Al Ittihad): An integral part of a Liverpool squad that won the Champions League and Premier League in successive seasons following his move from Monaco in 2019. Capped 29 times for his country, the Brazilian midfielder joined the Saudi Pro League champions on a three-year contract. AP -
Sadio Mane (Al Nassr): After six highly successful years at Liverpool, in which he won the Premier League and Uefa Champions League titles, Mane endured a frustrating season at Bayern Munich, though he contributed to their title success. The Senegalese, 31, will be part of a fearsome attacking line up alongside Cristiano Ronaldo at Nassr. Getty -
Malcom (Al Hilal): Not content with breaking the Saudi Pro League transfer record once, Al Hilal did so twice this summer and made Brazilian winger Malcom the most expensive player in Saudi football history. AFP -
Seko Fofana (Al Nassr): A player in demand this summer after a superb season to help Lens run PSG close in Ligue 1, the Ivory Coast midfielder opted to link up with Ronaldo at Al Nassr over moves elsewhere in Europe. AC Milan had been strongly linked. AFP -
Franck Kessie (Al Ahli): The Ivory Coast midfielder's time at Barcelona may not have worked out but he remains a top-level operator and adds more quality and star power to Al Ahli. Getty -
Moussa Dembele (Al Ettifaq): A shrewd free transfer by Gerrard's Al Ettifaq, the French striker has moved to the Saudi Pro League side on a four-year deal and should provide the goals. AFP -
Neymar (Al Hilal). The Brazilian completed his move from PSG and is one of the biggest stars in the ever-expanding Saudi Pro League. He was unveiled in front of thousands of fans in Riyadh on Saturday. Getty -
Yannick Carrasco (Al Shabab). After 265 appearances across two spells at Atletico Madrid, the Belgian winger joined the Riyadh club for a reported fee of €15 million. Carrasco also spent two years in the Chinese Super League. EPA -
Georginio Wijnaldum (Al Ettifaq): The Dutch midfielder enhanced the Liverpool connection at Ettifaq, joining former teammate Jordan Henderson at the Damman club coached by Reds legend Steven Gerrard. Wijnaldum, 32, has signed a three-year contract. Reuters -
Gabri Veiga (Al Ahli): Widely regarded as one of the best midfield prospects in Spain, 21-year-old Veiga signed for Ahli on a three-year deal from Celta Vigo despite interest from Liverpool and Napoli. Veiga said he opted for the Saudi Pro League to "grow the game" in the kingdom. EPA -
Aymeric Laporte (Al Nassr): A vital part of Manchester City's squad that clinched a treble of league, cup and Uefa Champions League in 2023, the Spaniard switched to Nassr over the summer to link up with Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. A fee of £23.6 million makes the 29-year-old the league's most expensive defender. Getty Images -
Otavio (Al Nassr): The Portugal midfielder scored 31 goals in 283 games in all competitions for Porto after joining the team in 2014. He linked up with Riyadh-based club after Porto accepted a bid of around $65 million. AFP -
Merih Demiral: (Al Ahli): The imposing Turkey centre-back boasts Sporting of Lisbon and Juventus among his previous clubs and stood out in Serie A across two seasons at Atalanta. The 25-year-old joined Ahli on a three-year contract. Getty
He lasted less than a year, replaced by Unai Emery, a boss with almost 20 years of managerial experience and four Europa League titles to his name.
Whether Gerrard can boost Al Ettifaq in the way he elevated Rangers is moot. They finished seventh in the Pro League last season and the Dammam-based club have not yet made the headline-grabbing swoops in this transfer market of rivals freshly boosted by sovereign wealth.
These club include Al Nassr, where Ronaldo will be joined by Croatian star Marcelo Brozovic; Karim Benzema’s Al Ittihad, who have hired N’Golo Kante; or Al Hilal, who have just reappointed the worldly and decorated Jorge Jesus as manager, along with midfielder Ruben Neves and defender Kalidou Koulibaly.
Gerrard has been promised a significant recruitment budget by Al Ettifaq to try to keep up with those Pro League pacesetters. His new employers hope his fame will help draw in ambitious players. His personal, longer-term aim is that his managerial reputation will have been boosted by the end of the adventure.
