Steven Gerrard speaks out after surviving Al-Ettifaq sack with former assistant and ex-Rangers boss Michael Beale on board to steady the Saudi ship

Al-Ettifaq have endured a difficult campaign, sitting 12th in the 18-team Saudi Pro League. The club’s poor performances have placed Gerrard under immense pressure, as his side has managed only 12 points from 11 matches. A 0-0 draw with Al-Riyadh in their most recent outing failed to inspire confidence, with Al-Ettifaq remaining just five points clear of the relegation zone.

Despite the challenges, Al-Ettifaq’s board have opted to stand by Gerrard, while making significant changes to his support staff. The club announced the departure of assistant coach Dean Holden and sporting director Mark Allen. In a statement addressing the changes, the board admitted to “unsatisfactory results” but expressed optimism about turning things around.

To strengthen the coaching setup, Al-Ettifaq have brought in Beale as Gerrard’s new assistant. Beale, who previously worked with Gerrard at Rangers and Aston Villa, was instrumental in the Scottish club’s historic 2020-21 title win, which ended their decade-long drought.

Speaking at a press conference, Gerrard expressed his enthusiasm for Beale’s arrival and the potential impact it could have on the team’s fortunes.

"The club made decisions regarding the departure of Mark Allen and Dean Holden," he told reporters. "The decision was also made to bring Michael Beale in who is a super coach, we spent years together previously and it's great to have him back with me. I did not want to lose Michael when I was at Aston Villa and when he left it was a blow to me. If he had been available when I negotiated to come to Al-Ettifaq, he would have been my assistant at the club. Now we need some time to develop and improve."

Al-Ettifaq face an uphill battle to climb the Saudi Pro League table, but the addition of Beale signals a renewed effort to salvage the season. The duo will reignite their partnership with a fixture against Al-Arabi in the GCC Champions League and then shift their focus back to the domestic league as they have a match against Al-Ittihad on November 30.