Anfield Watch
·20 November 2024
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Yahoo sportsAnfield Watch
·20 November 2024
A number of former Liverpool players are currently based in Saudi Arabia, most playing for Saudi Pro League sides and even one managing one.
Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Georginio Wijnaldum and Fabinho all now ply their trade as players for different Saudi Pro League sides, with mixed success.
Steven Gerrard is also part of the Saudi Pro League as manager of Al-Ettifaq, who Wijnaldum currently plays for.
The legendary former Liverpool captain has had some mixed success since he hung up his boots and decided to give management a go.
Things have been no different since the 44-year-old moved to the Middle East, but he may now be about to be handed a lifeline by his employers.
Gerrard has had a somewhat disappointing start to the season, which sees Al-Ettifaq sitting in 12th in the league and already 17 points off the leaders after only 10 games.
However, according to a report by Ben Jacobs for GIVEMESPORT, Michael Beale is set to be appointed Gerrard’s assistant at Al-Ettifaq.
The pair had previously worked together at Rangers and Aston Villa and won the Scottish Premier League together in 2021.
Beale has taken the step into management himself, managing Queens Park Rangers, Rangers and Sunderland since 2022, but has been out of work since being sacked by Sunderland in February.
Although Beale and Gerrard have worked together at a number of clubs, their professional relationship began when Gerrard became the manager of the Liverpool U18s, as Beale was the U21s manager at the time.
The pair worked closely together for a time until Beale took the opportunity to go and become an assistant in Brazil.
His stay in South America only lasted six months and Beale returned to the Reds’ academy for a short while before joining Gerrard’s coaching staff at Rangers.
Gerrard will be hoping that his former colleague can make a difference and help turn Al-Ettifaq’s season around so that his job remains secure for the foreseeable future.