Steven Gerrard has signed a two-year contract extension as head coach of Al Ettifaq.
The hierarchy will continue its commitment to provide the 43-year-old funds to sign players and develop the club.
Gerrard’s new deal sees him tied down until 2027.
Al Ettifaq confirmed Gerrard’s new deal on the same evening that they announced Jordan Henderson’s contract at the club had been terminated by mutual consent, as the England international midfielder completed his move to Ajax.
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Gerrard said upon signing his new deal: “This is very pleasing for myself and my family and feels like recognition for a lot of hard work and commitment.
“We knew at the beginning this was a big job and a challenging job. We had to put in place new infrastructure like building a new training ground in phases and building a new stadium. But a lot has been achieved.
“It’s a relationship with me and the management team above me, that’s growing, that’s building, it’s getting stronger, and I’m really looking forward to the future.
“In football the priority is always the short term. But importantly, Samer, the new president, came in at the same time as me, and we share a vision. We all know it’s
not going to be an overnight fix. But it’s really exciting in terms of where we believe we can get the club to.”
He joined the Saudi Pro League club in July 2023 but has so far struggled for consistency, with Al Ettifaq winless in their last eight matches.
Al Ettifaq president Samer Al Misehal added of Gerrard’s extension: “As a club we know where we want to go and we know we want Steven to lead us on the journey ahead.
“There are no shortcuts to success and Steven’s personal work ethic, his leadership qualities and his commitment to the project has shown everyone at the club just what it will take to compete at the highest level.
“We have a proud history and I believe we are now on the right path to return to former glories. We just have to keep going step by step.
“Steven will be given time and resources to continue on this journey and build something special.”
The former Liverpool player moved to Saudi Arabia after being sacked by Premier League side Aston Villa in October 2022.
Prior to managing Villa, Gerrard had a three-year spell in charge of Rangers, who he led to the Scottish Premiership title in 2020-21.
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He had initially turned down an approach to manage Al Ettifaq but went on to become their head coach.
On June 5 last year, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Sport declared that the country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) would assume control of four teams in the Saudi Pro League.
PIF, who hold an 80 per cent stake in the Premier League side Newcastle United, control 75 per cent of Al Ittihad, Al Ahli, Al Hilal and Al Nassr, while the remaining 25 per cent is controlled by a non-profit organisation.
Al Ettifaq, situated in the city of Dammam, is not among the four teams.
Gerrard’s side are currently eighth in the Saudi Pro League table.
GO DEEPER
Jordan Henderson, what have you done?
(Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)
