- The former Villa manager has had a difficult start as a coach in the Gulf state
- Gerrard is the highest paid English manager in the world and fourth overall
- Football is changing… managers cannot rely on their reputations. Just look at the Golden Generation – It all starts
Steven Gerrard’s bumper signing at Al-Ettifaq has made him one of international football’s highest-paid managers and sees him paid as well as Jurgen Klopp despite a miserable few months in Saudi Arabia.
The former Aston Villa made the move to the Saudi Pro League last summer, but has not had the easiest start in the Kingdom.
Al-Ettifaq are in the middle of a winless streak lasting more than two months and are currently eighth in the league.
Speculation began to mount that Gerrard would struggle to hold down his role – especially against the backdrop of historic signee Jordan Henderson’s departure to Ajax after less than seven months – but the club doubled down on their support for the Liverpool legend announcing a new contract.
Gerrard has been given a two-year contract extension to his existing contract, a transfer that will keep him in Dammam until 2027.
Steven Gerrard is richly rewarded for a lukewarm first season with Al-Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League
The former Rangers and Aston Villa manager was given a two-year contract extension
Gerrard’s salary makes him the fourth highest manager in football – and with a salary comparable to that of Liverpool head coach Jurgen Klopp
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But some may dispute whether the Saudi side are getting value for money, with Gerrard’s £15.2m-a-year salary the same as Liverpool head coach Klopp’s.
The highly decorated German head coach’s salary is estimated at around £15 million, making him the third highest paid manager in the world.
The former Rangers manager is the fourth.
Despite the high spending in the Premier League, no manager in English football sits at the top of the pack.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is the highest-paid coach in England, but his £19 million-a-year salary makes him by some measure the second-highest paid coach in the world.
The highest-paid manager – Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone – commands a whopping £30m-a-year at the Metropolitano.
The Spanish giants remain committed to retaining El Cholo after more than a dozen years in charge at Madrid, handing the former Argentina international a new deal in November to extend his contract until at least 2027.
Announcing his new deal, Gerrard said the offer felt like ‘recognition for his hard work and dedication’.
“We knew from the start that this was a big job and a challenging job,” Gerrard continued. “We all know this won’t be an overnight solution. But it’s really exciting in terms of where we think we can take the club.
“We want to build a special club and build an elite culture around the team and the squad.
‘I also understand my position, it is a results business. I never take that for granted. I understand where we are in the league, but I am confident we will improve. A certain amount of patience will be required as there is still a lot to do on and off the pitch.”
Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone is the highest-paid manager in world football after carving out a lasting legacy in Spain
Gerrard will have to complete his first season without his trusted assistant Ian Foster (pictured left)
In addition to losing Henderson in the January transfer window, Gerrard now also has to work without his trusted assistant Ian Foster.
Foster was appointed head coach at Championship club Plymouth Argyle earlier this month after joining Gerrard in Saudi Arabia last summer.
Gerrard has previously suffered the loss of talented assistants, with Michael Beale’s departure to Queens Park Rangers in 2022 signaling the beginning of the end for Liverpool’s legendary spell at the club’s helm.
The former Rangers manager left the club languishing in 17th place, before the appointment of Unai Emery changed the side’s fortunes and saw them take the last European spot.