Steven Gerrard faces demands to RESIGN from his £15.2m-a-year Saudi job after he infuriated...

Gerrard Urged To Resign After Al-Ettifaq Loss

Published: 09:52 GMT on October 31, 2024 | Updated: 11:45 GMT on October 31, 2024

Supporters and analysts are urging Steven Gerrard to step down as the manager of Al-Ettifaq following an unexpected defeat in the Saudi Cup to a lower-division squad on Wednesday evening.

Gerrard has been with Al-Ettifaq for 16 months under a £15.2 million annual contract, and he guided the team to a sixth-place finish in the Saudi Pro League last season.

However, they currently sit in 10th place this season, having not secured a league victory since September 14. Things took a turn for the worse on Wednesday when they lost 3-1 to the lower-division team Al-Jabalain, which resulted in their elimination from the King Cup in the round of 16.

Gerrard chose to keep former Celtic and Lyon striker Moussa Dembele on the bench, and this decision turned out to be a big mistake. His choices have confused fans, many of whom worry that if he stays at the helm, he could take Al-Ettifaq into an even deeper slump.

After last weekend's 1-1 tie with Al Feiha, a supporter took to social media to express their frustration: "Honestly, Gerrard is embarrassing himself. I've never encountered a coach who has so many talented players but doesn’t know how to use them effectively."

Supporters are urging Steven Gerrard to step down from his position at Al-Ettifaq.

Last year, Gerrard agreed to a contract worth £15.2 million annually with the Saudi club.

He moved from England to Saudi Arabia, but things haven't turned out well for him there.

Al-Ettifaq supporters have expressed their displeasure with Gerrard due to a poor streak of performances, leading several to criticize his strategies.

"Dembele may be on the bench, but he leads in scoring, while Majed Duran stands out as a top talent. Wishing the best of luck to Al-Ettifaq supporters!"

One fan commented earlier this week, saying, "Al-Ettifaq's circumstances won't improve with Gerrard leading the coaching team."

Lately, it's been common to hear complaints about Gerrard's starting lineup. Following a 3-2 defeat to Al-Orobah on October 20, one frustrated fan expressed their disappointment: “I was feeling hopeful before the game, but as soon as I saw the team selection, I gave up. There seems to be constant confusion and a lot of name changes in every match.”

It has puzzled both me and the experts trying to figure out the starting lineup that Mr. Gerrard has been using for the past seven or eight games. He’s been involved since last season, yet he seems unsure about how to assemble a proper lineup.

At the same time, Nasser Al-Jedaie, a commentator from Saudi Arabia, has expressed strong disapproval of Gerrard's coaching style.

He mentioned that Gerrard has been involved with Al-Ettifaq off the field, but hasn't produced any outcomes in terms of coaching. He questioned what exactly Gerrard's vision or project is for the team.

Sports reporter Turki Al-Ajmah thinks that Gerrard's tenure is over following Al-Ettifaq's recent defeat, whereas his fellow journalist Mohammed Al-Sadaan called Gerrard's predicament "unfortunate" and encouraged him to resign.

Gerrard is feeling the heat, and he hasn't done much to win over Al-Ettifaq supporters after stating that he schedules training sessions around the times Liverpool plays so he can catch their matches.

Nasser Al-Jedaie, a commentator from Saudi Arabia, has voiced his criticisms regarding Gerrard's approach to management.

Sports reporter Mohammed Al-Sadaan (seen in the picture) has called for Gerrard to resign.

Gerrard recently revealed that he schedules training sessions to avoid overlapping with Liverpool games.

In an interview with The Redmen TV, he mentioned, "John, our goalkeeping coach, and I are closely monitoring the situation. We structure our entire schedule around the Liverpool matches."

"The players have caught on to what I'm doing; we've been practicing in the evening around 9 or 10."

The current schedule doesn't seem to be helping Gerrard and his team, as they're still looking for their first league victory in more than six weeks.

Their poor performance has placed them only five points clear of the relegation zone, causing fans to worry that they might face a tough battle against relegation if improvements aren't made soon.

Gerrard has not yet made a strong case for himself as a coach since making the move from England to the Middle East.

Last summer, Gerrard managed to persuade Jordan Henderson to move to Saudi Arabia. However, Henderson decided to leave and join Ajax in January instead.

Gerrard hasn't secured a league victory with Al-Ettifaq since September 14, which could mean his time at the club is running out.

Last year, he lured his old Liverpool teammate Jordan Henderson to Al-Ettifaq, but their reunion didn’t last long. The England international departed from Saudi Arabia in January to sign with Ajax.

Al-Ettifaq's performance hasn't improved since then, and Gerrard might be losing precious time to secure his position.

He has overseen 46 matches at Al-Ettifaq and currently holds an average record with 17 victories, 15 defeats, and 14 draws.