EXCLUSIVE
Steven Gerrard deserves another chance back in Britain despite Al Ettifaq nightmare
Steven Gerrard's managerial career is on the brink of coming to a serious crossroads.
The Liverpool legend was booed off the park by Al Ettifaq supporters after they were beaten 2-0 by local rivals Al Qadisiyah in the Saudi Pro League.
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It marked the fourth defeat in six games for Gerrard's troops and left them languishing in 11th spot in the table.
With Al Ettifaq's fanbase turning against Gerrard, who has won only 17 of his 47 games since taking charge in July 2023, there's a sense his time at the club could be nearing its end.
Should Gerrard be sent packing, it would mark another managerial failure after a stint in charge of Aston Villa where he struggled for results.
The 44-year-old replaced Dean Smith in November 2021 but was sacked less than a year later after a dismal 3-0 defeat to Fulham at Craven Cottage.
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Villa replaced Gerrard with Unai Emery and the Spaniard instantly transformed the club's fortunes as he led them back to European football that same season.
To Gerrard's credit, he showed plenty of managerial nous during his three-year stint at Rangers, where he guided the Scottish giants to an unbeaten league title triumph in the 2020/21 campaign.
Despite Gerrard's poor stint at Villa Park and a worrying run of results at Al Ettifaq, Arsenal legend Martin Keown believes the Liverpool great deserves one more shot at managing in Britain.
"Well, I suppose you have to make it count when you're on these shores, don't you?" Keown told talkSPORT's White and Jordan.
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"So obviously Rangers, he did very well. Went to Villa and it was a huge disappointment.
"I had high hopes for Steven Gerrard to become a top manager. I think he's due another chance, Jim, when he comes back to the UK."
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When White asked Keown why he had such 'high hopes' for Gerrard's managerial career, the Arsenal great replied: "I just felt that there was an empathy with him. There's an understanding of the game.
"He wants to be a manager so desperately. He's put in the hard miles. I know you're getting paid an absolute fortune, it's the other side of the world. He wants it to work.
"He looked like he was destined along with Frank Lampard. We were recently looking for an England manager. I think if those two would have trained on and done what we expected them to do, then they probably would be managing their country right now.
Steven Gerrard booed by fans as Al Ettifaq lose 2-0 to Al Qadsiah FC
"But the other side of the coin is he could well lose his job now in Saudi Arabia. He has to decide what he wants next and how ambitious is he and much does he believe in himself."
Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan offered a more critical stance on Gerrard's tenure in Saudi Arabia.
In fact, Jordan even questioned if a career in the dugout is the right path for Gerrard, especially with former Charlton and Bristol City boss Dean Holden providing a helping hand as an assistant.
"This is the risk he ran, didn't he? By deciding the next stage was for him to go over there," Jordan said.
"The economics would have played a big factor.
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"Dean Holden, I know, is a good coach. He's a good lad so he'll go in there and add some support to Steven.
"But for Steven to go over there and to not be pulling up trees and to be having these challenges, leads you to the conclusion that maybe managerial stuff isn't for him.
"You can't have this dynamic of Glasgow Rangers and being in a situation where the opportunity existed as a result of that. Go to Villa then Emery's made a mockery of what he did at Villa by taking them to another level.
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"I don't know how vociferous Saudi fans are but if they've already adopted the Western culture of booing people out of jobs, it doesn't bode well for him, does it?"
Gerrard's Al Ettifaq are back in action on Tuesday as they take on fellow Saudi side Al Qadsiah, who boast the likes of ex-Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and former Real Madrid captain Nacho, in the Gulf Club Champions League.
Steven Gerrard's managerial career in numbers
Rangers (June 2018 - November 2021): P192, 124 wins, 41 draws, 27 losses
Aston Villa (November 2021 - October 2022): P40, 13 wins, 8 draws, 19 losses
Al Ettifaq (July 2023 - present): P47, 17 wins, 14 draws, 16 losses
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