Aston Villa flop 'agrees' bumper new contract despite three-month hiatus

Steven Gerrard has bagged a new contract at Saudi outfit Al-Ettifaq despite a nine-game winless streak.
Charlie Haffenden
By Charlie Haffenden
Published 18th Jan 2024, 11:27 GMT
Steven Gerrard is set to put pen to paper on a contract extension at Al-Ettifaq.Steven Gerrard is set to put pen to paper on a contract extension at Al-Ettifaq.
Steven Gerrard is set to put pen to paper on a contract extension at Al-Ettifaq.

Former Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard has agreed to a two-year contract extension at Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq, despite not winning a game in any competition since October 28 of last year.

The ex-Liverpool and England captain has had a three-month hiatus from victory but has been rewarded with a bumper deal, extending his stay in Saudi Arabia. Gerrard is no stranger to poor managerial form as he quite frankly flopped as Villa boss, failing to live up to the expectations set out before him as Dean Smith's successor.

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Gerrard was handed more time at Villa Park after a mixed bag of a first season that saw the Villans finish 14th. Just two wins in the opening 12 matches of the 2022/23 season were judged as a huge failure, however, leading to his sacking in October 2022. Unai Emery replaced him a few days later and the rest - as they say - is history.

Steven Gerrard is set to put pen to paper on a contract extension at Al-Ettifaq.Steven Gerrard is set to put pen to paper on a contract extension at Al-Ettifaq.
Steven Gerrard is set to put pen to paper on a contract extension at Al-Ettifaq.

Al-Ettifaq saw a first approach to Gerrard knocked back but the legendary midfielder eventually agreed to make the switch on July 3, 2023. The current season started well as Al-Ettifaq won five of their opening 11 matches but it has been a disaster since, with Gerrard's men enduring a nine-game winless streak.

Nonetheless, The Athletic reports the 43-year-old has now agreed terms on a new deal, keeping him in Dammam until 2027. Jordan Henderson, who controversially joined Gerrard at Al-Ettifaq in the summer, has gone in an entirely different direction, terminating his contract ahead of a move to Ajax.

Related topics:Steven GerrardSaudi Pro LeagueEnglandSaudi ArabiaUnai Emery

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