Former Aston Villa, Rangers and QPR coach reunites with Steven Gerrard

Former Aston Villa management duo Michael Beale and Steven Gerrard are to work together again.

Gerrard was manager of Villa from November 2021 to October 2022 and for most of his tenure, he was supported by Beale. Beale worked with him at Rangers and later followed him to Villa.

The management team of Gerrard and Beale guided Villa to a 14th-placed finish in the Premier League. When Gerrard took over from Dean Smith, the Villains were 17th, and two points above the relegation zone.

The two went their separate ways when Beale took charge of Championship club QPR, and he ended up becoming Rangers manager after just a few months at Loftus Road. Gerrard, who has come under pressure at Al-Ettifaq, will now be boosted by the arrival of his trusted right-hand man. 

According to GiveMeSport's Senior Football correspondent Ben Jacobs. In a post shared on X, he said: "Al-Ettifaq have appointed ex-Rangers boss Michael Beale as Steven Gerrard's assistant. Announcement imminent with full agreement already in place."

Al-Ettifaq find themselves 12th in the Saudi Pro League and have won just one of their last five games. They are seven games without a win in the league and just four points above the drop. 

Beale’s proposed move to Saudi Arabia sees him return to work after being axed by Sunderland earlier this year. He was appointed their head coach as he succeeded Tony Mowbray, but lasted just 12 games, with a record of four wins, two draws and six defeats.