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Football star Steven Gerrard has reportedly 'requested to leave' Al Ettifaq according to regional and British media sources.
The story, first highlighted by Saudi newspaper Al-Youm, said the former Liverpool icon and Rangers manager had 'requested to leave' the club due to ‘poor performances’.
The report went on to claim that the Saudi Pro League side were ‘studying his decision’ as they weigh up potential successors.
There is media speculation that Bahrain’s national team coach Dragan Talajic is now a 'hot favourite' to take over. The Croatian tactician, who has been in charge of the senior men’s national team for less than a year, has many admirers after recently guiding Bahrain to lift the 26th Gulf Cup in Kuwait.
Gerrard, however, is ‘well-settled’ and happy living in Bahrain with his family and has launched a football academy in the kingdom.
The coach, who lost his job at Aston Villa in the Premier League before moving to the Gulf, has endured a number of ups and downs since he took charge of the Saudi Pro League club back in the summer of 2023.
Al-Ettifaq find themselves 12th in the table and were held to a 2-2 by Al Wehda in their last outing.
During what could be his final press conference, a frustrated Gerrard said he took responsibility and that he was ‘not satisfied’ with his players’ performance and level.
It was also claimed that the former England international had initially wanted to leave last summer but was convinced to stay by club executives and they may try again to keep him.
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