Former Rangers manager Michael Beale looks set to reunite with Steven Gerrard at Saudi Pro League club Al-Ettifaq.
Michael Beale was Gerrard’s assistant during a three-and-a-half year stint in Glasgow where the pair steered the Gers to a legendary 55th title.
After initially joining Steven Gerrard at Premier League side Aston Villa, Beale took his own foray into management and took over at QPR in the summer of 2022.
Little over four months later Beale was invited to return to Rangers as manager, where he was eventually sacked one year later and replaced by Philippe Clement.
Having spent a brief and troubled spell in charge of Sunderland, where he was not helped by press scrutiny from his time at Rangers, Beale has been out of work since February.
Now, with Steven Gerrard under mounting pressure to turn results around at Al-Ettifaq, the two look set to be reunited in the Middle East.
Michael Beale ‘to reunite with Steven Gerrard’
Steven Gerrard has been in charge of Saudi club Al-Ettifaq since the summer of 2023, joining the Dammam side amid a wave of investment in Saudi Arabian football.
After finishing 6th in the Saudi Pro League last season, Gerrard finds himself 12th this time around, four points off 16th and a relegation place.
Whilst Gerrard retains the backing of the Al-Ettifaq board, it’s being claimed that Michael Beale is set to reunite with Stevie G in a bid to stem the tide this season.
Give Me Sport believe that Beale is ‘on track’ to be unveiled as the newest member of the Al-Ettifaq coaching team in ‘the coming days’.
The opportunity may well be attractive to Beale as he looks to work his way back into football after a disappointing 20 month stint as a top manager.
The former Rangers boss could rebuild his reputation in Saudi Arabia with the prospect of linking up with Steven Gerrard a blockbuster one for Al-Ettifaq.
Ex-Rangers manager slams football ‘snakes’
The news also comes after Michael Beale slammed the ‘snakes’ who undermined his career in top-level management.
Also hitting out at abuse in football, Beale hinted at taking another job in the game as he looks for a fresh start following a tumultuous period in the dugout.
Claiming that as his profile rose so did interest from ‘uncomfortable’ sources, Beale looks to have learned his lesson and could be about to sign a deal in Saudi.
”Around a couple of the moves I’ve had as a manager I saw loads of snakes and people come out of the woodwork sort of,” said Beale.
”I didn’t like it. It made me uncomfortable.
”Perhaps I would have made better decisions if those people weren’t around but that’s for another time.
”Ultimately, I’m very, very fortunate. I’ve been a manager at QPR, Glasgow Rangers, 52k, Sunderland, 44k in the Championship.
”I’ve worked in the Premier League, I’ve worked in Serie A and I’ve worked in over 60 games in European football in the Europa League and Champions League.
”So 257 games in the system, 77 games as a manager and at 44 I feel that I’m at the start of my career so in that sense I still feel like I’m a young coach.”
