Former Rangers manager Steven Gerrard is now the 4th best-paid manager in world football after his eye-watering move to Saudi Arabia with Al-Ettifaq.
According to the Sun, the Liverpool legend, 43, is set to recoup a massive £15.2m per season to manage the Saudi club as a swarm of big names head to the Middle East.
The tabloid is claiming that the massive figure puts the 55-winning former Rangers boss in the top four best paid managers across the world with only an untouchable trio above him.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp makes a reported £16m per season, Pep Guardiola is banking £20m at Manchester City whilst Diego Simeone is said to be one a whopping £30m per campaign at Atletico Madrid.
Steven Gerrard might not have the same C.V. as these three management icons but his move to Al-Ettifaq is certainly proving profitable for the former Rangers boss.
Steven Gerrard takes road to Saudi with Al-Ettifaq
One of the biggest names in football, Steven Gerrard has moved out to Saudi alongside a host of top names with Cristiano Ronaldo kickstarting the migration last season.
Since then the likes of Balon d’Or holder Karim Benzema of Real Madrid, N’Golo Kante of Chelsea, Ruben Neves of Wolves and even Jota of Celtic have joined him in the Middle East.
The investment comes after the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund – the same one that has invested in Newcastle United – diverted public funds to four of the division’s top clubs.
That money is all part of a global investment drive coming out of Saudi Arabia at the moment with the country currently in a key evolution in its modern history.
Oil riches are at the centre of the Kingdom, which has now opened its doors to tourists, with the country’s monarchy trying to change the once closed off nation’s global image.
Having already invested heavily in golf, a big change is clearly coming to football and given the determination and development of those driving the sport in Saudi Arabia, the money isn’t going anywhere.
As Steven Gerrard earns an eye-watering move to Al-Ettifaq, there’s also talk of Rangers benefiting from the investment with the likes of Fashion Sakala and even Scott Wright being linked to the Middle East.
