Steven Gerrard has dismissed claims that his move to Saudi Arabia was solely motivated by money, though he admitted it played a small part. The former Liverpool captain, who earns a reported £15 million annually at Al-Ettifaq, insisted he was already financially secure and that the decision was not purely about the pay cheque.
Speaking to The Telegraph, the 43-year-old said: 'I was financially secure a long time ago. So, I would not come to Saudi for money. Was it part of it? Yes. Was it the only thing that made me do it? One million per cent, no.'
Gerrard took charge of Al-Ettifaq in July 2023 after a disappointing spell at Aston Villa. He revealed that he had turned down two struggling Premier League clubs to rebuild his reputation in the Middle East. He explained that accepting a Premier League role late in the season carried the risk of another relegation blow, similar to his Villa exit.
His first season in Saudi Arabia was mixed, with Al-Ettifaq finishing sixth in the league, winning 12 of 34 matches and ending 48 points behind the champions. Despite the challenges, Gerrard believes he can help establish the Saudi league on the world stage with continued support.
He welcomed several familiar faces to the club, including former Liverpool teammate Georginio Wijnaldum, as well as Demarai Gray, Moussa Dembele and Seko Fofana. Ex-Liverpool goalkeeping coach John Achterberg also joined the backroom staff. Gerrard signed a two-year contract extension in January, keeping him at Al-Ettifaq until 2027.
