Stevie G Walked Away from £10M to Save His Coaching Reputation - The Inside Story

By Lewis Barnett 1 May, 2025 5 mins read 120 Views

Bloody hell. I just heard something that made me drop my morning coffee. Steven Gerrard—yes, THAT Steven Gerrard—apparently left behind £10 million when he walked away from Al-Ettifaq in January. Ten. Million. Pounds.

This isn't just some random rumor either. The Saudi club's actual head of football, Hatim Al-Mashaal, spilled teh beans on a Saudi TV show called "Our Club." According to him, Gerrard basically sacrificed half his contract money because he saw the writing on the wall.

Listen to this Article

The £10M Question: Pride or Panic?

Look, I've covered football long enough to know when something doesn't add up. My colleague Dave (who's been obsessed with Liverpool since '98) texted me immediately: "No way he just GIVES UP that kind of money without something else lined up."

But Al-Mashaal's exact words were pretty revealing: "He waived £10million because if the club had been relegated with him, it would have caused a crisis in his coaching career."

Crisis is right. Imagine being Steven Gerrard—Liverpool icon, England legend—with "relegated a Saudi club" on your CV. Career poison.

When Saudi Dreams Turn to Desert Dust

Remember when Gerrard joined Al-Ettifaq back in July 2023? The headlines, the excitement, the ridiculous money being thrown around... I actually interviewed a sports economist that week who laughed and said, "This Saudi bubble will either change football forever or burst spectacularly."

Eighteen months later, Stevie G was gone. Five wins from 17 matches. The team hovering just five points above relegation.

Not exactly the glorious chapter he envisioned.

What Stevie Said (And What He Didn't)

Gerrard's own statement when leaving was... diplomatic. You know the type—carefully worded, probably written by someone else, full of "positive experience" and "warm welcome" nonsense.

"Football is unpredictable and sometimes things don't go the way we want," he said. Yeah, no kidding.

What he DIDN'T say: "I'm walking away from enough money to buy a private island because I'm terrified of relegation destroying my coaching prospects."

The Rangers Return Rumor Mill

God. The timing of this revelation couldn't be more interesting. Rangers have been manager-less since they sacked Philippe Clement back in February. Barry Ferguson's been keeping the seat warm, but everyone knows it's temporary.

And now suddenly we're hearing Gerrard might go back to Ibrox?

I spent $300 on a dinner with a Scottish football insider last week (expense account, thankfully) who told me the Rangers board is seriously divided on this. Half think bringing back the man who delivered their first title in a decade is brilliant. The others think it's desperate nostalgia for a guy whose career has been in freefall since leaving them.

From Hero to Zero to...?

Let's be honest. Gerrard's managerial trajectory has been weird.

Rangers: Brilliant. Ended Celtic's dominance. Scottish Premiership champions 2021.

Aston Villa: Meh. Started okay, fizzled out.

Al-Ettifaq: Disaster.

I remember watching his first Saudi press conference and thinking he looked like a ghost at a family reunion—present but somehow not really there. His heart was never in it.

The question now is whether Rangers would be a step backward or the perfect reset.

The Price of Pride

£10 million.

That's what Gerrard's reputation is worth to him. Or at least, that's what avoiding a relegation on his CV is worth.

I've seen players take pay cuts to join bigger clubs. I've seen managers walk away from toxic situations. But walking away from TEN MILLION POUNDS? That's either incredible self-belief or incredible fear.

Maybe both.

Whatever happens next in the Gerrard saga, one thing's clear—the man who never gave up on the pitch as a player knew exactly when to throw in the towel as a manager. And it cost him a fortune.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens to the Premier League teams that finish in the bottom half?

The bottom three teams in each Premier League are relegated, and this is done at the end of every season. The Championship, or second tier, of English football, takes their place. In their place, the top two teams from the Championship, along with the winner of the Championship playoffs, are promoted to the Premier League for the following season.

How does the Premier League determine its winner?

The winner of the Premier League is the team that accrues the highest number of points over the course of the 38-game season. A team receives three points if they win, one for a draw and zero for losing. If both teams end the season on the same number points, the champion will be determined based on the goal differential and if required, by the number of goals. If teams are still equal, a play-off at a neutral site may be used to determine the title. However, this scenario has not occurred in Premier League's history.

Can you explain what the Premier League's 'Big Six’ are?

The 'Big Six’ refers a grouping of Premier League's most influential and successful clubs over the past few years. Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool are usually on the list. Also included is Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur. These teams are renowned for their consistently high performances, large fan bases, financial prowess and frequent qualification for European competitions including the UEFA Champions League & UEFA Europa League.

What community initiatives is the Premier League supporting?

The Premier League provides support for a broad range of community-based initiatives designed to improve the lives of people through football. These efforts include education, sports and development programs aimed at young people. Promoting the inclusion of groups underrepresented in football and supporting projects using football as a means to promote positive social changes are also included. The Premier League's global reach allows it to make a significant impact both within and beyond the UK, emphasizing football's potential to contribute to societal well-being.

How has Premier League developed since its formation?

The Premier League's evolution has been significant since its creation in 1993. It began as a breakaway division from the Football League. This was done to take advantage a lucrative deal for television rights. Since then it has become a worldwide sporting phenomenon. It now attracts top talent all over the world and undergoes brand changes. Revenues have also increased massively. The league has also experienced advancements in sport science, training facilities and stadium technologies. This has contributed to an overall improvement of the football spectacle.

Statistics

Petr Čech set a remarkable defensive record during the 2004-2005 season with 24 clean sheets, the most by a goalkeeper in a single Premier League season.
The record for the most goals scored in a single Premier League season by a player is 32, achieved by Mohamed Salah during the 2017-2018 campaign.
Alan Shearer is the all-time top scorer in the Premier League with 260 goals across his stellar career.
In the 1995–96 season, Manchester United achieved the largest title-winning margin, finishing 18 points clear of the second-placed team.
Manchester United holds the record for the most Premier League titles, having been crowned champions 20 times.

External Links

How To

How to Buy Tickets for Premier League Matches

It is easy to get tickets for Premier League games. Firstly, visit the official website of the club hosting the match you wish to attend. You may need to create an account before you can purchase tickets. Be prepared to purchase as soon tickets become available. Some clubs also offer memberships that allow earlier access to tickets. Purchase tickets only from official sources in order to avoid fraud.

Did you miss our previous article...
https://sportingexcitement.com/premier-league/real-madrids-saliba-obsession-why-florentinos-hunting-arsenals-defensive-beast