Al-Ettifaq coach Steven Gerrard set to sign contract extension

Coach Steven Gerrard is close to signing a two-year extension at Al-Ettifaq.

The former Rangers and Aston Villa manager will continue to be backed by the club despite a rocky season, according to reports.

A new deal will keep the ex-Liverpool midfielder at the club until 2027.

He joined the Saudi Pro League side last July but they are winless in their last eight games and are eighth in the table with just six wins from 19 matches.

Gerrard is also poised to lose Jordan Henderson, with the midfielder close to a move to Ajax just six months after moving to Saudi.

The 33-year-old former Liverpool captain was pictured arriving at Schiphol Airport on Thursday and being driven away by the club's general manager Herman Pinkster.

Henderson is expected to have a medical before formalising the terms on what is reported to be a two-and-a-half-year deal, although he will take a substantial cut from his reported £350,000-a-week wages in Saudi Arabia.

Former England international Gerrard saw assistant Ian Foster leave this month when he became Plymouth's new manager.

Gerrard, 43, was sacked by Aston Villa in October 2022 after just 11 months, winning 13 of his 40 games in charge.

It came after a successful spell at Rangers, spending just over three years at Ibrox and winning the Scottish Premiership in 2021.

Since moving to Al-Ettifaq Gerard has signed Georginio Wijnaldum, Demarai Gray, Moussa Dembele and Jack Hendry.

Read More: Jordan Henderson nears Ajax switch from Al-Ettifaq (planetsport.com)