Steven Gerrard’s return to Liverpool after reaching agreement with his wife | Football | Sport
Steven Gerrard during his time in Saudi Arabia (Image: Getty Images)
Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard will make his return to Anfield this weekend to participate in a legends fixture against Borussia Dortmund. The Champions League-winning midfielder hung up his boots in 2016 following a period with LA Galaxy before embarking on a managerial career.
The 45-year-old experienced a prosperous period at the helm of Rangers before a brief, turbulent tenure in charge of Aston Villa. Gerrard then surprised the footballing world by taking up the managerial role at Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq in July 2023. The appointment brought a significant shift to the Gerrard household.
The former England international reportedly struck an agreement with his partner, Alex, to allow her and their four children to reside in a neighbouring Gulf nation, with Gerrard subsequently travelling between the two locations.
Alex reportedly had no desire to spend prolonged periods in Saudi Arabia. The family were consequently situated in Manama, Bahrain’s capital, which is merely an hour’s journey from Dammam in eastern Saudi Arabia, where Gerrard was employed.
The proximity allowed Gerrard to travel along a 15-mile causeway linking Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, despite being provided a luxury villa in Dammam by his club.
Gerrard himself responded to claims he was permanently residing in Bahrain after calling into a local radio station. He explained that his time was divided between Bahrain and across the border, where Alex and his family were living.
His wife and children lived in a £10,000-per-month six-bedroom villa in the Hamala district of the city. The property featured its own swimming pool, tennis courts and games room, and was located within an exclusive gated community amongst Bahrain’s elite.
Gerrard’s venture in Saudi Arabia came with a remarkable £15.2million-a-year salary, positioning him as the fourth-highest-paid manager in the world, behind only Jurgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola and Diego Simeone at the time.
His stint concluded in January 2025. Gerrard reportedly surrendered a further £10m from the outstanding portion of his contract by departing on mutual terms. Since then, he has regularly featured as a pundit on TNT Sports.
Gerrard and his wife Alex set up a commuting arrangement in the Middle East (Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
With his former club faltering under Arne Slot, with some supporters even calling for him to intervene and stabilise the side, Gerrard made a remark towards the end of last year that would thrill many Liverpool fans.
The former Reds skipper told Ally McCoist on TNT Sports that he would embrace the chance to return to Liverpool in any role.
“I’ll be brutally, brutally honest with you: I’d help Liverpool in any department at any minute of every day,” he said.
“I’d help them with anything. I don’t want the Liverpool manager to lose his job, I want Arne Slot to fix this and turn it around and make Liverpool great.
“If that right opportunity, or that feeling that I got when I first bounced into Rangers, doesn’t come then I’m fine. I’m not searching for a job, I’m not down the job centre for what’s available. I’m not hoping ‘that one might come available’.”
Gerrard clarified: “My life’s great, my family life’s great, I’m enjoying doing [media work], I’ve got a lot going on. My life’s good, I’m fine. If the right football project comes up, the hunger’s back, it’s there.”
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