Steven Gerrard has 'welcomed' the offer of taking over Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq as the Liverpool legend looks for a return to football.
Gerrard has been out of work since being sacked by Aston Villa last October, with the club languishing in the bottom reaches of the Premier League. Unai Emery was his replacement, leading Villa to qualification for the Europa Conference League.
But Gerrard remains highly-thought of by several teams, with Leicester also considering his candidacy for the top job at the King Power Stadium. The Liverpool icon appears to be at the centre of a potential battle to appoint him.
According to Reuters, Al-Ettifaq have made an enquiry to the former Villa boss about the possibility of him taking over. The Knights of Ad-Dahna finished seventh in the Pro League last season, having last won the title in 1987.
The report quotes a source, who revealed that Gerrard has not yet dismissed the offer and will consider it. They said: "Al-Ettifaq made an offer to Gerrard. He welcomed the idea, but asked for time to study the offer."
Gerrard was sacked by Villa after a dismal start to the season, having been appointed just a year before. Before that he had led Rangers to the Scottish Premier League title as invincibles.
The Liverpool legend made a classy exit from Villa Park, paying tribute to the fans despite vocal opposition towards the end of his reign. And he lamented the fact that his time at the club had not worked out.
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"I would like to thank everyone connected to Aston Villa Football Club, for the support shown to me during my time there. I would personally like to thank the board of directors, the players and all the staff for their hard work," he wrote on Instagram.
"To the fans, it is regrettable that it didn’t work out in the end, but I owe you a debt of gratitude for the way you welcomed me into your club, and continued to push the team on during difficult times.
"Aston Villa is a club with a special history, I really wanted to bring back those memorable achievements, unfortunately it wasn’t to be. I wish everyone at the club all the very best for the future."
The Saudi league has shot into relevance in recent months, with first Cristiano Ronaldo and then Karim Benzema both joining clubs in the country. But West Ham star Michail Antonio has previously sent a warning to any side considering Gerrard as a manager.
“Honestly, what I’ve heard on the grapevine is that there were a few players who weren’t really having him. I’m not too sure how many there were," Antonio told the Footballer's Football Podcast.
"But what I heard is that a few players weren’t really having him and didn’t like how he was. It wasn’t how he wanted to play, it was more how he was as a manager himself and how he dealt with the players. That’s what I heard.”
