For the first time in nine months, Michael Beale has returned to coaching.
Michael Beale, the former manager of the Rangers, has shockingly accepted to return to football by taking over as assistant coach for Steven Gerrard at Al Ettifaq, a struggling team in the Saudi Pro League.
After a challenging 2023–24 season that also saw him lose his position as Rangers manager in November, Beale is eager to rebuild his image. He has been unemployed since being fired as Sunderland manager in February.
After the former Charlton manager decided to quit the team by mutual consent, the 48-year-old was brought in to take Dean Holden’s place as Gerrard’s number two at the Al-Ettifaq Club Stadium.
First meeting Gerrard at Rangers, Beale—a former coach at Chelsea, Sao Paulo, and Liverpool—was an integral part of the coaching staff when the Light Blues won the Premiership in the 2020–21 campaign.
Shortly after the title victory, he followed Gerrard to Aston Villa and remained in the West Midlands for six months before starting his own managerial career with Queens Park Rangers.
At Loftus Road, Beale won nine of his first 22 games and was praised for going above and above when many thought the team would be in danger of relegation.
Rangers hired him as manager in November 2022 as a result, but he was fired less than 11 months later because he was unable to win any awards.
A month later, he was back in management with Sunderland, but he was fired from the Stadium of Light following a dismal start in which he won only four of his 12 games.
Beale joins an Al-Ettifaq squad that, despite strong support, is currently ranked 12th out of 18 in the Saudi Pro League.
They have lost four of their last five games and five of their ten league games this season.After losing 2-0 to local rivals Al Qadsiah earlier this month, former England captain Gerrard was jeered by his own supporters, and Beale is already under pressure to assist the legendary Liverpool player in turning things around in Dammam.
