Since Steven Gerrard left Rangers back in 2021 things haven’t quite gone to plan at Ibrox.
The Gers might’ve been miraculously steered to the Europa League Final and the Champions League group stages by Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
But the Dutchman’s woeful domestic record hung over the ex-Rangers midfielder like a bad smell and eventually Gio earned what on reflection looks a harsh chop.
Then came Michael Beale – who failed to do what Steven Gerrard did so well and overcome Celtic – before Philippe Clement took the reins in October.
But after three managers at Ibrox and Gerrard’s doomed stint at Villa, the Liverpool legend claims he took his latest job in Saudi Arabia because it was ‘like the gig at Rangers’.
Gerrard: Al-Ettifaq project ‘like Rangers’
Speaking to the Telegraph, Steven Gerrard was clear not to conflate the size of Saudi Arabian side Al-Ettifaq with that of the famous Glasgow Rangers.
But where the comparisons start, at least according to Stevie G, are in a club which needs modernised, rebuilt, sculpted and managed with a hell of a lot of input from the man at the helm.
When Gerrard took over at Rangers in 2018, it’s fair to say we were one hell of a mess.
That the expectations have come back to Rangers since his appointment is a testament to the work done by the Scouser in Glasgow.
Turning down a Premier League return following the sacking at Aston Villa, Gerrard claims like Rangers it was the all-encompassing project at Al-Ettifaq which convinced him of a move.
“I am not someone who likes to blow my own trumpet,” said Gerrard. “I am not someone who PRs myself.
“Yeah, big name. I played in the Premier League and have been successful in terms of my career as a player.
“But I think the opportunities to go straight back in quickly when I probably wasn’t ready, they were high-risk, really high-risk in terms of they could again have been a tough knock if it wasn’t the right opportunity.
“So, I needed to sit down with people who shared a lot of things with me, maybe in terms of wanting to build something, in being given a little more time… that felt a bit more like Rangers.
“Now, I am not comparing clubs and sizes but in terms of a project. Can you build something special? Can you build a team? Can you build an infrastructure? Can you give academy people opportunities? Can you share your experiences and let people grow?
“For example, I was offered the chance to go back into the Premier League late on, where a team had very little time to go, where a team needed to have that lift and that reaction.
“But if I didn’t get that reaction and they went down it would have felt like another blow on the back of Villa.”
Shades of Ibrox in Saudi
Whilst we’re not sure what to make of the comparison, Steven Gerrard’s start at Al-Ettifaq has certainly mirrored elements of his beginning at Rangers.
The Liverpool legend took four seasons to achieve the club’s 55 dream and its was steady progress, season-on-season, which brought the Gers the success.
In Saudi, Gerrard achieved a 6th place finish with the Damman club having spent considerably to bring the likes of Jordan Henderson, Moussa Dembele and Georginio Wijnaldum to the country.
Next season Gerrard will be hoping for further improvement and the ex-Rangers manager has been clear that his Saudi side will hunt for more experience this summer.
Perhaps that could include two of the most experienced players in the Rangers squad.
