Ex-Rangers man makes sensational comeback after dismal 12-game stint with Sunderland

Ex-Rangers boss Michael Beale has sensationally agreed to return to football by becoming Steven Gerrard’s new assistant coach at struggling Saudi Pro League outfit Al Ettifaq.

Beale has been out of work since being sacked as manager of Sunderland in February and is keen to restore his reputation after a difficult 2023/24 season which also saw him lose his job as manager of Rangers in November.

The 48-year-old has been hired to replace Dean Holden as Gerrard’s number two at the Al-Ettifaq Club Stadium after the former Charlton bosses decision to leave the club by mutual consent.

Beale, who has previously worked as a coach at Chelsea, Sao Paulo and Liverpool, first crossed paths with Gerrard at Rangers and was a key member of the coaching staff when the Light Blues won the Premiership title during the 2020/21 season.

He went on to follow Gerrard to Aston Villa just months after the title triumph and stayed in the West Midlands for six months before forging a managerial career of his own with Queens Park Rangers.

Beale won nine of his first 22 games at Loftus Road and was credited with exceeding expectations at a time when many expected the club to be in relegation trouble.

This prompted Rangers to hire him as manager in November 2022, but after less than 11 months at Ibrox he was sacked after failing to secure silverware.

He quickly returned to management a month later with Sunderland, but after a poor start which saw him win just four of his 12 games , he was sacked from his position at the Stadium of Light.

Beale joins an Al-Ettifaq side that are sitting 12th out of the 18 teams in the Saudi Pro League despite tremendous backing. 

They have lost five of their ten league games this season, suffering four defeats in their last five matches.Ex-England skipper Gerrard was booed by his own fans after losing 2-0 to local rivals Al Qadsiah earlier this month and pressure is already mounting on Beale to help the Liverpool icon turn things around in Dammam.