The former Aston Villa and Rangers boss joined the Saudi Arabian club in July 2023.

Ex-England and Liverpool midfielder Gerrard signed a two-year contract extension in January 2024, which was due to keep him at the club until 2027.

But Al-Ettifaq have won just five of their 17 league matches this season, leaving them five points above the relegation zone.

“Football is unpredictable and sometimes things don’t go the way we want,” said Gerrard.

“However, I leave with great respect for the club and the country. I have no doubt that the work being done will bring success in the future and I wish the team the very best for the rest of the season.

“From the first day I was warmly welcomed and I have enjoyed the chance to work in a new country with a different culture.

“Overall I have learnt a lot and it’s been a positive experience personally and for my family as well.”

Ettifaq club president, Same Al Misehal, said Gerrard transformed the club during his year-and-a-half in charge.

“Sometimes things don’t go as planned, but the firm foundations he helped build will guarantee a bright future in the long term,” he said.

“He changed the club for the better and that will never be forgotten. This decision, made with mutual respect and in agreement is in the best interest of both Steven and the club as we move forward.”

After a stellar playing career with Liverpool and England, 44-year-old Gerrard began his managerial career with Rangers in 2018 and led the club to their first Scottish Premiership title in 10 years in 2020-21.

He succeeded Dean Smith as Villa manager in November 2021, but was sacked after 11 months in charge after only 13 wins in 40 games.

Gerrard guided Al-Ettifaq to a sixth-place finish during his first season in charge.

But he leaves with them 12th in a 16-team league, having won 23 of his 59 matches in charge, with only five wins this campaign.

Gerrard was reportedly one of the best-paid managers in world football during his time in Saudi Arabia, on a salary of about £15m-a-year.

The 43-year-old had said in June he had been invited over to the country to “look at a potential offer” but that he would not be taking it up.

Gerrard has been out of work since being sacked as Aston Villa manager in October last year.

Al-Ettifaq were seventh in the 16-team Saudi Pro League last season, finishing 35 points behind champions Al-Ittihad.

The former England midfielder’s move to Saudi Arabia follows a summer of heavy investment by Pro League clubs as several top European players have joined Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo in the Middle East.

Former Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves and Chelsea trio N’Golo Kante, Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy are among those to move to Saudi Arabia, with Inter Milan’s Marcelo Brozovic to Al-Nassr the most recent deal to be completed.

Fulham-managed Marco Silva has also reportedly turned down a £17m offer to coach Al-Hilal.

The trend underlines the league’s ambition to be one of the top five in the world and follows a decision in June by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which owns Newcastle United, to take over four leading clubs in the country. Al-Ettifaq is not one of those clubs.

Gerrard retired from playing in 2016 and his first managerial role was at Scottish club Rangers.

He took over the Ibrox side in 2018 and led the club to their first Scottish Premiership title in 10 years in 2020-21.

Gerrard then became Villa boss in November 2021 but left after 13 wins from 40 games during his time in charge.

The 43-year-old former Rangers boss has been out of a job since he was sacked by Aston Villa in October.

Ex-Liverpool and England captain Gerrard was pictured in Saudi Arabia earlier in June and reportedly made an offer by Al-Ettifaq.

“I was invited over there to look at a potential offer, which I did,” he said.

Speaking on Channel 4 before England’s Euro 2024 Qualifier against North Macedonia, Gerrard added: “I have been analysing that over the last couple of days. But, as we stand right now, I won’t be taking that offer up.”

Gerrard led Villa to 13 wins from 40 games during his 11 months in charge, after arriving from Rangers in November 2021.

After ending his playing career in 2016, he took his first steps in senior management with Rangers in 2018 and led the club to their first Scottish Premiership title in 10 years.

Earlier in June, Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema became the latest high-profile player to join the Saudi Pro League after leaving Real Madrid for champions Al-Ittihad.

Portugal legend Cristiano Ronaldo signed for Al Nassr in December, while several Premier League players have also been linked with a move this summer.

Defending City over alleged financial rule breaches, Guardiola referenced Gerrard’s mishap when the Reds lost 2-0 to Chelsea late in the 2013-14 season.

Liverpool went on to narrowly miss out on the Premier League title to City.

“I apologise to Steven Gerrard for my unnecessary and stupid comments,” said Guardiola.

“He knows how I admire him and his career and what he has done for this country I am living and training in.”

The infamous slip by Gerrard, who did not win a Premier League winners’ medal during his career, allowed Demba Ba to put Chelsea in front when they won at Anfield in April 2014.

City won their game in hand to go top of the league on goal difference before then claiming victory in their final two games of the campaign to win the title by two points from Liverpool.

READ ALSO

• Erling Haaland: Man City striker a doubt for Premier League trip…

• European football leagues to hold minute’s silence for quake victims

Manuel Pellegrini was City’s manager at the time, with Guardiola taking over from him in 2016.

“I don’t know if we are responsible for Steven Gerrard slipping,” Guardiola said last week when talking about the Premier League charging City with more than 100 breaches of its financial rules.

Guardiola addressed the remarks at the start of his news conference for his side’s game at Arsenal on Wednesday.

“I am ashamed of myself for what I said because he [Gerrard] doesn’t deserve it,” he said.

“I truly believe my comments about defending my club but I didn’t represent my club well putting his name in these stupid comments.

“I apologise, I said to him personally but I commented publicly and have to do it here as well. I am so sorry to him, his wife Alex, his kids and family because it was stupid.”

Following a poor run of form for the club, a 3-0 defeat against Fulham prompted the decision to remove the former England midfielder from his position.

Villa have won just two matches in the Premier League so far this season, and sit just above the relegation zone.

In a statement, the club said: “Aston Villa Football Club can confirm that Head Coach Steven Gerrard has left the club with immediate effect.”

A club spokesman added: “We would like to thank Steven for his hard work and commitment and wish him well for the future.”

After taking Rangers to the Scottish Premiership title for the first time in 10 years, Gerrard’s impressive start to his managerial career saw Villa move to appoint him in November 2021.

Having replaced Dean Smith, the hierarchy at Villa Park were hoping for an upturn in fortunes, but watched as the club finished last season in 14th place in England’s top tier – three positions lower than the previous campaign.

A 2-0 defeat at newly-promoted Bournemouth on the first day of the current season gave warning signs that a tricky campaign may be on the way.

Victory in their first home match against Everton settled some nerves, but only momentarily, as a three-match losing streak followed.

A draw at home to Manchester City restored some optimism, but failure to beat fellow strugglers Leeds and Nottingham Forest saw Gerrard’s position as manager come under growing scrutiny.

Defeat to Fulham was unthinkable if Gerrard was to stay in charge, so it was of little surprise to see the parties part ways after the defeat.

Speaking after the match, Gerrard said: “Football’s in my DNA and quitting’s certainly not so we’ll see what happens moving forward.

“The performance tonight was miles away from what I wanted, what I expected, what I stand for. I can feel the fans’ frustration. It was so far away from how we looked at the weekend. We’re in this situation and I’m in this situation to face the tough questions because the reality is, it’s not good enough for this club,” he added.

Even at only 1-0 down at the break, Gerrard was unimpressed, telling Prime Video: “I got in and among the players at half-time hoping for a reaction. The performance was nowhere near good enough. The first half shocked me after what we had seen.

“I’m in a position and will try to find the answers but I will not disrespect my players. We just did not turn up tonight – it’s very difficult to praise them after this performance.”

Failure to beat fellow strugglers Leeds and Nottingham Forest in recent weeks, matched with their latest defeat to Fulham, has led to some sections of the Villa faithful asking the club to sack Gerrard

Speaking about the stance of some supporters, Gerrard says: “It’s tough. I’m a man, I accept it, I feel their frustrations, I’m frustrated. It was a tough night for me personally.

“We will see what happens. I’m a fighter, I will never, ever quit anything whether it’s football or in life.”

The loss was Villa’s fourth in five games at the start of the new campaign and leaves them 19th in the table.

Asked if he had concerns about his job, Gerrard told BT Sport: “Of course I do.

“If I stood here and said I wasn’t concerned I think you’d look at me as though I was from a different planet.”

Since Gerrard’s first game in charge last November, Villa have won 11 and lost 16 Premier League games.

During that time they have also acquired more points than Crystal Palace, Wolves, West Ham, Leeds, Southampton and Everton who have all played 32 top-flight games since Gerrard was appointed.

“I am being honest and critical of myself. I will do my job the best I can do,” Gerrard added.

“I will step forward and take responsibility as best I can. We showed character and commitment and we were hanging on at times but if we keep getting important moments in key areas we will continue to concede goals.

“We speak about this most days and it’s really frustrating that the messages don’t seem to be getting through.”

Villa’s only top-flight victory this season came at home to Everton earlier in August, although they have also won at Bolton in the Carabao Cup.

Last term, Dean Smith was sacked after a fifth consecutive defeat during a similarly testing start to the season which left the club 17th in the top flight two points above the relegation zone.

Meanwhile, Gerrard was unable to offer any clarity over the future of Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz, who has been linked with a move to the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea in several media reports.

The 24-year-old has less than 12 months to run on his contract at Villa Park meaning he could leave on a free transfer at the end of the season.

“I’m not in control of that,” Gerrard added.

“There’s more than two people that are in control of that but I’m certainly not one of them. That will be Douglas, that will be his agent and that will be what happens around that.

“I would like to keep him, he’s a fantastic player and I’ve made that abundantly clear. We are not in a position where we need to lose top players.

“At the same time, Douglas has got a year to go and it is really one of those really touchy situations where the club has to do what is best for the club, not necessarily what is best for me.”

The former Liverpool and England captain succeeds Dean Smith, who was sacked at the weekend after a fifth defeat in a row, away to Southampton.

The contract length has not been revealed, but the deal is reported to last three and a half years. It is Gerrard’s first management job in the Premier League, a competition so synonymous with the ex-midfielder that he is one of eight initial inductees into the Hall of Fame.

The 41-year-old has proved to be a shrewd manager at Rangers, who he guided to a first Scottish Premiership title in 10 years, after a decade of dominance from Old Firm rivals Celtic.

He also swept Scotland’s manager of the year awards last season and leaves the club on course to repeat that success, four points clear at the top of the table.

“Aston Villa is a club with a rich history and tradition in English football and I am immensely proud to become its new Head Coach,” said Gerrard.

“In my conversations with (owners) Nassef (Sawiris), Wes (Edens) and the rest of the Board, it was apparent how ambitious their plans are for the club and I am looking forward to helping them achieve their aims.”

Gerrard takes over a Villa side in desperate need of upward momentum, with the club two points above the relegation zone, and his first game in charge will be at home to Brighton and Hove Albion on November 20.