AGAINST ALL ODDS
It’s a former England midfielder’s prerogative to change his mind and that seems to be exactly what Steven Gerrard has done in the two weeks since revealing he had “received an invitation to look at a potential offer” to manage Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq. While working as a pundit on Channel 4’s coverage of England’s recent Euros qualifier against North Macedonia, the perma-furrowed former Rangers and Aston Villa boss said he had “been analysing that over the last couple of days, but as we stand right now, I won’t be taking that offer up”. $tevie’s stance has seemingly shifted in the intervening fortnight, prompting cynics to speculate over what, or more specifically by how much, the size of his mooted salary might have changed to sign a two-year deal, managing an unspeakably wealthy club in a league hosing obscene amounts of petro-dollars at assorted players in a bid to raise its standard and profile.
While Gerrard has yet to announce his decision was made specifically for football reasons, he has recorded a short video in Scouse-Arabic, and a rumoured salary of least £8m ought to help keep the wolf from the door of whatever Dammam des res he ends up hanging his hat in. Once touted as a prospective future Liverpool manager and potential successor to Jürgen Klopp, Gerrard’s career in the dugout got off to a decent start at Rangers before the wheels came off in spectacular style at Villa. He will now get the opportunity to rehabilitate his reputation away from the goldfish bowl of the English league, with any improvement he can mastermind on Al-Ettifaq’s seventh-place finish last season almost certain to catapult him straight into the frame for any future managerial vacancies that might arise at Anfield or his local Costcutter.
Since announcing his appointment, Al-Ettifaq have been linked with moves for up-and-coming Liverpool tyro Jordan Henderson (33) … and an even younger Brazilian whelp with Anfield “previous” named Philippe Coutinho. But given the Scrooge McDuck-style money pit in which the Saudi Pro League has invited assorted big-name players and managers to cavort, assorted critics have accused those behind it of skewing the international transfer market, an act of sabotage many of them had little or no problem with when assorted Premier League big-hitters were doing the exact same thing.
More concerned by Saudi sportswashing than the salaries being trousered by the likes of Karim Benzema or Cristiano Ronaldo, Amnesty International has called on Gerrard to highlight the state’s record in the field of equal and human rights. “The Saudi strategy on football appears to be to keep ratcheting up the big-name deals to create the momentum for a bid to host the World Cup in 2030,” said its economic affairs director, Peter Frankental. “Fifa must apply stringent human rights risk assessments to any Saudi bid for 2030, but we also need to see Fifa, star signings and high-profile managers like Steven Gerrard speaking out about Saudi Arabia’s atrocious human rights record.” Considering the only atrocious record Gerrard has previously felt compelled to speak out about was made by Phil Collins, we won’t be holding our breath.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“There’s an old saying that you always have to know the best time to leave even the greatest party. And that’s what my 32 years have been – the most fantastic party I could ever imagine attending. From the first kick of a ball in the live coverage of the Premier League to Manchester City’s title celebrations last season – with plenty in between” – Sky Sports’ touchline reporter and presenter Geoff Shreeves signs off after more than three decades with the broadcaster. Branislav Ivanovic might not be the first to offer his best wishes.
FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS
Dominik Szoboszlai had indeed better check that supposed Steven Gerrard tattoo quote (yesterday’s News, Bits and Bobs, full email edition), in case it actually translates as: ‘Talent is a blessing from God, but if you can’t keep a decent Villa squad off the foot of the table, you’d better think twice about taking that Saudi coin.’ It’s better than ‘just knock it Mamadou, I’m thinking about launching a Hollywood over Demba Ba’, to be fair” – Jon Millard.
Never mind Sam Leitch’s ‘dancing in the streets of Raith’ comment (yesterday’s Football Daily letters). His finest moment came on Grandstand in October 1971, when he said: ‘In Scotland it’s League Cup final day where Celtic take on Partick Thistle who have no chance.’ Cue a 4-1 Partick win. To this day there is a Thistle supporters’ club called the ‘Sam Leitch Loyal’” – Peter Storch.
It’s worth mentioning this is still commemorated by the presence of Martha Reeves and the Vandellas’ Dancing in the Street as part of the pre-match music at Stark’s Park” – Steve Parker.
In an ontological nightmare scenario, it is possible that Football Daily made up Guy Robert’s doubting letter about making letters up (yesterday’s letters). The new season really can’t come quickly enough” – John Lawton (or is it?).
This all reminds me of the time back in the early-90s when I read one letter in a Saturday newspaper’s glossy magazine (not Big Paper) that was quite scathing about an article in the previous week’s magazine, about Gary Lineker’s experience playing in Japan. I was, nonetheless, quite keen to read the article and, fortunately for me, the journalist that had been savaged in the letter lived in the same flats as me, so I popped round to see if he had a copy I could read. When I referenced the letter he said: ‘Oh, I wrote that too, we were short this week’” – Brendan Mackinney.
Send your letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s winner of our prizeless letter o’ the day is … Jon Millard.
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