FORMER Sunderland boss Michael Beale is heading to Saudi Arabia, where he is set to return to football as part of Steven Gerrard’s coaching staff at Al-Ettifaq.

Beale has been out of work since the end of his disastrous spell as Black Cats head coach in February.

The former Rangers and QPR boss spent just 63 days in charge of Sunderland, overseeing 12 matches, only four of which ended in a victory.

Beale previously worked under Gerrard at Rangers between 2018 and 2021, a period that saw the club claim the Scottish Premiership title after an unbeaten league campaign.

The 44-year-old also worked under Giovanni van Bronckhorst at Ibrox, prior to becoming Rangers boss in his own right in November 2022.

He is now set to be reunited with Gerrard, who is the head coach of Al-Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League.

RECOMMENDED READING:

Al-Ettifaq are undergoing a backroom overhaul, with former assistant Dean Holden and sporting director Mark Allen having departed last week, and Beale is set to be part of a new-look coaching team working under Gerrard.

Things have not gone to plan for Gerrard in the Middle East, with Al-Ettifaq currently struggling in 12th position in the Saudi Pro League, having taken just 11 points from their opening ten matches of the season.

They have not won in the league since September, with Gerrard contracted to his current position until 2027.