da roleta： Here's everything you need to know about Al-Ettifaq after Steven Gerrard was appointed as the new head coach of the Saudi Pro League side.
da dobrowin： Gerrard has become the latest big footballing name to move to the Saudi Pro League after he was appointed the new Al-Ettifaq manager recently.
The former Liverpool captain, who was sacked by Aston Villa last October, had initially rejected the chance to join the Saudi Pro League club last month.
However, with Saudi clubs successfully plundering Europe for star names since then, Gerrard just couldn't resist the proposition and has U-turned on his original decision.
Amongst the football fans outside of Saudi Arabia, Al-Ettifaq does not share the same degree of limelight as other illustrious Saudi teams Al-Nassr, Al-Ittihad, and Al-Hilal.
Thus, there may be a lot of unknowns about the Commandos, but don't worry because GOAL brings to you everything you need to know about Gerrard's next club and their ambitions ahead of next season.
Who are Al-Ettifaq?
Al-Ittifaq are a Saudi Arabian club which competes in the Saudi Pro League, the top division of football in Saudi Arabia. They are one of the most established clubs in the country.
Nicknamed "The Commandos" or "The Knight of Ad-Dahna (central division of Arabian desert)," they were founded in 1944 as a result of the merger of the three clubs in the city of Dammam, Al-Taawoun, Al-Sha'ab, and Al-Shabab.
AdvertisementWhere did Al-Ettifaq finish last season?
Al-Ettifaq finished seventh under Gerrard’s predecessor Antonio Cazorla last season in a 16-team Saudi Pro League, which has now been expanded to 18 teams for the upcoming campaign. In what was a largely underwhelming campaign, the Commandos finished 35 points off the top and nine clear of the relegation zone.
Under Gerrard, they will be aiming to improve in a competition that has increased in quality following the recent recruitment drive to sign top-level players from Europe's top-5 leagues, with the trend set to continue throughout the European summer transfer window.
How successful are Al-Ettifaq?
Al-Ettifaq have a rich history in Saudi Arabian football and have experienced both highs and lows throughout their existence. They became the first Saudi club to win the championship whilst staying undefeated throughout the league season during the 1982-83 title triumph.
In addition to the league title, the team has also lifted the Saudi King's Cup and the Saudi Crown Prince Cup on multiple occasions. The Commandos also won the (now defunct) GCC Champions League twice.
However, they have failed to hit the heights of 1980s pomp since the turn of the century. More recently, they won promotion to the Saudi top-flight after lifting the first division title in 2015-16.
Saudi Professional League (top-tier)
x2 (1982-83, 1986-87)
First Division (second-tier)
x1 (2015-16)
King Cup
x2 (1968, 1985)
Crown Prince Cup
x1 (1965)
Saudi Federation Cup
x3 (1990-91, 2002-03, 2003-04)
Arab Club Champions Cup
x2 (1984, 1988)
GCC Champions League (now-defunct)
x3 (1983, 1988, 2006)
Where do Al-Ettifaq play?
Al-Ettifaq play their home games at the Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium located in Dammam, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. The multi-purpose stadium was built in 1973 and has a seating capacity of around 26,000 spectators. Saudi Second Division side Al-Nahda also share the stadium to play their home matches.