Steven Gerrard's life now after wife Alex turned down chance to live in Saudi

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard reached a compromise with his wife, Alex, to let their family live in Bahrain while he managed Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia from July 2023 to January 2025

Steven Gerrard next to his wife, Alex(Image: Liverpool Echo)

Steven Gerrard's wife, Alex, insisted on residing in Bahrain while he was employed in Saudi Arabia.

The Liverpool legend made the surprising choice to take the reins at Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ettifaq in July 2023. The venture saw him receive a handsome £15.2 million-per-year ($20.9 million) package, positioning him as the fourth best-paid manager globally behind only Jurgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola, and Diego Simeone at that time.

This arrangement continued until January 2025, when Gerrard left his role. Prior to that development, the 45-year-old struck a compromise with his spouse, allowing her and their four children to reside in the neighbouring Gulf nation of Bahrain, while Gerrard frequently travelled between the two locations.

Reports suggest that Saudi Arabia's conservative nature presented challenges for some players' partners due to cultural limitations regarding alcohol consumption and clothing requirements.

Alex, whom he wed in 2007, reportedly showed minimal enthusiasm for extended periods in Saudi and the couple managed to establish an ideal balance between their domestic and career commitments.

Where did Gerrard's family live?

The family resided in Bahrain's capital, Manama, situated just an hour's journey from Dammam in eastern Saudi Arabia, where Gerrard managed Al-Ettifaq. This proximity enabled the Liverpool legend to regularly travel to work via a 15-mile causeway linking Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, despite his club providing him with a luxurious villa in Dammam.

Gerrard left Al-Ettifaq in January 2025(Image: Getty Images)

In September 2024, Gerrard addressed speculation about his permanent residence in Bahrain by calling a local radio station to explain that his time was divided between locations, while Alex and the children remained across the border.

Gerrard's wife and family occupied a £10,000-per-month ($13.8K) six-bedroom property in the Hamala district of the city.

The residence featured its own swimming pool, tennis courts, games room and was located near Bahrain's elite, including members of the Royal family, within a secure gated community.

When will Gerrard return to management?

Following his departure from Saudi Arabia, Gerrard has frequently appeared as a pundit for TNT Sports in recent months. He made a remark towards the end of last year that would thrill any Liverpool supporter, telling Ally McCoist on TNT Sports' Ally's Social Club that he would welcome the opportunity to return to Liverpool in any role.

His comments indicated he would be content to work under or alongside Arne Slot, and perhaps even take over from him in the future. The 2005 Champions League winner said in December: "I'll be brutally, brutally honest with you: I'd help Liverpool in any department at any minute of every day. I'd help them with anything.

"I don't want the Liverpool manager to lose his job, I want Arne Slot to fix this and turn it around and make Liverpool great.

"I was bouncing all over the city four, five months ago when Liverpool won the league. I'm a Liverpool fan; I want the best for Liverpool. But if Liverpool need me, in any department at any time, I'll be there for them."

Gerrard's last role at Liverpool was as the U18 coach between January 2017 and the summer of 2018. Since then, he has featured for the club in Legends charity fixtures, while also representing the Reds commercially, including in last year's Christmas campaign.

Nevertheless, Gerrard also acknowledges he isn't currently focused on returning to management, only being interested if the "right project comes up."

The former Reds captain immersed himself in coaching at Liverpool immediately after retiring in November 2016, with senior roles at Rangers, Aston Villa, and in Saudi Arabia following.

He seems content to wait and keep his options available until the next opportunity emerges, particularly as his family is settled. Gerrard continued: "If that right opportunity, or that feeling that I got when I first bounced into Rangers, doesn't come then I'm fine. I'm not searching for a job, I'm not down the Job Centre for what's available. I'm not hoping, 'That one might come available.'

"My life's great, my family life's great, I'm enjoying doing [media work], I've got a lot going on. My life's good, I'm fine. If the right football project comes up, the hunger's back, it's there."