Steven Gerrard's wife, Alex, opted to live in Bahrain rather than Saudi Arabia during his tenure as manager of Al-Ettifaq, choosing a lavish mansion in Manama over the club-provided villa in Dammam. The couple reached a compromise that allowed Alex and their four children to reside in the neighbouring Gulf state, while Gerrard commuted regularly along the 15-mile causeway linking the two countries.
The family's base was a £10,000-per-month six-bedroom villa in the Hamala area of Manama, featuring its own swimming pool, tennis courts and games room, situated in an exclusive gated community among Bahrain's elite, including members of the royal family. Friends of Alex described her as living her 'dream life' in the Bahraini capital, contrasting with the conservative culture of Saudi Arabia, where restrictions on alcohol and clothing reportedly made life difficult for some footballers' partners.
Gerrard took charge of Al-Ettifaq in July 2023 on a £15.2 million-a-year salary, making him the fourth best-paid manager in the world at the time. However, his tenure ended in January 2025 when he left by mutual agreement, reportedly waiving a further £10 million from his remaining contract. Since departing, the 45-year-old has worked as a pundit for TNT Sports.
Despite his recent managerial experience, Gerrard has expressed a willingness to return to Liverpool in any capacity. In a December interview, he said: 'I’ll be brutally honest with you: I’d help Liverpool in any department at any minute of every day. I want Arne Slot to fix this and make Liverpool great. If Liverpool need me, in any department at any time, I’ll be there for them.' His last official role with the club was coaching the Under-18s for 18 months from January 2017.
Gerrard also indicated he is not actively seeking a new managerial job, stating: '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.' He remains happy to bide his time while his family is settled in Bahrain.
