Michael Beale set for Steven Gerrard reunion as ex-Sunderland boss lines up Saudi role

Former Sunderland manager Michael Beale is set to return to coaching under Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard at Al-Ettifaq, according ro reports.

Beale spent an ill-fated 63 days in charge of the Black Cats last season after spells at Queens Park Rangers and Glasgow Rangers in Scotland. However, while his time at the Stadium of Light did not work out as anyone had planned, the 44-year-old is looking to get back into coaching with former Gerrard in Saudi Arabia.

The pair worked together at Aston Villa and Rangers, and Give Me Sport report that Gerrard is keen to bring Beale to work with his team at Al-Ettifaq. The Saudi side are currently struggling for form, and sit one place above the relegation zone.

Beale has recently hit out at 'snakes' who have undermined his managerial career. Speaking to the Inside the Academy podcast, he said: "Around a couple of the moves I've had as a manager, I saw loads of snakes and people come out of the woodwork. And I didn't like it. It made me uncomfortable, and perhaps I would've made better decisions if those people weren't around, but that's for another time.

"Ultimately, I'm very, very fortunate that I've been a manager at QPR, Glasgow Rangers, 52,000, Sunderland, 44,000 in the Championship. I've worked in the Premier League, I've worked in Serie A and I've worked in over 60 games in Europe across the Europa League and Champions League.

"So I have 257 games in the system, 77 games as a manager and at 44 years of age I feel like I'm at the start of my career. In that sense, I still feel like I'm a young coach."