Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has taken the Saudi Pro League by storm, yet he and his wife Alex Curran choose not to reside in Saudi Arabia.
Since being appointed manager of Al-Ettifaq in the summer of 2023 following his departure from Aston Villa, Gerrard has attracted a slew of high-profile players to the Middle East, including former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, Anfield favourite Georginio Wijnaldum, and one-time Everton ace Demarai Gray.
Despite his stellar reputation, Gerrard's tenure on the field has been challenging, with a sixth-place finish in his debut season and a current standing of 11th out of 18 teams this term. His efforts were acknowledged with a new two-year deal in January 2024, securing his services until 2027.
However, Gerrard reportedly lives with his family in Hamala, a Bahraini village near Dammam—home to Al-Ettifaq—commuting across the border effortlessly thanks to a special pass.
Andre Gray, ex-Al-Riyadh and Watford forward, shed light on Gerrard's daily cross-border journey during an episode of the Fozcast, saying: "I think where Gerrard's team is, that's next to Bahrain. You have to get across the border, but I think they have a pass."
Gerrard has indicated the travel rules may be more lenient come the start of next season. "So it's like the toll, you know you've already got an automatic thing where you go straight through. I think they'll have that, otherwise you'll get stuck at the border."
The luxurious surroundings are worlds apart from life in Glasgow, where Gerrard became a hero at Rangers.
He and his wife Alex enjoy a lavish lifestyle in Bahrain, which is renowned for its Westernised way of life. The Gerrards can boast of having a pool, a games room and various restaurants nearby, while being members of several clubs.
They reportedly spend around £10,000 a month on living expenses, a meager sum given Gerrard's annual salary is £15million. And, indeed, life on the Gulf Island suits Gerrard down to the ground.
He confessed: "The renewal decision brought a lot of positive feelings for me and my family, as it was the culmination of the hard work and true dedication that everyone showed from day one.
"From the beginning, we realised the size of the responsibility and the number of challenges that awaited us, which prompted us to invest in creating new infrastructure, such as new training facilities and building a new stadium.
"We have achieved remarkable progress in these projects, as a result of the mutual trust between me and the club management."
