SOCCER
Marcelo Gallardo close to Al Ittihad move: what is his salary?
The former River Plate manager is expected to join up with the likes of Karim Benzema and Fabinho at the Saudi Pro League side.
Argentine Marcelo Gallardo looks set to be named the next head coach of Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad.
The 47-year-old left River Plate last season after a trophy-laden eight years in charge. The Buenos Aires side lifted the Copa Libertadores twice during his time in charge and he was named South American Manager of the Year on three occasions.
On Wednesday reports emerged that Gallardo was close to agreeing a deal that would keep him at the Saudi club until June 2025. The contract also includes the option to extend for an additional 18 months.
High expectations at Al Ittihad
The managerial position at Al Ittihad has been vacant since the dismissal of former boss Nuno Espirito Santo last week. The former Porto and Tottenham Hotspur manager delivered the Saudi league title last season, but was given the sack just weeks in the 2023/24 campaign.
In announcing his dismissal, the club issued a harshly-worded statement: “This decision comes after a comprehensive technical evaluation of the past phase during which he was in charge of coaching the first football team.”
Al Ittihad are one of four clubs in the Saudi Pro League with substantial state-funded backing, allowing them to sign a number of elite level players. They signed reigning Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema from Real Madrid earlier this year and have also brought in former Premier League stars Fabinho and N’Golo Kante.
With Gallardo at the helm Al Ittihad will once again be expected to compete at the very top of the league.
What is Marcelo Gallardo’s Al Ittihad salary?
In signing Gallardo, Al Ittihad have been able to attract one of the most talented young coaches in the world. He has been without a job since leaving River Plate last year and was expected to make the move to Europe for his next job.
He has opted to join the moneyed Saudi Pro League, where he will likely make far more than he would have in Europe. Details of his Al Ittihad salary have not yet been released but he will almost certainly be among the highest-paid managers in the league.
Earlier this year the UK press reported that Al Ettifaq manager Steven Gerrard was earning around $19 million per year. That equates to around $365,000 per week, making him the fourth-best-paid manager in the world.
Al Ittihad have a reputation as the biggest spenders in a league that has spent lavishly in recent seasons. Gallardo’s new captain, Karim Benzema, reportedly earns around $200 million per season.
Gallardo’s salary wil not be quite at the level of Benzema’s, but he will likely be one of the best-paid soccer coaches in the world once his signing with Al Ittihad is confirmed.