Saudi club Ettifaq have appointed former Manchester City Academy manager Mark Allen as the club’s Executive Sporting Director.
Ettifaq, who are coached by Steven Gerrard, are struggling in the Saudi Pro League, currently sitting eighth midway through the season, 15 points away from the Asian spots.
Hoping to put the team on the right track, the club’s board, led by Samer Al-Misehal, has decided to give Mark Allen the Executive Sporting Director job, which is responsible for all administrative and technical authorities that are related to football.
Allen signed a two-year deal with Ettifaq and will replace Eelco Schattorie after the Dutch resigned from his role a few days ago citing personal reasons.
It won’t be the first time Allen and Gerrard work together after the duo was in charge of Rangers between 2018 to 2020, with the Welshman playing a key role in persuading Gerrard to join the Scottish giants.
Before his time in Scotland, Allen took over as the Academy Manager of Manchester City for eight years, between 2009 to 2017, a role he later had at Swansea in 2021.
