A roller-coaster first season in the Saudi Pro League for Steven Gerrard ended on Monday as his Ettifaq side finished sixth. Despite a worrying run of just one win in 12, Gerrard managed to rally his team and secure a respectable finish. However, challenging the dominant ‘Big Four’ teams was always going to be a difficult task.
In June 2023, Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, Al-Ahli, and Al-Ittihad were taken over by the Public Investment Fund, which also owns Newcastle United. This quartet went on a spending spree of around £750 million, shocking the football world with their acquisitions. Cristiano Ronaldo had already made headlines by joining Al-Nassr in December 2022.
Al-Hilal became champions for the 19th time, extending their own record. Ronaldo missed out on the Saudi Pro League title for a second consecutive season, but he did win the Golden Boot and set a new goalscoring record for the league. His 35 goals in just 31 games surpassed the previous record set in 2019.
Despite Ronaldo’s individual achievements, Al-Nassr finished second, 14 points behind Al-Hilal. The Yellows were without their superstar forward Neymar, who suffered a serious knee injury in October. Aleksandar Mitrovic stepped up and scored 28 goals for Al-Nassr, with support from Serbian teammate Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
Al-Ahli finished third and secured a spot in the Asian Champions League. Riyad Mahrez and Allan Saint-Maximin impressed for the team, contributing with assists. Roberto Firmino, who joined from Liverpool, struggled initially but managed to score nine goals. Firas Al-Buraikan was the most prolific Saudi Arabian striker with 17 goals.
Meanwhile, Al-Ittihad, who won the title last season, had a disappointing campaign. Despite strengthening their squad with players like Karim Benzema, Fabinho, and N’Golo Kante, they struggled with injuries and defensive issues. Their defense was breached 50 times, and their manager Nuno Santo was fired in November.
Outside of the ‘Big Four,’ attendances were lower than expected, with an average of just over 8,000. Only the ‘Big Four’ teams managed to reach five-figure attendances. Ettifaq and Al-Shabab opened new stadiums, but there is still work to be done to build larger crowds across the league.
Al-Shabab had a poor season, finishing eighth despite adding Ivan Rakitic to their squad. Al-Taawoun impressed by finishing fourth, but they lack the financial resources to become genuine contenders.
As for Ettifaq, their performances improved compared to last season. Star signing Jordan Henderson left for Ajax in January, but Gini Wijnaldum made a significant impact. Scottish international Jack Hendry played every minute, while Moussa Dembele provided the goals.
Looking ahead to next season, it will be a challenge for any team to break into the top four. There are already rumors of Saudi Arabian clubs targeting Premier League stars such as Mohamed Salah, Allison, and Casemiro. Another busy summer transfer window could be on the horizon.
Overall, the Saudi Pro League continues to attract attention with its high-profile signings and competitive matches. However, there is still room for improvement in terms of attendance and overall depth in the league. Achieving sustained success against the dominant ‘Big Four’ will be the ultimate test for any team in the Saudi Pro League.