Ex-Bristol City head coach exits Saudi Pro League club after 'disappointing' King's Cup exit

Former Bristol City head coach Dean Holden has left Al-Ettifaq by mutual consent after a disappointing start to the Saudi Pro League season.

Holden spent just over four years at Ashton Gate as both assistant manager to Lee Johnson, interim manager and then as first-team head coach following the 43-year-old’s sacking towards the end of the 2019/20 season.

Although the former defender’s appointment on a permanent basis left some fans bemused after the Robins spent much of the summer looking for Johnson’s successor, he impressed early in his tenure as City made an excellent start to the season.

Bristol City won all four of their opening matches in all competitions under the 45-year-old and looked like they could be contenders for the play-off positions, but injuries quickly took their toll at Ashton Gate.

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After a run of six consecutive defeats in the Championship, including a 6-0 thrashing at the hands of Watford at Vicarage Road and a 2-0 home defeat to Reading, City opted to part ways with Holden in February 2021 and appointed Nigel Pearson as his successor.

Following his Ashton Gate exit, the former Bolton player joined Michael O’Neill’s backroom staff at Stoke City. However, he left the BET365 Stadium when Alex Neil was appointed as the Northern Irishman’s successor.

A nine-month spell in charge of League One Charlton Athletic followed but after a disappointing start to the 2023/24 season, the Englishman was relieved of his duties and remained out of work until he made the move to Saudi Arabia.

Holden joined Steven Gerrard’s coaching staff in the Middle East as assistant manager in February of this year, roughly six months after he managed his last game at The Valley.

Al-Ettifaq currently sit 12th in the Saudi Pro League after ten matches this season, only four points clear of the relegation zone with pressure mounting on Gerrard from supporters and pundits alike.

In an official statement late on Tuesday evening, the club confirmed that the board of directors had taken the decision to part ways with both Holden and executive sporting director Mark Allen, citing Al-Ettifaq's "disappointing" Kings Cup exit as one reason for the departure.

For now, Gerrard remains in charge of the side with chairman Samer Almisehal reaffirming the board’s commitment to support the technical staff and the players in their efforts to improve the club’s league position.

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