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The unusual reason Steven Gerrard would have to PAY millions for Rangers or UK return
Alan Shearer hinted TAX reasons may scupper a return to the UK for Steven Gerrard any time soon – and there are eight and a half million reasons why he might be right.
The former Rangers boss’ coat is on a shoogly peg at Al-Ettifaq after a disastrous start to the season has seen them fumble to 12th in the Saudi Pro League table and crash out of the King Cup to second-tier Al-Jabalain. His job is safe for now, but he's just seen sporting director Mark Allen, with whom he worked at Ibrox, axed, alongside his assistant manager Dean Holden. That was a clear message from the club that results have to improve.
He's frequently talked up for a return to the UK, namely Rangers where he remains the only boss to win the league since their journey back up the divisions. But they appear to be sticking with Philippe Clement in the meantime, and with Gerrard one of the highest paid managers in the world on a reported £15m per year, a return would hardly be straightforward.
READ MORE: Rangers alarm bells are sounding as Philippe Clement handed non-negotiable
Even less so due to complicated tax rules which would see him pay heavily were he to return to the UK in the foreseeable future. According to a 2023 report in the Telegraph, players and managers who left England for Saudi Arabia must stay there for a full tax year, or be hit with a bill for 45 per cent of their earnings once they return. Since the tax year runs from April to April, and Gerrard made the move last July, that would mean April 2025 is the earliest he can return to work in the UK without having to pay millions.
If reports over his current salary are to be believed, he will have earned around £18.75m so far. And that would mean a bill of almost £8.5m were he to return to the UK tomorrow.
That's what Shearer is referring to when he hints that 'tax reasons' could scupper a possible return. He told Betfair: "Rangers manager Phillipe Clement is under pressure with the club not where it wants to be, nine points behind both Aberdeen and Celtic in the Scottish Premiership. Steven Gerrard has been linked with a return to the club, because I see his recent results in Saudi and he's getting a bit of stick at the moment. However, as a manager he will know, you will always get criticism at some stage.
"I don't know what's going on at Rangers, I read the reports like everyone else, and the club is certainly not where it wants to be. They are not getting results and there's problems off the field, so whether that would appeal to Steven if things don't improve in Saudi, who knows.
"I do know that when he was at Rangers, he had an incredible time there and gave them great moments, so he'll be fondly thought of, and I guess some would love him back for how he won the league there and for toppling Celtic. However, I don't know how Steven's life is going, whether he's enjoying Saudi Arabia and for tax reasons, he may not be able to come back yet!"
