England U20s boss Ian Foster joins Steven Gerrard in Saudi as he agrees to become Al-Ettifaq No 2

The FA have lost one of their highly rated age-group coaches to the allure of Saudi Arabian cash with England under 20 manager Ian Foster agreeing to join Steven Gerrard at his new club Al-Ettifaq. 

Mail Sport has learned that Foster, who led England to the last 16 of the under 20 World Cup in May having won the European Championship with the under 19’s two years ago, resigned last week in favour of a move to the Saudi Pro League as Gerrard’s assistant.

Foster began his playing career at Liverpool where he got to know Gerrard before their paths diverged, going on to play for Hereford, Barrow and Chester before moving into management with League of Ireland club Galway. 

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England Under 20s boss Ian Foster (left) is set to join Steven Gerrard (right) in Saudi Arabia after agreeing to become his assistant at Pro League club Al-Ettifaq

Foster led England to the last 16 of the under 20 World Cup in May having won the European Championship with the under 19’s two years ago

The 46-year-old has been with the FA for eight years and has managed every male age-group side from the under 17’s to under 20s, as well as serving as assistant manager to Phil Neville when he was in charge of England Women.

Gerrard is the first ex-Premier League manager to join a Saudi Pro League club after numerous superstars including Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante signed playing contracts over the last few months. 

The former Aston Villa and Rangers boss is seeking to take several other Premier League players with him to Al-Ettifaq, who finished seventh in the Pro League last season, and has held talks with Wilfried Zaha and Jordan Henderson.

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