Steven Gerrard mauled by memes as former Rangers boss branded brutal nickname for going Saudi full garb

Social media has taken aim at Steven Gerrard for "selling his soul" as he was pictured dressed up to the max in a traditional Saudi thawb for the country's National Day.

Gerrard was snapped all smiles as he posed in pictures shared by his club Al-Ettifaq on social media. The former Rangers boss was a marquee arrival in the Gulf State and his side are currently in the mix for the Pro League title with five wins from their opening seven games. But the Liverpool icon in full dress opened the floodgates on social media.

Saudi Arabia and the vast swathes of cash spent on players, managers and marketing have led to sportwashing accusations and it's a statement crown prince Mohammed bin Salman insists doesn't faze him as he vowed to continue his dream of turning Saudi into a world leader for sport. But that bullish proclamation hasn't spared Gerrard as one account dubbed the 43-year-old 'Sheikh-in Steven' while another offered a more serious take and stated "Love him but that is the very definition of a sell out"

It comes after Gerrard admitted his major regret of never having the chance to play under Jurgen Klopp with their Liverpool adventures starting and ending six months apart. And he couldn't resist a pop in Brendan Rodgers' direction in the process.

He said: "If I'd have known what was going to come off, 100 percent I'd have signed the year extension and I'd have put up with four or five months of Brendan to get six months of Klopp for sure."

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