Robbie Fowler, 48, last managed East Bengal FC in the Indian Super League for the 2020-21 season, and also helped as a coach at Oxford United more recently.

He started his managerial career in 2011, taking charge of Thai outfit Muangthong United for one season.

Robbie Fowler also managed Australian side Brisbane Roar between 2019 and 2020.

Al-Qadsiah posted on Twitter: "Robbie Fowler. One of the most famous players in Liverpool and the English Premier League. Coach for Qadisiyah."

Al-Qadsiah finished 11th of 18 in the second tier last season, 23 points behind the top four who were all promoted.

But they will now be hoping the Reds legend can fire them to promotion, where they would face the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kante.

Fowler, 48, took on his first job in the dugout at Thai outfit Muangthong United from 2011-12.

He then was in charge at Brisbane Roar from 2019-20 before a spell with East Bengal in 2020-21.

There has been a recent influx of big-name players in Saudi Arabia, with former Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema and ex-Premier League midfielders N'Golo Kante and Ruben Neves among those who have followed former Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo to the Middle East.

Hello and welcome to another live coverage of Indian football as we continue bringing you all the live updates of the Indian Super League 2024-25. Tonight, We will bring you all the live updates, news, and live scores of the exciting encounter between East Bengal FC and Hyderabad FC at the Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata.

East Bengal are currently positioned eighth on the leaderbarde, having earned 24 points from 21 matches. Hyderabad, on the other hand, have only managed to earn 17 points in 21 matches as they are in the 12th position.

Both teams will look to end the season on a high. So sit back and enjoy the match as Sportz Point provides you with all the real-time updates, team news, live scores, and match commentary tonight.

This is Soumit Bhattacharya, who will bring you all the updates of the match from the web desk.

Moreover, you can follow us on Twitter for all the updates. Join our Telegram and WhatsApp channels to get all the news and scores.

Hello and welcome to another live coverage of Indian football as we continue bringing you all the live updates of the Indian Super League 2024-25. Tonight, We will bring you all the live updates, news, and live scores of the exciting encounter between Punjab FC vs East Bengal FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi.

Punjab FC will be very disappointed after the last match against Chennaiyin FC as they had plenty of opportunity to score goals in the second half to seal the three points for them. But poor finishing and defending cost them, as they will look to bounce back at their home when they do battle against Oscar Bruzon's managed side.

Currently, they are placed in the ninth spot and a string of good results will push them to high positions but at the same time, they will hope that other teams drop points.

Injuries and individual mistakes have cost East Bengal FC a lot and made the job of coaching staff very difficult. The red and gold brigade will have to win every fixture that is left to be played then only they will have some changes to make it. After a good win over old rival Mohammedan SC, they will be looking to keep their positive momentum against the Shers.

This is Swastik Debnath, who will bring you all the updates of the match from the web desk.

Moreover, you can follow us on Twitter for all the updates. Join our Telegram and WhatsApp channels to get all the news and scores.

Since Cristiano Ronaldo's groundbreaking move to Al-Nassr in December 2022, the Saudi Pro League has become an attractive destination for several high-profile European stars. His transfer acted as a channel, inspiring many big names to follow in his footsteps and head to the Middle East.

Top players like Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kante, Roberto Firmino, and Sadio Mane have made the switch. While the appeal of a new challenge may have played a minor role in their decisions, the well-paid contracts were undoubtedly the main motivation. Former Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves even admitted that in December 2023, though he also acknowledged that the league's ambitious project influenced his choice.

As the biggest star in the Saudi Pro League, Cristiano Ronaldo earns an astronomical weekly age, with his presence drawing global attention to the league's expanding brand. But who else comes close to him in terms of earnings?

20 Highest-Paid Footballers in Saudi Pro League history:

Top 10 Highest-Paid Players in Saudi Pro League: 

1. Cristiano Ronaldo | 3.85 million Euros per Week:

The Pioneer, The game-changer, The highest-paid footballer of all time. Cristiano Ronaldo's move to Al-Nassr in January 2023 was not just a transfer- it was a statement. His arrival ignited a wave of big-name signings in the Saudi Pro League, but none have matched his astonishing earnings.

🚨 OFFICIAL: Cristiano Ronaldo joins Al Nassr, here we go! Contract valid until 2025 🇵🇹🇸🇦 #Ronaldo pic.twitter.com/HB562KnaTf

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 30, 2022

Earning twice as much as the next best-paid player, he remains the undisputed financial King of both the league and the World football. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner did not just adapt, he succeeded, finishing 2023 as the year's top goal scorer across all competitions. At 40, he is not just playing-he is redefining the game on a new level.

 2. Karim Benzema | 1.93 million Euros per week: 

Karim Benzema had the option to stay at Real Madrid for another year, but who can blame him for accepting a three-year deal with champions Al-lttihad, well over 150 million? At 35, an age when many players consider retirement, he chose to take a new challenge while securing an astonishing payday.

Official, confirmed. Karim Benzema joins Al Ittihad on two year deal with option for further season. 🟡⚫️🇸🇦 #AlIttihad

Benzema will earn almost €200m per season net salary, commercial deals included. pic.twitter.com/vSrkL4zjJI

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 6, 2023

However, unlike Cristiano Ronaldo, the Frenchman has struggled to settle in the Saudi Pro League, even earning a harsh new nickname from Al-lttihad fans. Despite this, he has still delivered on the pitch, scoring 13 goals and providing eight assists in just 29 games during his debut season in the Middle East.

3. Riyad Mahrez | 1.03 million Euros per week:

Riyad Mahrez ranks third on this list, but he trails significantly behind the top two in earnings, nearly 50% of what Benzema makes. Even so, his 8.3 million euros salary at Manchester City now seems like pocket change compared to the eye-watering sum he is earning at Al-Ahli.

Riyad Mahrez to Al Ahli, here we go! The documents are being exchanged as Man City and Al Ahli want the deal signed by the end of the week. 🚨🟢🇸🇦 #AlAhli

Mahrez will sign until June 2027 — Man City will receive €35m fee with add ons included.

Medical booked in the next 24h. pic.twitter.com/Vh390HYr6V

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 19, 2023

Now making more than Five times his City wages, the Algerian international continues to showcase the same dazzling skill in Saudi Arabia that Premier League fans enjoyed weekly. With 12 goals and 14 assists at the time of writing, he is proving his worth, even if Al-Ahli fell short of winning Saudi Pro League title in his debut season.

4. Sadio Mane | 769k euros Per Week: 

Sadio Mane's time at Bayern Munich can fairly be described as pathetic. The Senegalese forward, who once tortured Premier League defenses with Liverpool and Southampton, struggled to find favor in Bavaria. His difficult spells even included a physical argument with teammate Leroy Sane. 

Sadio Mané to Al Nassr, here we go! Deal in place between the two clubs, Bayern have accepted the verbal proposal after advanced talks yesterday 🟡🔵🇸🇦

Paperwork to be checked on player side and then medical will be booked, deal will be done.

Fofana, Brozović, Telles… Mané ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/w0eZqFQxgD

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 28, 2023

As a result, securing a move away from the Allianz Arena become Mane's top priority. He ultimately signed for Al-Nassr, joining forces with Cristiano Ronaldo. The 32-year-old penned a deal reportedly with around 34 million euros per year, placing him just ahead of another former Premier League star.

5. Kalidou Koulibaly | 667k euros Per Week:

Chelsea fans were confident they had found the perfect defensive partner for Thiago Silva in Kalidou Koulibaly, even handing him John Terry's iconic number. However, the Senegalese defender endured a challenging spell at Stamford Bridge and was moved on in 2023 for 20 million euros.

The moment Kalidou Koulibaly signed for Al-Hilal 🇸🇦 pic.twitter.com/IrskVaXxO7

— GOAL (@goal) June 26, 2023

Since joining Al-Hilal, Koulibaly has been a steady presence at the back, leaving his Premier struggles behind to help guide his new team to the 2023/24 Saudi Pro League title. 

Earning around 295,000 euros per week in Chelsea, the 33-year-old nearly doubted his wages with the move. In an interview, he even admitted that the amazing financial offer played a major role in his decision.

"I can’t deny it. With this money, I will be able to help my whole family to live well, from my parents to my cousins"

Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr have acquired the signing of Jhon Duran, the 21-year-old Colombian striker from Aston Villa. 

Duran, who has scored 10 goals for Aston Villa across the Premier League and UCL this season, has signed a gigantic five-year contract with the Cristiano Ronaldo-led club. 

The Colombian youngster is the latest inclusion to follow the footsteps of former Premier League footballers who left the top division of English football to explore new opportunities in Saudi Arabia. 

In this article, Sportz Point assesses every Premier League player who went to play for various Saudi Pro League clubs.

1. N'Golo Kante - Chelsea to Al-Ittihad (2023)

N'Golo Kante is the foremost renowned footballer who left the Premier League to join the Saudi Pro League, bringing a revolution in the business for Saudi Pro League clubs. 

The French World Cup winner and always a fan-favourite, left Chelsea in July 2023 to join Al-Ittihad on a free transfer. Kante received a 3-year contract at the Saudi club, where he reportedly earns a whopping €100 million per year. 

The 33-year-old midfielder is currently playing for Al-Ittihad, and his contract runs until June 2026.

Read Also | N'Golo Kante has left the Premier League : End of an Era

2. Kalidou Koulibaly - Chelsea to Al-Hilal (2023)

In July 2023, Kalidou Koulibaly signed for the current Saudi Champions Al-Hilal for an undisclosed fee, reportedly worth €23 million. The Senegal international spent only one year in Chelsea, where he joined in 2022 from the Italian side Napoli. 

The 33-year-old defender is currently donning the Al-Hilal shirt, where he is on a contract until June 2026.

3. Edouard Mendy - Chelsea to Al-Ahli (2023)

Edouard Mendy will always be a legend for Chelsea fans for his towering performance as the goalkeeper in Chelsea's UCL-winning campaign in 2020-21.

However, in a shocking move in July 2023, the Senegal international joined Al-Ahli for a reported fee of €19 million. The 32-year-old goalkeeper is on a three-year contract with Al-Ahli, expiring in June 2026.

4. Demarai Gray - Everton to Al-Ettifaq (2023)

Demarai Gray signed for Al-Ettifaq on the deadline day of the transfer window in Saudi Arabia, on September 7th, 2023. 

The former Everton man also played for Leicester City and Bayer Leverkusen before his two-year stint at Everton. 

However, the Jamaican international penned down a four-year contract with the Saudi outfit, keeping him at the club until June of 2027. 

5. Aleksandar Mitrovic - Fulham to Al-Hilal (2023)

Aleksandar Mitrovic has proved himself as arguably the best overseas signing the Saudi Pro League has made since the door opened in 2023. The Serbian forward signed for Al-Hilal in August 2023. He left Fulham, where he had a dream season in 2022-23, scoring 14 goals in just 24 PL appearances. 

However, Al-Hilal paid a reported fee of €52 million to sign Mitrovic from Fulham. Since arriving in Saudi, the 30-year-old striker has netted 60 goals and provided 11 assists in 67 appearances for Al-Hilal, leading the club to the Saudi Arabian League title in 2023-24 and various other accolades. 

6. Ezgjan Alioski - Leeds to Al-Ahli (2021)

Although Kante is the PL footballer who had drawn significant attention from Saudi Clubs, it was Ezgjan Alioski who first joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli in 2021, leaving Leeds United on a free transfer.

However, the Macedonian left-back was loaned to Fenerbahce only after a year, and he spent a one-year loan stint at the Turkish side before permanently returning to Al-Ahli in June 2023. Alioski is in the last year of his contract, as the agreement expires in June 2025. 

7. Fabinho - Liverpool to Al-Ittihad (2023)

Fabinho joined Al-Ittihad in July 2023 for a transfer fee of almost €47 million, leaving his former club Liverpool.

The former Liverpool captain spent a long 5-year spell at Liverpool, winning almost everything with the Merseyside club. The Brazilian defensive midfielder is currently on a three-year contract with Al-Ittihad, binding him to the club until June 2026.

8. Roberto Firmino - Liverpool to Al-Ahli (2023)

Roberto Firmino, another cult hero of Liverpool, left the club in July 2023 to sign for Al-Ahli Saudi on a free transfer after his contract expired at the end of the 2022-23 season. 

Firmino played for Liverpool from 2015 to 2023, making him a legend for the Premier League club, where he won almost everything, scoring 111 goals in 362 games. 

The 33-year-old Brazilian is on a three-year deal with the Saudi club, expiring on June 2026.

9. Jordan Henderson - Liverpool to Al-Ettifaq (2023)

The case of Jordan Henderson is a unique instance, as he spent only 6 months in Saudi. The former Liverpool skipper moved to Al-Ettifaq after a €14 million transfer in July 2023, penning a three-year deal with the Saudi side. 

However, things did not go well with the England international as he failed to adjust to the Saudi Arabian climate and also had family reasons. Henderson left Al-Ettifaq in January 2024 as he returned to Europe to play for Ajax Amsterdam. 

Henderson currently captains the Dutch side, where his contract runs until June 2026.

10. Aymeric Laporte - Man City to Al-Nassr (2023)

Aymeric Laporte left Manchester City to join Al-Nassr in July 2023 after the Saudi side paid almost €28 million in transfer fees. 

The dynamic Spanish center-back was handed a three-year contract with the Saudi club, which runs until June 2026. Although he has not moved to any other club, he has recently been linked to a move to the Spanish giants, Real Madrid.

11. Riyad Mahrez - Man City to Al-Ahli (2023)

Riyad Mahrez has always been a silent cornerstone for Manchester City's success in recent years under Pep Guardiola. Mahrez also played a significant part in the iconic Premier League-winning campaign of Leicester City in 2016.

However, the Algerian left City in July 2023 on a €35 million transfer to join Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League. The 33-year-old winger was handed a four-year contract that runs until June 2027.

12. Alex Telles - Man United to Al-Nassr (2023)

Alex Telles joined his national teammate Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr after joining the Saudi side on a €4.6 million transfer. Telles left Manchester United to start anew in the Middle East.

However, his stint at Al-Nassr was full of obstacles, as only after a year, the Portuguese full-back terminated his contract by mutual agreement and joined the Brazilian side Botafogo on a free transfer in September 2024.

13. Allan Saint-Maximin - Newcastle to Al-Ahli (2023)

Allan Saint-Maximin emerged as one of the best forwards in the Premier League, before making a shocking move to Al-Ahli from Newcastle United for a transfer fee worth almost €28 million.

However, Maximin is now playing for Fenerbahce after being loaned out in July 2024, although he has a contract with Al-Ahli until June 2026.

14. Ruben Neves - Wolves to Al-Hilal (2023)

Ruben Neves etched his name in the history of Wolverhampton Wanderers; playing for the English side for almost seven years.

The Portuguese defensive midfielder left his beloved Wolves to join Al-Hilal in July 2023 on a huge €55 million transfer. Neves is contracted with Al-Hilal until June 2026.

15. Moussa Diaby - Aston Villa to Al-Ittihad (2024)

Moussa Diaby proved himself as one of the best emerging talents in world football but he unexpectedly signed for Al-Ittihad in July 2024, leaving Aston Villa on a huge €60 million transfer.

The 25-year-old French midfielder also played for renowned European clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain and a significant four-year spell at Bayer Leverkusen. 

16. Ivan Toney - Brentford to Al-Ahli (2024)

Ivan Toney entered the England national team following his masterful performance with Brentford in the Premier League. However, he left the English side in August 2024, as Al-ahli paid a transfer fee of €42 million for the English forward.

The 28-year-old forward is currently playing for Al-Ahli where he is on a mega contract that runs until June 2028.

17. Johann Berg Gudmundsson - Burnley to Al-Orobah (2024)

Johann Berg Gudmundsson played an integral part in Burnley's promotion to the Premier League for the 2023-24 season. However, the Iceland international moved to Al-Orobah in August 2024 for an undisclosed fee. 

The 34-year-old winger is in the last year of his contract with Al-Orobah as it ends in June 2025.

18. Marek Rodak - Fulham to Al-Ettifaq (2024)

Marek Rodak, the Slovak international, left Fulham to join Al-Ettifaq on a free transfer in August 2024.

The 28-year-old goalkeeper is on a contract until June 2027.

19. Joao Cancelo - Man City to Al-Hilal (2024)

Joao Cancelo spent a tumultuous year in 2023, as he spent two different loan spells in Bayern Munich and FC Barcelona. However, Barcelona failed to trigger his release clause in August 2024 as Manchester City sold the Portuguese international to Al-Hilal on a modest €25 million transfer.

The 30-year-old fullback signed a three-year contract that runs until June 2027.

20. Kurt Zouma - West Ham to Al-Orobah (2024)

Kurt Zouma left West Ham United in August 2024 after spending almost three years at the English side, as he was loaned to Al-Orobah for a year. The French defender's loan ends in June 2025. 

21. Jhon Duran - Aston Villa to Al-Nassr (2025)

Jhon Duran is the latest Premier League footballer to leave top-tier English football to join Saudi Pro League. 

Al-Nassr has signed the Colombian youngster from Aston Villa for a huge €77 transfer fee including the add-ons. The 21-year-old striker, who signed a mega five-year contract, will stay at Al-Nassr until June 2030.

Hello and welcome to another live coverage of Indian football as we continue bringing you all the live updates of the Indian Super League 2024-25. Tonight, we will bring you all the live updates, news, and live scores of a neck-to-neck encounter between East Bengal FC and Kerala Blasters FC at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata. 

Earlier this season, in the second match-week, Kerala Blasters stunned East Bengal in a comeback 2-1 win on 22 September 2024 at the JLN Stadium in Kochi.

Kerala Blasters are not mathematically out of the knock-out qualification race, and they will continue to push to fire into the top-six position. Currently, The Tuskers are placed eighth in the table, with 21 points in 17 matches.

East Bengal are on a three-match losing streak, and they will eye to break the curse against Kerala at home. The Torchbearers are now in the 11th position, having accumulated 14 points in 16 games.

As the stakes are high for Kerala Blasters whereas East Bengal will not spurn to fight; the game is going to be a very exciting one. So keep an eye on here as Sportz Point provides you with all the real-time updates, team news, live scores, and match commentary tonight.

This is Soumit Bhattacharya, who will bring you all the updates of the match from the web desk.