Jack Hendry gears up for his debut Dammam derby with Al-Ettifaq

LONDON, April 4, 2025: Al-Ettifaq center-back Jack Hendry is no stranger to fierce rivalries, having played for Dundee against Dundee United, for Club Brugge against Cercle Brugge, and most notably for Celtic in the Old Firm Derby against Rangers.

This Saturday, Hendry faces a new challenge when he lines up for Al-Ettifaq in their defense against Al-Qadsiah. For the past few years, Al-Ettifaq has been the top club in Dammam, but this season, their rivals Al-Qadsiah have taken that title.

Al-Qadsiah’s impressive return to the Saudi Pro League has seen them rise to third place in the standings and reach the King’s Cup final. Hendry praised Al-Qadsiah’s strong season and recruitment, stating, “They’ve had a very good season, bringing in players that have worked well for them. We really want to match that and will continue to work hard to be the main team in Dammam.”

He added, “We’re extremely motivated to be No. 1 in the city for our fans, and we know how much it means to them. This is something I’m really hungry for. I moved to Al-Ettifaq to achieve something in football, and we want to be winning the King’s Cup, qualifying for Asian competition, and challenging at the top of the league.”

Hendry’s winning mentality comes from his time at Celtic and Club Brugge, where domestic trophies were always a target. His desire to work under Steven Gerrard, who had a storied career both at Liverpool and as Rangers' manager, led him to Al-Ettifaq in the summer of 2023.

“I had lots of opportunities across Europe, but Steven really sold the project to me,” Hendry explained. “It was an opportunity I couldn’t let go. I picked up a lot from Steven, and it was a great honor to play for him as he was one of my idols growing up.”

After 18 months, Gerrard left Al-Ettifaq in January 2025, and Saad Al-Shehri returned for his second stint as coach. Hendry praised the team's professionalism in adapting quickly to Al-Shehri’s approach, as they now sit seventh in the league, with victories including a notable 3-2 win over Al-Nassr.

“Losing someone like Steven with his experience is always disappointing, but in football, you have to learn from setbacks,” Hendry said. “We now have a new manager who is extremely positive and ambitious, and his high standards match my ambitions.”

Al-Shehri’s arrival has coincided with Hendry’s return to the starting lineup. After missing much of the first half of the season due to injury, Hendry’s comeback has been crucial to Al-Ettifaq’s defense. “It was tough, but I worked hard to get fit as soon as possible because I knew I could make an impact,” he said.

Despite Hendry’s efforts, Al-Ettifaq has struggled in attack, particularly with the absence of star striker Moussa Dembele, ruled out for the rest of the year due to an Achilles injury. Hendry described Dembele as “a very talented footballer, a very powerful striker,” but remains hopeful the team will find ways to adapt without him.

Saturday’s Dammam derby will see Al-Ettifaq face an Al-Qadsiah team that boasts the strongest defense in the Saudi Pro League, having conceded just 21 goals in 25 games. Hendry, however, is excited for his first Dammam derby, hoping it can develop into something special, much like his experiences in Scotland and Belgium.

“The passion in Scotland and Belgium was amazing,” Hendry recalled. “There’s the potential in Saudi Arabia for this rivalry to reach that level. We already have very loyal supporters at Al-Ettifaq, and beating Al-Qadsiah would mean the world to them.”