18 Facts About Ron Saunders

Ronald Saunders was an English football player and manager.

Ron Saunders played for Everton, Tonbridge Angels, Gillingham, Portsmouth, Watford and Charlton Athletic during a 16-year playing career, before moving into management.

Ron Saunders managed seven clubs in 20 years, and he was the first manager to have taken charge of Aston Villa, Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion, the three rival clubs based in and around the city of Birmingham.

Ron Saunders was involved in football for 36 consecutive years; he left his final managerial role, at West Bromwich Albion, at the age of 54.

Ron Saunders was leading goalscorer for six consecutive seasons at Portsmouth and his goals were a key factor in helping Pompey win the Third Division title in 1962.

Ron Saunders retired from full-time playing in 1967, when with Charlton.

Ron Saunders steered Norwich City to survival in their first season in the top flight.

Five days later, Ron Saunders accepted an offer to take over at Manchester City.

Ron Saunders did not stay out of work for long however, and the following month joined Second Division side Aston Villa as manager.

Ron Saunders guided Villa to promotion to the First Division in his first season as manager, winning the League Cup.

Ron Saunders became the first manager to take three clubs to the League Cup Final in three successive years.

Ron Saunders re-established Villa as a top First Division club, winning the League Cup again in 1977.

Ron Saunders resigned from Villa on 9 February 1982, due to a disagreement with the board over his contract.

Ron Saunders moved straight to Villa's local rivals, Birmingham City.

In January 1986, Ron Saunders walked out on struggling Birmingham to take charge of local rivals and fellow strugglers West Bromwich Albion.

Ron Saunders was unable to stop Albion from sliding into the Second Division and was dismissed in September 1987, after failing to get them back into the First Division.

In December 2006, the 74-year-old Ron Saunders was the guest of honour at Villa Park for the match between Aston Villa and Manchester United, invited by new chairman Randy Lerner.

Ron Saunders returned to Villa Park shortly after, on 5 May 2007, for the 25th anniversary celebrations of the 1982 European Cup win.