Ron Saunders

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Lore & Background

Saunders managed Yeovil Town, Oxford United, Norwich City and Manchester City. He was involved in football for 36 consecutive years; he left his final managerial role, at West Bromwich Albion, at the age of 54. As a player, he was an old-fashioned, hard-shooting centre forward who scored 246 goals in 16 years for Tonbridge Angels, Gillingham, Portsmouth, Watford and Charlton Athletic. 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. He remains their third highest goalscorer. He retired from full-time playing in 1967, when with Charlton.

In Their Own Story

The rain may have lashed Villa Park in December 1974 when Saunders arrived from Manchester City, but the mood inside was electric with ambition. He immediately set about transforming a Second Division side into champions of Europe's elite stage. The turning point came in May 1981, when the team secured the First Division title, ending a 71-year drought that had haunted the club since the early 20th century. Saunders was known for his direct style and ability to get results; he steered Villa through promotion, two League Cup triumphs, and finally the league crown. Yet, the atmosphere soured by early 1982. Disputes with Chairman Ron Bendall regarding the spending of stadium manager Terry Rutter created an unbridgeable divide. Saunders demanded more control over non-footballing affairs and was denied. On 9 February 1982, he walked away from a mid-table team that had just reached the European Cup quarter-finals. His exit left a vacuum that Tony Barton filled, leading to the famous 1982 European Cup victory, but Saunders' role in building the foundation of that success remained undeniable.

Reader's Guide

Saunders became player-manager at non-league Yeovil Town. As a manager, he first tasted success at Norwich City, guiding them to the Second Division title in 1972, which saw them promoted to the First Division for the first time in their history. He resigned as Norwich manager on 17 November 1973. Five days later, he accepted an offer to take over at Manchester City. He was dismissed three weeks before the end of the season. The following month he joined Second Division side Aston Villa as manager. Saunders guided Villa to promotion to the First Division in his first season, also winning two League Cup titles, in 1975 and 1977. In 1980–81, he guided Villa to their first First Division title for 71 years. He resigned from Villa on 9 February 1982. Saunders moved straight to Villa's local rivals, Birmingham City. In January 1986, Saunders walked out on struggling Birmingham to take charge of local rivals and fellow strugglers West Bromwich Albion. He was unable to stop Albion from sliding into the Second Division and was dismissed in September 1987. This was his last managerial role.

Did You Know?

• Saunders was the first manager to have taken charge of Aston Villa, Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion.
• He remains Portsmouth's third highest goalscorer.
• He managed Norwich City to the 1975 League Cup final and Aston Villa to the 1977 League Cup final.
• Saunders' assistant Tony Barton took over at Villa and led them to victory in the 1982 European Cup final four months after Saunders resigned.