Dean Saunders
Dean Nicholas Saunders ( born June 21, 1964 in Swansea ) is a former Welsh footballer. The mostly used as a center forward 75 times Welsh international was primarily known for his successful years at Aston Villa, but played beyond even for Swansea City, Cardiff City ( on loan ), Brighton & Hove Albion, Oxford United, Derby County, the Liverpool, Galatasaray, Nottingham Forest, Sheffield United, Benfica and Bradford City. From January to June 2013 he worked as a coach for Wolverhampton Wanderers, after he had gained some experience in the Wrexham FC and Doncaster Rovers in this function.
Club career
Saunders began the footballing career in 1980 as a junior player at his hometown club Swansea City, where his father Roy had already worked as a player and coach. He subsequently completed 49 league appearances for Swansea and was loaned shortly before his departure in August 1985 for a short time at the neighbors Cardiff City. He then moved to Brighton & Hove Albion, where he remained until February of 1987. From there he moved to Oxford United, who played in the First Division for the league. Saunders was able to ensure that the descent in the 1986/87 season has been averted with its gates to end the season with. A year later, another effort was made , however, and the club rose as Table from the English top flight game class. Shortly after the start of the 1988/89 season changed Saunders for a million pounds to Derby County - shortly after the laid-off in Oxford Mark Lawrenson criticized the decision to sell the Bureau strongly.
On October 29, 1988 Saunders debuted in Baseball Ground against FC Wimbledon and introduced himself with two hits in his first game good one. During his first season at the new club he scored 14 goals and thus helped the club to a surprisingly good fourth final table space - the best placement in the championship since 1975, 17 more league goals reach Saunders in the 1990/91 season when Derby County only. finished last and relegated to the second division. Thus, the interest of a number of top clubs was awakened to the obligation of Saunders, with the Everton first crystallized as favorite. Eventually, however, was for a then-record transfer fee of 2.9 million pounds Liverpool the contract and Saunders should replace the Peter Beardsley to Everton migrated there.
During the 1991/92 season Saunders stormed into Liverpool on the side of Ian Rush, with whom he formed a duo in the Welsh national team. The Welsh attacking partnership was supported by the young Steve McManaman and jointly trained by Graeme Souness the club won for the fifth time in its history the FA Cup. However, Saunders was sold in September 1992 for £ 2.5 million to Aston Villa. In Villa Park, he immediately became a big gain, especially his batting and his strike partner Dalian Atkinson were responsible for the runner-up in the first Premier League season. Two goals from Saunders ensured also in the League Cup final of 1994 that Manchester United could be defeated. In the championship, however, the benefits shown above, could not be confirmed, and in the season 1994/95 there were almost only the 15 goals of Saunders, who just earned the club just two years after the runner-up as the first non- relegation zone.
The subsequent rebuilding under new coach Brian Little finally fell also Dean Saunders - how many players from the era of Ron Atkinson - victim. He joined again his old Liverpool manager Graeme Souness to that in Turkey was the coach of Galatasaray now. There, however, Saunders had only one season and then returned to England, where he at Nottingham Forest signed a treaty in 1996. His time at Forest but was not crowned of success and it should be his lack of goals, especially that were partly responsible for the relegation from the top flight. He moved to Sheffield United before he again his old coach followed Souness, who had now arrived in Portugal at Benfica.
He returned for the season 1999/2000 back to England for fresh baked Erstligaaufsteiger Bradford City. There he spent two years and rose at the end with his club as Table from the Premier League again.
Career in the national
Dean Saunders came in the Welsh national team in 75 games to use and, with a total of 22 goals to one of the most successful strikers of his country. He made his debut as a 21 -year-old on March 26, 1986 against Ireland and later became behind Ian Rush, Ivor Allchurch and Trevor Ford to the player with the fourth- most goals in the Welsh selection. His personal highlight, he experienced it in 1991 in Cardiff, when he scored the decisive goal in a 1-0 win against the big favorites from Brazil. His last game he completed on 28 March 2001 in a World Cup qualifier against Ukraine. In the Welsh supporters Saunders is now regarded as the best striker of all time behind Ian Rush and Mark Hughes.
Coaching career
After the end of his career, Saunders joined the coaching staff of Bradford City and joined in 2004 at Newcastle United. There he began as a special trainer for the striker and then - again under Graeme Souness - to Kotrainer. When Souness was released on 2 February 2006, had to give way also its entire coaching staff - including Saunders.
In June 2007, Saunders was appointed assistant coach John Toshack in the Welsh national team. Early October 2008, Saunders was named the new head coach of Conference National Association Wrexham FC. He kept passing his job as assistant coach of the Welsh national team. In September 2011 he joined the Doncaster Rovers in the footsteps of Sean O'Driscoll in the second highest English league.
On the evening of 6th January 2013 Saunders left the former first table Doncaster Rovers Ståle Solbakken and sparked at Wolverhampton Wanderers from. At season's end he had the club in favor of Kenny Jackett leave.
Achievements
- FA Cup winner: 1992
- English League Cup Winners: 1994