Ron Saunders (Born Birkenhead 6th November 1932)

As a player Ron Saunders was a hard-shooting centre forward. He scored over 200 goals in 13 years as a centre-forward for Everton, Tonbridge, Gillingham, Portsmouth, Watford and Charlton. Saunders was leading goalscorer for six consecutive seasons at Portsmouth and it was largely his goals that won Pompey the Third Division Championship in 1962. He remains their third highest goalscorer to this day. He retired from playing in 1967 with Charlton.

As a manager Saunders first tasted success at Norwich, taking them to Division Two winners in 1972. A short spell at Manchester City followed, before he joined Aston Villa in 1974.

He managed Villa to League Cup in 1975 and again in 1977 before taking the club to its first Championship success for 70 years in 1981. He resigned from Villa on the verge of the club's greatest achievement, winning the European Cup, due to a disagreement with the board over his contract. Suprisingly he moved straight to Villa's arch-rivals, Birmingham City. In 1986 he completed a hat-trick of Birmingham clubs when he took charge of West Bromwich Albion. He stayed there until he was dismissed in 1987, and after that he left football management for good.

Manager:

1967-1969 Yeovil Town

1969-1969 Oxford United

1969-1973 Norwich City

1973-1974 Manchester City

1974-1982 Aston Villa

1982-1986 Birmingham City

1986-1987 West Bromwich Albion