Dean Saunders

Here's our new manager Dean Saunders

Dean Nicholas Saunders, aged 50, is a former Welsh international footballer turned manager who played as a striker in a career spanning 1982 to 2001 which commanded over 10 million pounds in transfer fees.

He is married to Helen. His son Callum Saunders (19) plays for Crewe Alexandra as a striker, where he has played 6 times for The Railwaymen in his short career. He also has two daughters Danielle and Louisa.

Born in Swansea, Wales, Dean Saunders began his career with Swansea City, where at the time his father Roy Saunders had been a player and coach. Dean signed as an apprentice on leaving school in 1980 and made his league debut in the 1983/84 season.

Saunders moved on to Brighton and Hove Albion in the summer of 1985 before again moving to Oxford United the season after. In 1988 Saunders made a million pound move to Derby County where he scored 42 goals in 106 games.

This goalscoring form brought him to the attention of Liverpool FC where he was signed for a then English record fee of £2.9 million on 19 July 1991 to make him Ian Rush's new strike-partner at The Reds.

Saunders again moved for big money in 1992 signing for Aston Villa from Liverpool for £2.5 million this time, in 1995 for £2.35 to Galatasaray and then to Nottingham Forest in 1996 for £1.5 million pounds. He later played for Sheffield United, Benfica and Bradford City.

 

While at The Blades he scored this famous goal.






Proud Welshman Saunders made his international debut aged 21 in a friendly against the Republic of Ireland on 26 March 1986. He made 75 caps in total for Wales scoring 22 goals. This puts him 4th on the all time appearances list and 4th on the all time goal scorers list.

Since retiring Saunders initially became a coach at Blackburn working alongside his former manager Graeme Souness. He moved on with Souness to Newcastle United in 2004. Saunders earned his Certificate in Football Management at the University of Warwick Business School in June 2007 and also holds the UEFA Pro Licence coaching badge.

In June 2007, he was appointed assistant manager to John Toshack for the Wales national football team. Saunders remained in the role until Toshack's departure in September 2010.

Then in October 2008 Saunders was appointed as manager of Conference side Wrexham. He continued to combine the role with his position as assistant manager of Wales. He led Wrexham to the 2011 Conference play-offs before leaving for Doncaster Rovers.

In Saunders first season as Doncaster boss the team relegated from the Championship but he put together the team that lifted the League One title the following May. By that stage, he had moved onto his next club Wolves, which meant he ended the campaign, bizarrely, with a Championship medal despite relegating with Wolves. Saunders commented "the Doncaster chairman gave me a winner’s medal"

"I cut the budget from eight million to two and a half and got the chance to build my own team," (Saunders left Doncaster and) "They went and won the league."

Saunders stay at Wolves was a short one as his contract was terminated three days after relegation was confirmed, following just four months in the job.

Saunders was named as interim manager of Crawley Town after John Gregory stepped down due to health problems in December 2014.

Talking to Simon Hart of the Independent Saunders commented;

"I took this job on with the odds that relegation would be on my CV so is it my fault or the people before me?"

"Was Wolves my fault? Was Doncaster [who had three wins in 35 games prior to his appointment]? You are trying to retrieve a situation."

“Everyone advised me not to do it, but I took the challenge on.''

Spireite Gazette @SpireiteGazette · 40m40 minutes ago

Dean Saunders: ''I'm not walking into another mess, i'm starting a fresh with this group of players''

Spireite Gazette @SpireiteGazette · 39m39 minutes ago

Saunders: ''Paul's gone to Portsmouth so I expect him to get some of these players away''

Spireite Gazette @SpireiteGazette · 27m27 minutes ago

Dean Saunders "Taking over now gives me a full pre-season to make a fresh start, put my plans in place and work with the squad''