Ron Saunders
Seasons Quick-View
Season
Age
Division
Position
Games
Won
Drew
Lost
Win %
Lost %
Unbeaten %
Goals For
Goals Against
Goal difference
Goals per game
Conceded per game
Clean sheets
Points per game
1974-75 | 1975-76 | 1976-77 | 1977-78 | 1978-79 | 1979-80 | 1980-81 | 1981-82 |
41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 |
D2 | D1 | D1 | D1 | D1 | D1 | D1 | D1 |
2nd | 16th | 4th | 8th | 8th | 7th | 1st | 11th |
55 | 48 | 56 | 54 | 48 | 52 | 46 | 36 |
33 | 12 | 31 | 24 | 17 | 20 | 28 | 15 |
12 | 18 | 11 | 13 | 18 | 17 | 8 | 9 |
10 | 18 | 14 | 17 | 13 | 15 | 10 | 12 |
60% | 25% | 55% | 44% | 35% | 38% | 61% | 42% |
18% | 38% | 25% | 31% | 27% | 29% | 22% | 33% |
82% | 62% | 75% | 69% | 73% | 71% | 78% | 67% |
110 | 57 | 105 | 79 | 64 | 63 | 76 | 52 |
46 | 68 | 59 | 57 | 54 | 61 | 45 | 40 |
64 | -11 | 46 | 22 | 10 | 2 | 31 | 12 |
2 | 1.19 | 1.88 | 1.46 | 1.33 | 1.21 | 1.65 | 1.44 |
0.84 | 1.42 | 1.05 | 1.06 | 1.13 | 1.17 | 0.98 | 1.11 |
41.82% | 25% | 36% | 35% | 27% | 29% | 33% | 31% |
2.02 | 1.13 | 1.86 | 1.57 | 1.44 | 1.48 | 2 | 1.51 |
*Age on opening day of the season
FAC: FA Cup; FL: Football League; D1: Division 1; D2: Division 2; D3: Division 3; PL: Premier League; CH: Championship
Ronald Saunders
Birth Date
6 November 1932
Birth Place
Birkenhead
Birth Country
England
🏴
Playing Position
Centre Forward
Playing Career
1951-55 Everton
Football League Second Division, First Division
🕒 3 | ⚽ 0 | (League)
1955-57 Tonbridge
Southern League
1957-58 Gillingham
Football League Third Division South
🕒 49 | ⚽ 20 | (League)
1958-64 Portsmouth
Football League First Division, Second Division
🕒 236 | ⚽ 145 | (League)
1964-65 Watford
Football League Third Division
🕒 39 | ⚽ 18 | (League)
1965-67 Charlton Athletic
Football League Second Division
🕒 65 | 64 (1) | ⚽ 24 | (League)
1967 Retired aged 34
Previous Coaching & Managerial Roles
1967-69 Yeovil Town
Player Manager
Southern League Premier Division
1 Jul 1967 to 28 Feb 1969
1969 Oxford United
Player Manager
Football League Second Division
1 Mar 1969 to 30 Jun 1969
🕒 12 | PPG 1.75
Career Form: Top 6
1969-73 Norwich City
Manager
Football League Second Division, First Division
1 Jul 1969 to 16 Nov 1973
🕒 206 | PPG 1.39
Career Form: Mid Table
1973-74 Manchester City
Manager
Football League First Division
22 Nov 1973 to 12 Apr 1974
🕒 33 | PPG 1.33
Career Form: Mid Table
Trophies Won
1971-72 Second Division
Norwich City
1974-75 League Cup
Aston Villa
1976-77 League Cup
Aston Villa
1980-81 Football League First Division
Aston Villa
1981 Charity Shield (Shared)
Aston Villa
Subsequent Coaching & Managerial Roles
1982-86 Birmingham City
Manager
Football League First Division, Second Division
22 Feb 1982 to 16 Jan 1986
🕒 203 | PPG 1.33
Career Form: Mid Table
1986-87 West Bromwich Albion
Manager
Football League Second Division
14 Feb 1986 to 2 Sep 1987
🕒 64 | PPG 0.95
Career Form: Relegation
🟩 Win Performance
10 Wins:
23
Games
15 Wins:
32
Games
20 Wins:
38
Games
30 Wins:
52
Games
40 Wins:
77
Games
50 Wins:
111
Games
60 Wins:
126
Games
70 Wins:
147
Games
80 Wins:
166
Games
90 Wins:
186
Games
100 Wins:
212
‼️
Games
125 Wins:
285
‼️
Games
150 Wins:
331
‼️
Games
175 Wins:
383
‼️
Games
200 Wins:
Games
250 Wins:
Games
300 Wins:
Games
400 Wins:
Games
500 Wins:
Games
600 Wins:
Games
⭐ Best performance of any Villa boss
‼️ Worst performance of any Villa boss
Joined
Aged
41
On
4 June 1974
From
Unattached
Appointed Manager
Aged
41
On
4 June 1974
Succeeding
Vic Crowe | 🏴 |
From
Manchester City
Manager
Villa Managerial Debut
🟨 17 August 1974, Villa 1-1 York, Bootham Crescent
Villa Career
🕒 395 | 🟩 | 181 🟨 | 106 🟥 109 | 1.64
Games
395
Win Rate
46%
Loss Rate
28%
Unbeaten Rate
72%
Points per game
1.64
Honours
1974-75
League Cup
1974-75
First Division Promotion
1976-77
League Cup
1980-81
Football League First Division Champions
League finishes
1974-75
Football League Second Division
2nd of 22
Runners Up
Promoted
1975-76
Football League First Division
16th of 22
1976-77
Football League First Division
4th of 22
1977-78
Football League First Division
8th of 22
1978-79
Football League First Division
8th of 22
1979-80
Football League First Division
7th of 22
1980-81
Football League First Division
1st of 22
Champions
1981-82
Football League First Division
15th of 22
FA Cup finishes
1974-75
5th Round
Lost to Ipswich Town
1975-76
3rd Round
Lost to Southampton
1976-77
Quarter Final
Lost to Manchester United
1977-78
3rd Round
Lost to Everton
1978-79
3rd Round
Lost to Nottingham Forest
1979-80
Quarter Final
Lost to West Ham United
1980-81
3rd Round
Lost to Ipswich Town
1981-82
4th Round
Beat Bristol City
League Cup finishes
1974-75
Winners
Beat Norwich City
1975-76
3rd Round
Lost to Manchester United
1976-77
Winners
Beat Everton
1977-78
4th Round
Lost to Nottingham Forest
1978-79
4th Round
Lost to Luton Town
1979-80
3rd Round
Lost to Everton
1980-81
3rd Round
Lost to Cambridge United
1981-82
Quarter Final
Lost to West Bromwich Albion
European finishes
1975-76
UEFA Cup 1st Round
Royal Antwerp FC
1977-78
UEFA Cup Quarter Final
Lost to FC Barcelona
1981-82
European Cup 2nd Round
Beat Berliner FC Dynamo
Notable Players
GK Jimmy Cumbes | 🏴 |
GK John Burridge | 🏴 |
GK Jimmy Rimmer | 🏴 |
CB Ian Ross | 🏴 |
CB Chris Nicholl | 🇬🇧 |
CB Ken McNaught | 🏴 |
RB John Gidman | 🏴 |
LB Charlie Aitken | 🏴 |
FB Gordon Smith | 🏴 |
LB John Robson | 🏴 |
RB Kenny Swain | 🏴 |
M Alex Cropley | 🏴 |
M Chico Hamilton | 🏴 |
M Leighton Phillips | 🏴 |
M Gordon Cowans | 🏴 |
M John Gregory | 🏴 |
M Des Bremner | 🏴 |
M Dennis Mortimer | 🏴 |
W Ray Graydon | 🏴 |
W Frank Carrodus | 🏴 |
F Brian Little | 🏴 |
F Gary Shaw | 🏴 |
CF Keith Leonard | 🏴 |
CF Andy Gray | 🏴 |
CF John Deehan | 🏴 |
CF Peter Withe | 🏴 |
Supported by
Tony Barton
Served under
1974-75
Chairman, Herbert D. Ellis
Club Secretary, Alan Bennett
1975-77
Chairman, Sir. William Dugdale
Club Secretary, Alan Bennett
1977-79
Chairman, Harry Kartz
Club Secretary, Alan Bennett
1979-82
Chairman, Ron Bendall
Club Secretary, Steve Stride
Final Villa Managerial Game
🟥 6 February 1982, Villa 1-4 Manchester United, Old Trafford
Left Position
Aged
9 February 1982
Due to
49
Resigned
Succeeded by
Tony Barton | 🏴 |
Ron Saunders