DEAN SAUNDERS began his career with Swansea City and played almost 50 games for his hometown club before joining Brighton.
He moved on to First Division strugglers Oxford United, his goals helping them avoid relegation at the end of the 1986-87 season.
After switching to Derby County for two seasons, which ended with County’s relegation from the top flight, Saunders moved on to Liverpool, who paid a then English record fee of £2.9m for the Welsh international.
In September 1992, Saunders was transferred to Aston Villa for £2.5m where he developed a strong partnership with Dalian Atkinson, guiding Villa to an impressive runners-up finish in the first season of the Premier League.
For Wales, following a 1986 debut, he went on to win 75 caps and scored 22 goals.
Beginning his coaching career at Bradford Saunders quickly teamed up with former Liverpool boss Graeme Souness at Newcastle United, but the pair were sacked in February 2006. It was in June last year that Saunders became assistant manager to Wales boss John Toshack.
