Fourth in the all-time top scorer list at international level for Wales, Dean Saunders was a prolific goalscorer for club and country in the 1980s and 1990s, adding memorable goals that would be central to the success of the sides he played for.
Dean began playing at his boyhood club of Swansea City FC in 1982, coming through the club's academy to make his debut in Swansea's first season as a First Division club. He made 49 appearances for the club, scoring 12 goals before earning a move to Brighton & Hove Albion FC. Another successful spell would see him record a £60,000 move to First Division team, Oxford United FC. At this time, he would also make the first of his 75 appearances for Wales, scoring on his debut at the age of 21.
Another impressive stint brought him a move to Derby County FC, where he would bag 42 goals in 106 appearances for the club between 1991 and 1992, prompting Graeme Souness to pair Saunders with his strike partner at international level, Ian Rush at Liverpool FC. He scored 23 goals in all competitions that season to finish as the club's top scorer, and help the team to their fifth FA Cup win.
Aston Villa FC then paid a club-record £2.5 million fee to bring Saunders to the side. He would become part of a formidable attack alongside Dalian Atkinson and Dwight Yorke, scoring 16 goals in his first season to take Villa to a second place finish in the inaugural Premier League. He would score 37 goals in 112 appearances before the first of his two moves abroad, with Galatasaray.
After a season with the Turkish giants where he scored the cup-winning goal against rivals Fenerbahce, Saunders joined Nottingham Forest FC in 1996, before spells at Sheffield United FC, Benfica and Bradford City FC.
After hanging up his boots in 2001, Saunders took the top job at Conference Premier League club, Wrexham FC in 2008, combining the role with his position as assistant manager under John Toshack for Wales. After leading Wrexham close to promotion, he accepted the job as manager of Doncaster Rovers FC, again leading a promotion push before he took over at Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and has managerial spells at Crawley Town FC and Chesterfield FC.
Today, Dean Saunders is a fascinating football speaker who has appeared regularly as a pundit on radio and television, in addition to appearances at corporate events, charity events and sports events. Ideal for after-dinner events where his stories and experiences from his time in the game are sure to go down a treat.,
