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Former Aston Villa manager Ron Saunders has died at the age of 87, the club have announced.<\/p>\nFormer Aston Villa manager Ron Saunders has died at the age of 87, the club have announced.<\/p>\n
Saunders is widely regarded as one of the club\u2019s finest managers, in particular steering the club to the old Division One title in 1980-81.<\/p>\n
In a statement, the club said Saunders died \u201cearlier today\u2026 at 3pm\u201d. As a mark of respect, black armbands will be worn during Villa\u2019s Premier League clash with Leicester on Sunday<\/p>\n
The Villa statement read: \u201cIt is the sad duty of Aston Villa Football Club to announce that our former manager, Ron Saunders, has passed away at the age of 87.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe died earlier today, Saturday 7th December, at 3pm and his family have asked for their privacy to be respected at such a difficult time.<\/p>\n
\u201cWidely regarded as one of the club\u2019s greatest ever managers, he guided Villa to promotion in his first season in charge, lifted two League Cups and steered the club to a league championship in 1980\/81.<\/p>\n
\u201cAgainst Leicester City tomorrow afternoon, the players will wear black armbands and, as a mark of respect, we will be holding a period of applause to mark his outstanding contribution to Aston Villa.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Birkenhead-born Saunders enjoyed a prolific career as a player, scoring 200 goals combined for Everton, Gillingham, Portsmouth, Watford and Charlton from 1951 through to 1967.<\/p>\n
Upon retiring, Saunders immediately went into management, initially with Yeovil, before spells with Oxford, Norwich and Manchester City, and then taking over at Villa in 1974.<\/p>\n
Saunders enjoyed eight years with the club prior to joining bitter rivals Birmingham, followed by 19 months at West Brom, concluding with his sacking in 1987.<\/p>\n
He remains the only manager to have taken charge of all three Second City clubs.<\/p>\n