Born: Swansea, 21.06.1964

Player: Swansea City, Cardiff City (loan), Brighton & Hove Albion, Oxford United, Derby County, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Galatasaray, Nottingham Forest, Sheffield United, Benfica, Bradford City

Coaching: Bradford City, Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United & Wales

Manager: Wrexham

One of the outstanding Welsh players of his generation, Dean Saunders began his career with his home town club of Swansea.

Handed a free transfer by Swans manager John Bond, the then 20-year-old striker was determined to prove his doubters wrong and within 12 months of leaving the Vetch he had gained the first of his 75 full international caps.

Saunders got his first taste of top flight football with Oxford, joining The U's for £60,000 in March 1987, and his 6 goals in 12 games that same term helped steer the side clear of relegation.

Within 18 months his valued had soared to £1 million as Derby came calling, but not even his proliferation of goals could prevent the Rams from relegation in 1991.

With Saunders' talents worthy of the highest stage, Liverpool manager Graeme Souness paid a record £2.9 million to bring the patriotic Welshman to Anfield to partner his international colleague Ian Rush.

The first Liverpool player to score four goals in a European match, Saunders helped the Reds to FA Cup glory in 1992 before being surprisingly sold to Aston Villa the following September.

He then enjoyed a three-year spell in the Midlands with the highlight of his Villa Park days coming in 1994 when he scored twice in their League Cup final success over Manchester United, before the departure of Ron Atkinson as Villa boss saw the Welshman rejoin Souness at Galatasaray.

After spells with both Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United, Saunders once again teamed up with his mentor at Benfica before finishing his playing days with Bradford City during their Premiership tenure.

Having been a keen student of the game throughout his career, Saunders initially joined the coaching staff at Valley Parade before joining Souness once again at Blackburn.

The pair then moved to Newcastle United in 2004, with Saunders by then occupying the assistant manager's role until the former's dismissal in February 2006.

The fourth highest goalscorer for Wales with 22 senior goals, Saunders was appointed assistant to national team manager John Toshack last year.

In opting to take his first managerial position at Wrexham in October 2008, the 44-year-old has agreed that he will also maintain his role within the Welsh set-up.

Completing his coaching staff are assistants Terry Darracott and Brian Carey.

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