Interview with Ron Saunders

[Legion]

Former boss Saunders chats about 1982 European Cup win

Watch former boss Ron Saunders speak out about Villa's European Cup win in 1982 as the sensational squad get set to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

The Villa team he built lifted club football's biggest prize a few months after his shock resignation.

And, as he gets ready to induct the team into the National Football Museum annals tonight in the Holte Suite, he chats exclusively about the tremendous victory in Rotterdam.

Saunders, who steered Villa to the league title the previous season, took the club to the quarter-finals of the European Cup before stunning the claret and blue faithful by walking away from Villa Park.

A man who has shunned the spotlight for many years, the ex-gaffer has never revealed his feelings about the greatest triumph in Villa's history.

Was he proud of what his players achieved? Did he watch the historic 1-0 win over Bayern Munich? Does he regret not being in Rotterdam on that momentous occasion?

Watch him chat about the momentous event in the video player above.

Having walked away from football, Saunders never returned to Villa Park until Randy Lerner invited him back for Villa's top-flight clash with Manchester United in 2006.

It was an emotional occasion as the great man stepped out in front of 40,000 adoring fans - and Saunders tells us just how special that day was to him.

He also explains his decision to step out of the limelight and why he decided to call time on his involvement in football.

Don't for get to check out the first two parts of the interview Villa fans have been waiting more than 20 years to see.

In part one, Saunders discussed the arrival of Alex McLeish in the Villa Park hotseat as well as letting us in on a few secrets of his managerial style. In the second part, the legendary gaffer discusses his golden era in charge of the claret and blues during the 1970s and early 1980s.

[Legion]

Video links available via Pravda. To be moved into Villa Memories tomorrow after tonight's Hall of Fame induction.

[aldridgeboy]

Enjoyable...but who's the interviewer? He s awful!
I also reckon he actually did watch the whole of the 82 final!!

[The Left Side]

Enjoyable...but who's the interviewer? He s awful!
I also reckon he actually did watch the whole of the 82 final!!

I agree and it doesn't sound like he is a Villa fan, but I guess he doesn't have to be.

[Mister E]

The interviewer is rubbish but interviewing Saunders must be hellish as well. He's so damn taciturn.
Great quip at the end as well about the interviewer's need to do some ab crunches each morning.

[The Laughing Policeman]

Same old Mr. Saunders, as dry and taciturn as he ever was, he just has very slightly less hair nowadays.
If only we could find a manager today who hadn't had a lot of great success and was as defensively minded and wasn't universally acclaimed by the fans when he first arrived at the club.............

[Witton Warrior]

Is he the Mark E Smith of the football world?

He still scares the hell out of me to this day.
Always seemed utterly bored with the banal questions he is asked.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Is he the Mark E Smith of the football world?

He still scares the hell out of me to this day.

Remember when he used to come down from the stand marching along the running track if things were not going well ?

[Irish villain]

I would not mess with him!

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Thanks for posting that up. I still love him. He may have come across as a miserable git to the rest of the country but I think most Villa fans 'got' him. He's still very dry and not really impressed with the questions but right at the end you see a glimpse of the man that we worshipped. Oh to have a manager with his philosophy of football. A strong defence, an industrious midfield and attacking flair with all giving 110%.

I always thought it would be perfect to have in the Villa Park tunnel, as Liverpool have 'This is Anfield', a sign that reads 'The Full Ron Saunders'.

[Irish villain]

'The Full Ron Saunders'. That's a great idea. Could we get a campaign going or have it mentioned somewhere? Would be in keeping with all the banners that were introduced. We need to make VP a fortress.

[Legion]

'The Full Ron Saunders'. That's a great idea. Could we get a campaign going or have it mentioned somewhere? Would be in keeping with all the banners that were introduced. We need to make VP a fortress.

Yes, I like that idea...

[steffo]

Nobody was bigger than Mr Saunders. Lest we forget that he actually built two fantastic sides. In 77 we ran out of steam. He rebuilt in 80/81 and created history.

He demanded 110% from himself the players and us.

[timeoutbigbar]

A man of few words, but I enjoyed the watch.  Thanks

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Happy Birthday Ron Saunders.

He is 79 today.