Steven Saunders
Encyclopedia
Steven Saunders is a Scottish professional footballer who currently plays for Scottish Premier League
side Motherwell
as a centre back or right back.
Saunders made his debut for Motherwell as a substitute in a Scottish Premier League
match against Aberdeen
on 29 November 2008. After the match, manager
Mark McGhee
said that he was "delighted" with Saunders' performance. Saunders then started the following two games against and , playing at right back, and he was again praised by McGhee for his performance in the first of those games.
In the 2009–10 season, under new manager Jim Gannon
, Saunders has established himself as a regular starter in his preferred position of centre back. He scored his first goal for the club on Saturday 24 April 2010 against . Under Gannon's successor, Craig Brown, Saunders has been a regular starter at right back, showing that he is comfortable playing at centre back and right back.
On 10 August 2011, whilst playing for the Scotland Under 21's
, Saunders suffered an achilles tendon
injury that is likely to rule him out for the rest of the 2011-12 season.
for the first time, and made his debut the evening after in a 3–0 win over the Faroe Islands
, replacing Phil Bardsley at right back in the 70th minute.
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
side Motherwell
Motherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
as a centre back or right back.
Saunders made his debut for Motherwell as a substitute in a Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
match against Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
on 29 November 2008. After the match, manager
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Mark McGhee
Mark McGhee
Mark Edward McGhee is a former Scottish professional football player. McGhee started his career at Greenock Morton in 1975 and spent spells at clubs including Newcastle United, Aberdeen, Hamburg, Celtic, IK Brage and Reading...
said that he was "delighted" with Saunders' performance. Saunders then started the following two games against and , playing at right back, and he was again praised by McGhee for his performance in the first of those games.
In the 2009–10 season, under new manager Jim Gannon
Jim Gannon
James Paul "Jim" Gannon is a former footballer and football manager, who is now Director of football and manager of Conference National team Stockport County...
, Saunders has established himself as a regular starter in his preferred position of centre back. He scored his first goal for the club on Saturday 24 April 2010 against . Under Gannon's successor, Craig Brown, Saunders has been a regular starter at right back, showing that he is comfortable playing at centre back and right back.
On 10 August 2011, whilst playing for the Scotland Under 21's
Scotland national under-21 football team
The Scotland national under-21 football team, controlled by the Scottish Football Association, is Scotland's national under 21 football team and is considered to be a feeder team for the Scotland national football team....
, Saunders suffered an achilles tendon
Achilles tendon
The Achilles tendon , also known as the calcaneal tendon or the tendo calcaneus, is a tendon of the posterior leg. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone.- Anatomy :The Achilles is the tendonous extension of 3 muscles in the lower leg:...
injury that is likely to rule him out for the rest of the 2011-12 season.
International career
On 15 November 2010, Saunders was called up to the Scotland SquadScotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
for the first time, and made his debut the evening after in a 3–0 win over the Faroe Islands
Faroe Islands national football team
The Faroe Islands national football team represents the Faroe Islands in association football and is controlled by the Faroe Islands Football Association, the governing body for football in the Faroe Islands. The Faroe Islands became a member of FIFA in 1988 and UEFA in 1990 and are the third...
, replacing Phil Bardsley at right back in the 70th minute.
External links
- Steven Saunders profile at Motherwell FC official website