37 Facts About Stiliyan Petrov

Stiliyan Alyoshev Petrov is a Bulgarian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

Stiliyan Petrov became club captain at Villa Park, and was an inductee to the Aston Villa Hall of Fame in 2013 having made 219 competitive appearances for the club.

In March 2012, Stiliyan Petrov was diagnosed with acute leukaemia, suspending his football career to undergo treatment which was ultimately successful.

Stiliyan Petrov officially announced his retirement from the game in May 2013.

Stiliyan Petrov played during pre-season matches but was not offered a playing contract by manager Roberto Di Matteo.

Stiliyan Petrov was homesick and lonely at the start, and could not speak English.

Stiliyan Petrov became the first foreign player to win the SPFA Young Player of the Year award.

Stiliyan Petrov was shortlisted SPFA Player of the Year in 2002.

Stiliyan Petrov got to the only European final of his career, getting a runner's up medal in the UEFA Cup.

Stiliyan Petrov won the Scottish Cup twice in this time along with his third SPL medal.

Stiliyan Petrov only made 3 appearances for Celtic before leaving in the summer transfer window.

Stiliyan Petrov won the SPL four times and won both the Scottish and Scottish League Cup 3 times each.

Stiliyan Petrov was the tenth most prolific goalscorer in the SPL when he left Celtic.

Stiliyan Petrov was shortlisted for the SPFA Players' Player of the Year three times as a Celtic player.

Stiliyan Petrov was linked with a transfer to move to Aston Villa who were managed by former Celtic boss Martin O'Neill.

In 2007, Stiliyan Petrov changed his shirt number from 11 to 19.

Stiliyan Petrov scored a volley from near the halfway line against already relegated Derby County on 12 April 2008.

Stiliyan Petrov was named captain for the first time in the UEFA Cup game against the Bulgarian Litex Lovech on 2 October 2008 and scored one of the goals in the game.

Stiliyan Petrov became Villa captain in the summer of 2009 and led the team to sixth place in the Premier league, the semi-finals of the FA Cup and the final of the League Cup in his first season holding the armband.

Stiliyan Petrov continued to retain the Villa captaincy after the appointment of Gerard Houllier as manager of the club.

On 10 September 2011, Stiliyan Petrov scored his first goal of the season away at Everton.

Stiliyan Petrov announced his retirement from football on 9 May 2013, due to his leukaemia.

In October 2014, Stiliyan Petrov began playing again for his local Sunday League Over-35s side Wychall Wanderers who were managed by former Coventry City player David Busst.

Stilyan Stiliyan Petrov made his debut as a 52nd minute substitute for Bulgaria on 24 December 1998 in a friendly match against Morocco.

Stiliyan Petrov scored his first goal for the national side in another friendly match against Belarus on 29 March 2000.

On 14 January 2010, it was announced that Stiliyan Petrov had come second in Bulgaria's Player of the Year.

Stiliyan Petrov was renamed captain of the Bulgarian side again following the retirement of Berbatov from international football in 2010.

Stiliyan Petrov received a flower bouquet from Borislav Mihaylov and was applauded by the spectators prior to the start of the match.

Stiliyan Petrov placed second in 2000,2001,2005,2009 and 2011, and third in 2002 and 2006.

In 2005, Stiliyan Petrov wrote his autobiography with the assistance of Sunday Mail sports journalist Mark Guidi entitled You Can Call Me Stan, in reference to his nickname "Stan", a shortened form of his given name.

On 30 March 2012, Stiliyan Petrov was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

On his 33rd birthday, Stiliyan Petrov visited his teammates on the first day of their pre season training, and was presented with a cake by the players, who sang happy birthday to him and gave him a round of applause.

On 2 August 2012, it was announced that Stiliyan Petrov's leukaemia was in remission.

On 22 May 2013, shortly after announcing his retirement from playing, Aston Villa announced that Stiliyan Petrov would take on a new role at the club as assistant of the Youth Development squad, working alongside Gordon Cowans.

Stiliyan Petrov has completed his UEFA pro coaching licence, as well as a master's degree in Sports Management through UEFA, as of 2020.

Stiliyan Petrov is currently the director of a business venture, Player 4 Player, to support players to transition into retirement, alongside other former players including Gareth Farrelly, Emile Heskey and Gaizka Mendieta.

On 11 December 2014, Stiliyan Petrov appeared as a special guest on the eighth episode of the ninth series of Russell Howard's Good News.