Popular former Aston Villa midfielder Stiliyan Petrov will retire from playing professionally after failing to reignite his playing career according to the Mail Online.
The 37 year old former Bulgarian international midfielder made an attempt to resume playing earlier this summer following his recovery from leukaemia. Petrov was handed an opportunity to return to Villa Park after being offered to train with Aston Villa but the player failed to earn a contract.
Petrov has now spent a number of weeks contemplating his next career move and the twice crowned Aston Villa Players’ Player of the Year has decided that it is time to end his playing career one last time. The former midfield ace has decided to now instead focus on establishing himself as a manager and Petrov is now planning to take on his first job in charge of a club back in his homeland.
After starting his career in Bulgaria with PFC Montana and CSKA Sofia, Petrov moved to Glasgow giants Celtic in summer 1999. The Bulgarian enjoyed over seven years at Celtic Park with Petrov scoring 65 goals in 312 appearances for the club winning four league titles, three League Cups and three Scottish Cups.
Petrov moved to Aston Villa in August 2006 for a reported transfer fee of £6.5 million. The player went on to become a fans’ favourite in the Midlands after netting 12 goals in 218 appearances for Villa.
In March 2012, Petrov was diagnosed with leukaemia with the illness ultimately ending his Villa career as the player focussed on the battle for his life.
