Thursday, 9th May, 2013
Aston Villa club captain Stiliyan Petrov has announced his decision to retire from football at the age of 33, following his battle with leukaemia.
Petrov has made a total 218 appearances for the Claret and Blues since signing from Celtic in August of 2006, scoring a total of 12 goals. Apart from his stint in Scotland, Petrov has also played for Bulgarian giants CSKA Sofia.
In his statement on the club’s official site, Petrov said: "It is with a heavy heart that I am announcing my retirement from the game. The emotions are overwhelming really, but the continued support of family, friends and the great people I have come to know will make it easier for me to move on from the only life I’ve ever known."
Petrov now plans to set up a foundation that will aim to help other people afflicted with the blood-borne disease.
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"That I am ready to embrace new challenges will make this process much easier. Since being diagnosed with acute leukaemia in March 2012, I have come to understand and appreciate the way in which this disease impacts the lives of so many people.
"I can help and I want to help and, in setting up a foundation to help address the issues involved when people are diagnosed with this illness, I hope to make a difference. This will be my new challenge, one I will face with all the enthusiasm, energy and drive with which I have faced every single challenge", Petrov added.
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