Thursday, 23rd May, 2013
Aston Villa have announced that former team captain Stiliyan Petrov would be taking up a coaching role with the Midlands giants as assistant to first team coach and club legend Gordon Cowans.
Petrov, 33, announced his decision to retire from professional football earlier this month, after his successful battle against Leukaemia, ending a career that spanned 17 years, spending stints at CSKA Sofia and Scottish heavyweights Celtic before moving to Villa Park in 2006.
The Bulgarian has gratefully accepted the role, telling the club’s official site, "I’m very excited by this new challenge and I wish to thank the club and the manager, Paul Lambert, for giving me the opportunity to continue my association with Villa, which I have always regarded as a privilege.
"I will study for my coaching badges over the coming months and I am looking forward very much to working with Gordon Cowans, someone I know and respect, a true Villa legend", Petrov added.
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The 33-year-old has also reiterated that more than sentimental reasons, he has accepted the job so he could give something back to the club that supported him throughout his illness.
"As I have said several times recently, the club has been amazing with me, from the fans to the chairman, Randy Lerner, the chief executive, Paul Faulkner, the manager and the players, as well as staff at Bodymoor and Villa Park.
"The main thing for me, however, is that it is not for sentimental reasons that I will be taking up this role but because I have something to contribute and I really want to do this", Petrov concluded.
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