STILIYAN PETROV IS set for a remarkable return to football with Aston Villa as the club have confirmed he’ll take part in their pre-season training camp in Austria.
The 36-year-old former club captain has not played in four years and announced his retirement from the game in 2013 after undergoing treatment for leukaemia.
After playing the full game against Arsenal in March 2012, Petrov – who earned over 100 caps for Bulgaria – felt unusually tired and was quickly diagnosed with an acute form of the disease.
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After four months of chemotherapy, Aston Villa announced that their iconic player was in remission.
But, the following year, Petrov decided to step away from elite-level football ‘with a heavy heart’ and subsequently dedicated his time to setting up a foundation to help others battling against leukaemia.
But, despite being told he couldn’t play football again, Petrov signed up with a local Sunday league team and helped them to some silverware last year – the Central Warwickshire Over-35s Premier Division One Cup.
At the time he said:
It will go next to my Uefa Cup medal. But it is more valuable than everything else – it is priceless.”
Now, Villa – who have remained open-minded about the prospect of Petrov making a return – have invited him to train for a month on a non-contract basis.
The club, who were relegated from the top-flight last month, will take on Sheffield Wednesday in their Championship opener on 7 August.
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Three years after retiring because of leukaemia, Stan Petrov is back with Aston Villa
STILIYAN PETROV IS set for a remarkable return to football with Aston Villa as the club have confirmed he’ll take part in their pre-season training camp in Austria.
The 36-year-old former club captain has not played in four years and announced his retirement from the game in 2013 after undergoing treatment for leukaemia.
After playing the full game against Arsenal in March 2012, Petrov – who earned over 100 caps for Bulgaria – felt unusually tired and was quickly diagnosed with an acute form of the disease.
After four months of chemotherapy, Aston Villa announced that their iconic player was in remission.
But, the following year, Petrov decided to step away from elite-level football ‘with a heavy heart’ and subsequently dedicated his time to setting up a foundation to help others battling against leukaemia.
But, despite being told he couldn’t play football again, Petrov signed up with a local Sunday league team and helped them to some silverware last year – the Central Warwickshire Over-35s Premier Division One Cup.
At the time he said:
Now, Villa – who have remained open-minded about the prospect of Petrov making a return – have invited him to train for a month on a non-contract basis.
The club, who were relegated from the top-flight last month, will take on Sheffield Wednesday in their Championship opener on 7 August.
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!
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