ASTON VILLA MIDFIELDER Stiliyan Petrov is suffering from acute leukemia, the club have said this afternoon.
Captain Petrov has made 33 appearances for the Midlanders this season and featured in the starting line-up as recently as the 3-0 defeat to Arsenal last weekend.
However, in a statement released today, Villa have confirmed the sad news.
“The Villa Board received news today that our long-standing captain Stiliyan Petrov has been diagnosed with Acute Leukaemia.
Stiliyan developed a fever following the Arsenal game last Saturday and subsequently underwent tests conducted by Dr Ian McGuinness. Haematology experts confirmed the diagnosis today.
“We expect to learn more about Stiliyan’s situation in due course and we have moved quickly to support him and his family. During this time we ask that Stiliyan’s privacy is placed ahead of all inquiries and trust that we will share information as we receive it.
“Stiliyan is cherished by many and he will get from Villa every ounce of love and support that we have to help bring this to a positive conclusion.”
The Bulgarian international, who has played 105 times for his country, was the domestic league’s most expensive export when he joined Celtic from CSKA Sofia for €4.5m and after seven seasons in Scotland, became Martin O’Neill’s first signing for Villa in 2006.
Mayo won’t win with O Shea slowing play up on the pitch
A brilliant article, maith Thu Maurice.
Mayo have been plagued by serious bad luck through the last decade and some crazy decisions by players and management also. This label of bottlers is bull. Any athelete or team that have experienced the pain that Mayo have gone thru in the last decade and still keep on coming back every year is just phenomenal.
Think the author nailed it with analysis of Horan. We’ll see if lessons have been learned when May &June come around…..hope so
You can coach anything you like but it’s what goes on in the 6 inches between the ears that matters when push comes to shove. And Mayo still can’t get that right.
After all is said gaelic football would be so boring without Mayo.
@Tom Keane: i know its great fun watching them bottle it and the supporters thinking Sam is theirs to loose
Good article. James has certainly given Mayo supporters some white knuckle ride while Mayo manager. Of course the fact that Sam has not been brought home will inevitably be held against him. If he doesn’t get there will be regarded as the best manager never to win an All Ireland? Not ba title that he’d want.