Thread: Stan the Man

Celtic still exert a grip on Stiliyan Petrov, even if the attachment is derived from others.

He is surrounded by backroom staff at Aston Villa with connections to his former club, while his eldest son, also Stiliyan, supports the Parkhead side rather than his father’s current employers. It must, at times, feel as though he is in a dual relationship.

Villa are predominant, naturally, but by the time Petrov leads the side out at Wembley for the Carling Cup final against Manchester United on Sunday, he will know the outcome of the Old F**m game. The affinity is inevitable.

Along with the management team of Martin O’Neill, John Robertson and Steve Walford, the fitness coach, Jim Hendry, and the club doctor, Roddy Macdonald, also worked at Celtic Park. There is a kinship to the familiarity, so that Petrov remains conscious of his old team’s fortunes.

“People like Jim and Roddy will be asking for the [ Old F**m] score, we always want to know how Celtic do,” Petrov says. “Nothing is finished, they need to win then look to win the final derby. At Celtic, you always have to believe. They can still [win the title]. It’s going to be tight and I don’t think Celtic will ever give up. The dream day for me on Sunday would be Celtic winning at Ibrox and Villa winning the cup.”

The sentiment is sincere. Petrov was 20 years old when he moved to Scotland, but matured quickly as a player at Celtic.

He overcame homesickness and on-field misfortune to develop into a midfielder whose vitality and scoring instincts were fundamental to four title wins and six domestic cup triumphs.

During seven years at the club, Petrov became an iconic figure. He remains in touch with Shaun Maloney and Aiden McGeady, his former team-mates, and John Clark, the kit man. An arrangement is also in place for strips to be sent down for his seven-year-old son. Petrov is contracted to Villa until 2013, by which time he will be 33. A return to Celtic represents a romantic, and not unfeasible, scenario.

“I miss Glasgow, I have friends there,” he says. “You can never say never. I won’t go back to Celtic just for the sake of it. I will only play if I can still do the job and if they want me to do it for them.

“I loved playing for Celtic but I reached my highest point there. I gave everything I could for them, but it got to the stage where I felt I had to go somewhere else to develop as a player. I’ve come a long way and I’m really proud of that.”

Petrov’s stature at Villa is now undisputed, although there was a time when his form and confidence collapsed and O’Neill was forced to drop him. Resurgence has come from taking a backward step. 
The Bulgarian now plays as a defensive midfielder, allowing other attacking talents to flourish. The club, too, has been reviving itself, with Sunday’s final their first in 10 years.

“I really miss being in finals,” Petrov says. “I loved being successful with Celtic. Those were special days, not just winning, but beating R*ngers. Players who haven’t been as fortunate don’t understand how it feels to win a cup. We don’t just want to be passengers at Wembley. We want to win. I was very lucky at Celtic, but it’s been 14 years since [Villa] last won a trophy. That is a long time for a club of this size.”

On Sunday, Petrov’s hope is that the aspirations of two sides are reinvigorated.


Great to hear him talking favourably about the club. The way in which he left the club was dissapointing but he is still without a doubt a modern day Celtic great. One of my favourite Celtic players...

Yep, read about his wee boy being a die hard Celtic fan, no doubt through stories from his old man.

Never ever begrudged the man his move, thought he might have ended up somewhere better than Villa though, I suppose the pull of St. Martin was too good to resist.

Stan Petrov CSC

Read this earlier. Aston Villa is a mini Celtic!

Top, top player. Would kill to have him back, although 33 would be getting on a bit.

If he still had the legs at 33 I would have him back, no worries !!

Originally Posted by green_t

Yep, read about his wee boy being a die hard Celtic fan, no doubt through stories from his old man.

Never ever begrudged the man his move, thought he might have ended up somewhere better than Villa though, I suppose the pull of St. Martin was too good to resist.

Stan Petrov CSC

Never begrudged him his move either he deserved it. This is what annoyed me slightly...



His sulking.

petrovs my favourtie player we've had since ive been goin to the games, i would take him back if hes was 35 he would still be far too good for up here same as lennon was

aye ye could never begrudge Stan moving on. He was a fucking great player for us and i believe that the reason he signed the new contract and then left that summer was just so the club could get as much money as possible for him.

But unless he leaves Villa this summer and comes back to Celtic then fuck that! He wouldn't be half the player he was for us when he is 33.

Think of the team we'll have in about 10 years though bhoys, Stans wee bhoy playing for us, Larssons wee bhoy Jordy....

These eastern block players go on til they're 38, I'd have him back but wouldn't want to push N'Guemo out if that's Stans position these days, maybe throw caution to the wind and play him behind Fortune and Rasmussen - as it will be next season.

Originally Posted by Ryan 67

Never begrudged him his move either he deserved it. This is what annoyed me slightly...

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/image...ovtitle270.jpg

His sulking.

you beat me to it ryan, poor from stan but he was an excellent servant and we made a nice profit on him. always nice to hear ex celts still having the club in their heart.

some man

Fuck i would love to have him back. Brilliant player and one of my favorites!

I'm the same as most folk, the dour face left a bitter taste.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-vHB...eature=related

Yes that pissed me off to no end .Was there that day and he was walking about like a wee laddie geting a row